Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you were about to buy a first cham and you knew you'd eventually purchase a spouse for it, would you buy a pair now or wait? IF you wait, how do you know they will be compatible and accept each other? Do you have to have your male ask it out on a date first? thanks-maggie

I would remember that if you buy two that means you need twice as much caging, lighting, food supply and time spent with them. Chameleons are definitely animals that require constant supervision. I would stick with one for the time being unless you were really sure that you wanted to attempt to breed them and that you had the neccassary time and facilities to provide them with the proper care. As far as what kind to get, I'd probably go with a male of almost any species. They tend to be the bigger and more robust of the sexes and possess the prettiest colors and adornements. Hope that helps.

Larry

You can contact Blind Date to set your male cham out on a date with a female cham. LOL!

Generally speaking, most male chams (and I guess Males in general) will take to just about any female showing receptive signs. Since Chams are not what you call monogamous, I dont think there is a high likelyhood of females not accepting males when they are receptive. Since your chams wont share the same cage (right???), I dont think them getting along is going to be much of an issue. Like Larry mentioned, 2 chams are twice the work, twice the expense and twice the room so be sure you are ready for that. As a beginner, I think one cham is plenty to keep you occupied and help you see a glimpse of what you're getting into, but, if you have the resources (which I think you do with the budget), I say get an older pair (be sure theyre not related, if possible, get them from different breeders to have a better chance of unrelated bloodlines) and have fun with them.
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Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty, Lucille)
0.0.1 Jackson's baby (George, R.I.P. 11/17/2003)
1.1 Nosy Be's (Mars and Roja)
1.1 Veiled - No Names Yet
0.1 Adult Sulcatta (POOPIE,I bought it from Victor at Kobey's in SD)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY, From Victor as well)
1.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis and Dorkus)
0.0.1 3 toed box turtle - No Name Yet
0.0.1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle - No Name Yet
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

Blind Date seems to be THE equivalent of putting a bunch of MALE Chams together into a cage !!! I really do just want to start w/ one and let my learning curve catch up first. But some pet store person said something about some not accepting one another(thus better to get a pair-maybe trying to make a bigger sale?), and then it made me wonder. Good thing there's this forum to straighten out the crazy info out there sometimes.

As far as getting them from different breeders, that one was a surprise to me. With Darts I had always been under the impression that getting a pair off from the same breeder was more desirable to better ensure that they were from the same locale to help prevent the making of mutts. However, I see many crosses on the sites of Cham breeders and it seems to be accepted in Cham breeding. The crosses are more beautiful to me, and if that is the case(both on the issue of mutt making, and Chams readily accepting one another for the purpose of breeding, not housing together)then I will start with one first. Thank you for your help!!! Maggie

Like with humans...you don't want inbreeding going rampant like you see with a lot of Veileds.
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Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty, Lucille)
0.0.1 Jackson's baby (George, R.I.P. 11/17/2003)
1.1 Nosy Be's (Mars and Roja)
1.1 Veiled - No Names Yet
0.1 Adult Sulcatta (POOPIE,I bought it from Victor at Kobey's in SD)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY, From Victor as well)
1.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis and Dorkus)
0.0.1 3 toed box turtle - No Name Yet
0.0.1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle - No Name Yet
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

I would even go out on a limb and say to get a female first for this reason.... If you have a sexually mature male and buy a small girl for it, it's hard to resist letting them breed when the girl becomes receptive for the first time. This means the female is only about 6-7 months old. Generally speaking, they shouldn't be bred until they're 8 or more months old. So, if you begin with a female, wait until she's 6 months old, then buy a 3 month old male, you can let them breed as soon as the MALE becomes sexually mature. If you're diciplined and you can keep them apart until she's older, ignore this post and get what you want. I have been buying the females first and waiting a bit to get the male for that reason.
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Tyler Stewart
Las Vegas NV
www.BLUEBEASTREPTILE.com

If you want to breed them get the female first. I got my male's first to start with and its been hard waiting for the females to turn a year old. Its even harder for the males to waite for the females to turn a year.

lol i remember Ra's dance when he first saw his receptive girlfriend. he was so pissed when I yanked him back in his cage and told him what stagitory rape was.
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From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

Good one Jovana... Never thought of it that way.
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Tyler Stewart
Las Vegas NV
www.BLUEBEASTREPTILE.com

If she goes for the Jacksons, she wont get much color from the females. They are usually very drab in color. The males are the colorful ones. She can get some nice colored female panthers, but they are more expensive than jacksons.

I say buy the trio and go all in!! (J/k)
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Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty, Lucille)
0.0.1 Jackson's baby (George, R.I.P. 11/17/2003)
1.1 Nosy Be's (Mars and Roja)
1.1 Veiled - No Names Yet
0.1 Adult Sulcatta (POOPIE,I bought it from Victor at Kobey's in SD)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY, From Victor as well)
1.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis and Dorkus)
0.0.1 3 toed box turtle - No Name Yet
0.0.1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle - No Name Yet
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

I knew I'd get some good options from you folks! Thanks a bunch! I think I do have to get a pretty one to start. I'd love my animals even if they are not at their best or just not as pretty, but my husband will think I'm insane for spending so much on an animal that he doesn't see any beauty in. Though he's agreed to a certain budget for our first Cham, he will be more supportive(more helpful)with the Cham, should I get a cold one day and need his help, if he falls in love too. I noticed that this occured after he saw our first pair of Darts and now is interested somewhat in helping. Gotta make sure the Cham is taken care of at ALL times. But getting the female is a REALLY good idea!!! But are the females just as hardy as the males? Thanks Maggie

Females are just as hardy as males, and my 2 females are sweeter than any males I've ever seen. the only downfall to females is if you breed them their life expectance is only half that of a male.

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From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

If you breed the females they only have 1/2 life expectancy????Why? Is it due to Nurition, exposure to Sunlight...that only gives her a few years doesn't it?