Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am just wondering which of these two would be hardier and what is the difference in thier care. I want to get one, but I want to make sure I have a proper habitat before ordering. Thanks.

Senegal and veiled chameleons inhabitat a similair climates in the wild so they both have almost identical requirements; BUT veileds are almost always captive bred where as senegals are NEVER! Wild caught chams are packed full of parasites. They are also stressed by the whole importation process. Veilds also adjust to captivity better. Senegals, even when captive bred, are nervous.

I would personally go with the veiled because it is more common, more forgiving, and more hardy.

Is this your first lizard or your first chameleon? Be careful what you are getting into becuase chameleons are very fragile as captives. Here is a link below which will help you with the care of veiled chameleons.

Good luck!
Click here!

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eric

I would go with a veiled. Captive bred are almost always easier to keep than WC's. I have had several senegals come in my care that came in with no parasites. In fact, don't recall ever having one arrive with parasites, but that's not to say that someone along the way didn't treat them for parasites.

Senegals can be very easily stressed when WC....but they can be kept in captivity by someone who has quite a bit of chameleon experience without too much trouble once they are acclimatized. I have had several survive for over 4 years when they came to me as adults. I have found them to need much more hydration than the veileds.

According to ADCHAM...veileds are "Indigenous to the southwestern coastal regions of Saudi Arabia and western Yemen, the veiled chameleon occupies the wadis and agricultural lands of this otherwise arid region." while senegals are "Abundantly distributed throughout equatorial Africa, C. senegalensis inhabits dry savannahs and gallery forests"...so they are somewhat similar, but somewhat different too.

If you are going to get a veiled, I would recommend that you look for one over three months old and also, I would recommend that you get a male.

I am familiar with care since I have had many herps, worked in a Petstore with herps, and have studied up on reptile care in my own. But, do you recommend a male because he would be more passive?? Thanks.

is 1.5 inches a good enough size veiled to ship???

No...I recommended the male (which can be more aggressive) because you don't have to worry about egg production in the females and males tend to live longer.