Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I recently moved into a town house where I have enough room for a Chameleon! I have bread and kept Panther and Veiled Chameleons in the past with good success and being located in Las Vegas kind of limits my Chameleon choices. So from what I have read I figure that Carpet Chameleons are similar in the care requirements of a Panther.

What I would like to ask is if this is true? Can I care for a Carpet as I would a Panther, but in a smaller cage?
And also, anybody know where I can get a CB Carpet? I would rather not buy a WC Chameleon if I can help it. From what I have been told they are a lot harder to care for. But if I must but WC anybody have any tips for me and have a recommendation as to where I can buy one. Thanks for the help!!!

~Chad

I have a pair of CB carpets and have been keeping them for almost 2 years. They make a good choice for a second chameleon and I don’t think the care is much different then a Panthers. A 38g enclosure is sufficient for them too. Mine eat well and drink well from the mist system. You won’t find any CB at this time which is a shame – I really would like to see more keepers breeding them – really nice looking chams and the small size is ideal for people with limited space. WC can have problems but that’s just how WC goes, I’ve seen a good amount of issues in the forums with WC carpets however Mike from FLChams has some really nice/healthy looking WC carpets right now … check out his ad in the cham classifieds of this forum. A friend of mine picked a few up from him and look stunning … hard to believe they are WC when looking at them.

-roo

Well then... If I am going to have to get a WC carpet anybody have any good tips as to how I can keep the WC dude fat and happy? Never had a WC Cham before...

~Chad

First, check with the seller about any parasite treatments it has been given so you don't duplicate. Get the cham hydrated and eating normally. Then, assume it still has some parasites and get a fecal sample checked by a herp vet FIRST and treat ONLY for what is actually present. The drugs are tough on the animal so you don't want to treat with the wrong drug. Repeat the check to see if any are present that were not caught the previous time (if the particular parasite was not shedding or reproducing it might not show up in the first sample). Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate to help the cham overcome any lingering effects of dehydration during shipping. I'd house each separately until they are established...could be several months. You want to eliminate as many stressors as possible during their transition. There is no good reason to rush breeding, and the female could already be gravid anyway.