Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I currently own two adult bearded dragons. I bred them over the summer, and the babies were a fun experience. I now want to expand my reptile collection, and I have a few questions about chameleons. My beardies are very docile and will sit with you for hours. Are chameleons like this? What would be the best species to get? What kinds of food do they primarily eat? Thanks-any help is appreciated

i like veiled best... my chameleons sit and watch t.v. with my but i also hear that handling them a lot causes them stress and can hurt them.. ( can somebody clear that up for me please )...

i feed them mostly crickets.. they are a good source of protein.. i always dust them with calcium.. do it especially if your breeding you females.. the eggs can take away the calcium from the mom chameleon and leave her to weak to lay her eggs and then all sorts of complications occur.

you can feed them greens such as danylion, and kale.. silkworms, wax worms, fruit flys... and plant thats non toxic..

if you want to know nything else just ask

>>Hi,
>>I currently own two adult bearded dragons. I bred them over >>the summer, and the babies were a fun experience. I now want >>to expand my reptile collection, and I have a few questions >>about chameleons. My beardies are very docile and will sit >>with you for hours. Are chameleons like this? What would be >>the best species to get? What kinds of food do they primarily >>eat? Thanks-any help is appreciated

Chameleons do not enjoy being handled AT ALL ... now that isn't to say that you can't, just that the vast majority do not like to be held, and a lot of handleing can cause stress. My friends who has an extensive chameleon collection (10 species) has a very calm male nosy be panther, that sits on her sholder, and does not mind being held! THIS IS A RARITY!!!!!

If you want a chameleons you can handle a little more, panthers are the way to go! for the most part, the males are tame as adults althought there is the rare 1 that will hiss and lundge! as for veileds, they are the most readily available for consumer purchase, but in my honest opinion, is not the chameleons for a beginner! i had a veiled, and had issues with him, but veiled are the most agressive chameleon, and will not hesitate to bite (right trace - lol)

panther chameleons tend to be very colourful (the males) and in my honet opinion are the best chameleon to start off with (make sure you do ALL the proper research on panthers chams or any animals before buying one)

as for food, until 6 months of age, i would feed nothing but crix ... sizes vary, but crix are the best food for a young cham! one the reach 6 months of age, you can start to offer mimi silk worms, and mealies, but only on the rare occasion until they are full grown! crix MUST be dusted and eaten within gthe first hour to insure the powder stays on!

crix must be gutloaded before feeding ... i use a mix of vegetables and a store bought cricket food that provides several essential vitamins that crix need! i chamge the crix food every 2-3 days ... but everyday would be better

hope this helps you out a bit ...

Jason
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1.0 maroantsetra panther chameleon
0.2 dwarf panther chameleon
jsinger_jimt@hotmail.com

Chameleons vary in temprament greatly from species to species. Veiled chameleons have been very easy for me to raise, they are very hardy and have always eaten well... the drawback is, they don't like being held, I am always hissed at when reaching to get my girl, and she has never rested on my shoulder...

I also have had a rudis chameleon now for a while (I hear jackson's are very similar) and she is very melow, doesn't seem to mind being held, but she requires much higher humidity and she is a picky eater, in fact, most of the time the only way she will eat is when I hold her in my hand with a bowl of crickets in front of her.

If you do get a chameleon do research on the specific species before you buy. Good luck.
-Steve