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What the the smallest chameleon that i can get?

pocketfulloffire Mar 11, 2004 05:23 PM

ok first off i know nothing about chameleons ive only had leopard geckos bearded dragons and anoles.

I am wanting to get a chameleon and i need to know what is the smallest available,and what is the price.

Replies (17)

ChrisAnderson Mar 11, 2004 06:16 PM

>>ok first off i know nothing about chameleons ive only had leopard geckos bearded dragons and anoles.
>>
>>I am wanting to get a chameleon and i need to know what is the smallest available,and what is the price.

Your priorities are a little off. Try to do some research on chameleons and then come back and ask what the smallest one you can get is. You're first priority should be getting a species you'll be able to care for properally. When thats a priority, feel free to inquire again...

Chris
-----
Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC) - http://www.geocities.com/ccicenter/
Chameleons Online E-zine - http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tacking Database - http://www.chameleondatabase.com/

pocketfulloffire Mar 11, 2004 06:19 PM

I am going to do research i just want to know what some of the smallest chameleons are so i can do research on them.

Believe me i will never get anything i cant properly care for.

jusmebabe Mar 11, 2004 06:33 PM

When you do the research you'll see what the smaller type chameleons are.
Remember smaller doesn't mean easier to care for..

pocketfulloffire Mar 11, 2004 06:42 PM

Ok this is not helping very much but thanx anyways I guess I'll just do it myself.

mhdsummers Mar 11, 2004 06:52 PM

Come on guys. He came here for help. Everyone starts somewhere and in my opinion he found a good place.

http://www.calumma.com/new_page_3.htm
These are pretty small.
Dont get scared off. This forum can be very helpful if you learn to deal with the occasional rude poster. Just come here for information and learning and ignore everything else if you can.

pocketfulloffire Mar 11, 2004 06:57 PM

Thank you very much i will check the out.

cv768 Mar 11, 2004 10:22 PM

Usually leaf chameleons are pretty small...but again harder to care for and not much handling can be accomplished with them as they are pretty small...I also think they need it very humid and cooler.
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Chris Vanderwees
REPTILE SALES AND INFORMATION
E-mail Me
1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
3.4.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
1.2.0 California Kingsnakes
1.3.0 South Florida Kingsnakes
1.1.0 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snakes
1.4.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Green Iguanas

ChrisAnderson Mar 11, 2004 09:45 PM

>>I am going to do research i just want to know what some of the smallest chameleons are so i can do research on them.
>>
>>Believe me i will never get anything i cant properly care for.

My apologies for misinterpreting your initial post. As i explained below, I am much more willing to answer the question you appear to be asking and apologize if it was in fact your initial question that I simply mistook.

Chameleons are only typically recommended to individuals with a solid experience with reptiles. While it is of course very possible to maintain chameleons with little or no experience, it is generally agreed that it is a highly useful and beneficial background. Furthermore, when begining with chameleons for the first time, or in an attempt for a first successful long term maintanence, there are certain species that are generally recommended over others. This is not simply because they are more readily available but because they truly are a better introduction into chameleon husbandry than many of the other species. As it happens to be, most of the smaller species are not considered good recommendations as first chameleons. In my opinion, no WC (wild caught) chameleon should ever be attempted by first time chameleon owners and surly not by anyone without either a more solid experience with reptiles or experience with other WC animals. A major issue with smaller species is that 98% or more of the smaller species available are all WC and as a result, poor canidates for most individuals.

It was recommended by a poster that you look into Rhampholeon brevicaudatus. Having worked with many chameleon species and a large number of the smaller species, I would say that while this species is a good introductory species into the dwarf/leaf and even smaller species, it is a poor choice for beginners, particularly WC specimens. Many are sold as CB (captive bred) simply to get them sold but the truth is, very few are.
Keeping in mind that I am omitting species which are good captives as CB but almost exclusively available as WC, I would have to say that the two best beginner species are Veiled chameleons, Chamaeleo calyptratus, and Panther chameleons, Furcifer pardalis. A species which is more difficult but slightly smaller would be a Jackson's chameleon, Chamaeleo jacksonii xantholophus. I would caution that the latter species is more delicate and has care requirements that are more involved then the former species.

Good luck,

Chris
-----
Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC) - http://www.geocities.com/ccicenter/
Chameleons Online E-zine - http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tacking Database - http://www.chameleondatabase.com/

jdany Mar 11, 2004 07:46 PM

What kind of display was that? Can I suggest a little more tolerance and tact.

Chris, I had a lot of respect for you.. I thought you were a pioneer. From what I've seen, you are educated and making huge strides in furthering development of chameleon husbandry.
Sitting on all that knowledge, and then turning someone away at the gate.. I don't even have words for how backwards that is.
In my opinion, so much talent is wasted amongst the elitists in this industry. Things could develop so much faster if this mentality would disappear.

Jusmebabe, I don't have respect for you, because I don't know you. However, I think you are every bit as wrong as Chris is.. Following poor leadership or not.
-----
Joe
- www.silkwormfarm.com-

jusmebabe Mar 11, 2004 09:03 PM

"When you do the research you'll see what the smaller type chameleons are.
Remember smaller doesn't mean easier to care for"..

First, I'm not looking for your respect. I don't know you, so what.

He already said he was going to do it (research) so I said you will see when you do and smaller doesn't mean easier. See top of my post.
If that was being rude maybe you shouldn't read posts.

As for Chris, I'm sure since he's an "elitist in the industry" he can speak for himself.
I guess since i posted a reply here before Chris he is now the follower (according to your logic).
By the way, I didn't see you give the original poster any help.

jdany Mar 11, 2004 09:19 PM

I didn't respond to this post because I didn't have anything constuctive to add. I was waiting for an educated response and was interested to hear what kind of little guys people were working with.

I'm sorry that you took offense to my post. But, maybe it was for the better.

I can't speak for everyone on this board. I can only give my opinion.. and my opinion remains the same.
-----
Joe
- www.silkwormfarm.com-

ChrisAnderson Mar 11, 2004 09:30 PM

>>What kind of display was that? Can I suggest a little more tolerance and tact.
>>
>>Chris, I had a lot of respect for you.. I thought you were a pioneer. From what I've seen, you are educated and making huge strides in furthering development of chameleon husbandry.
>>Sitting on all that knowledge, and then turning someone away at the gate.. I don't even have words for how backwards that is.
>>In my opinion, so much talent is wasted amongst the elitists in this industry. Things could develop so much faster if this mentality would disappear.
>>
>>Jusmebabe, I don't have respect for you, because I don't know you. However, I think you are every bit as wrong as Chris is.. Following poor leadership or not.
>>-----
>>Joe
>> - www.silkwormfarm.com-

Joe,

The intention of my post was not to be elitist at all and I apologize to pocketfulloffire and anyone else who thought it came across as such. I'm very put off by this attitude as well and hate to think I appear this way as well.

The impression I got from the original post was that the well being of the animal was not a concern and I felt it was in the best interest of the poster, and ultimately, any future chameleon in their care, to take some time researching for him/herself as I'm confident in the fact that they would determine this aspect to be a major factor. I personally believe there are certain circumstances that are best learned by digging for one's self. The tone of the poster, as I interpreted it, was that this was one of these times. I'm sorry if you disagreed and it is very possible that it may have been more appropriate for me to simply answer the question. The response posted by pocketfulloffire to my post expressed that they were in fact interested in the answer to a different question which I feel is much more appropriate and one I have no second thoughts about answering and will do so in a post to follow. That question is "What is a hardy, smaller species of chameleon that one with no chameleon experience and fairly minimal reptile experience could potentially work with successfully? Furthermore, what are some sources of information so I can look into them more?" Lack of experience is not a bad thing and I don't mean my statements to be insulting in anyway but the fact of the matter is many chameleons die in the hands of inexperienced keepers who simply do not care about the welfare of the animal enough or take proper precautions when warned by more experienced keepers. As I said, the second post showed the concern I feel is needed by chameleon keepers. Yes, I could have written out a long post about how difficult chameleons are, especially smaller species, but the first bit of research would show this to be true and I saw the original post as a situation needing that type of experience. I would agree that my wording or explanation could have been better, however, so that my rational was clearly expressed.

Chris
-----
Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC) - http://www.geocities.com/ccicenter/
Chameleons Online E-zine - http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tacking Database - http://www.chameleondatabase.com/

jdany Mar 11, 2004 09:43 PM

WOW.

Chris, I now have an even greater respect for you. A great display of class and professionalism.

Renewed faith.
-----
Joe
- www.silkwormfarm.com-

thechamhunter Mar 11, 2004 09:37 PM

Brookesia Minima I believe. Do plenty of research and I wish you all the best of luck. They are quite easy to take care of and relatively cheap compared to other chameleon species.

ChrisAnderson Mar 11, 2004 09:52 PM

>>Brookesia Minima I believe. Do plenty of research and I wish you all the best of luck. They are quite easy to take care of and relatively cheap compared to other chameleon species.

I could not disagree more. I can assure you that all B. minima available on the market will be WC specimens. Furthermore, they are not commonly available at this point in time. While they may hold the record for the smallest chameleon, I would never consider them a beginner species nor easy to care for. Their feeding requirements alone are much too difficult for a beginner. I intended to mention in my other post that I would not recommend the Rhampholeon and Brookesia to a biginner partially due to their feeding requirements. They often require the keeper to maintain fruitfly cultures which while they are not difficult to maintain, many starting keepers would simply prefer to be able to go to their local pet shop to get small crickets.

Chris
-----
Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC) - http://www.geocities.com/ccicenter/
Chameleons Online E-zine - http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tacking Database - http://www.chameleondatabase.com/

cv768 Mar 11, 2004 10:41 PM

it also is a boatload of trouble to care for and as Chris said...they are hard to feed. Stick to a veiled...easy care and are forgiving to beginner mistakes. (not implying that anyone makes mistakes) (also did not want to offend anyone by this post) (also apologies for anything else I've done wrong) You guys are funny bunch...arguing more over "posting etiquette" than what the issue is...whatever...I don't want to get caught up in it all.

Good luck to whoever the hell was looking for the chameloen equivalent of a micromachine. (wonder if anyone will get that horrible joke?)
-----
Chris Vanderwees

E-mail Me
1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
3.4.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
1.2.0 California Kingsnakes
1.3.0 South Florida Kingsnakes
1.1.0 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snakes
1.4.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Green Iguanas

_____

Edited signature file to remove inappropriate advertising

Edited on April 22, 2004 at 20:57:05 by phwyvern.

thechamhunter Mar 12, 2004 01:11 AM

I'm Sorry. I confused Brookesia Minima with the common type of leaf chameleon which are around 15 dollars each. My local pet store has tons of these are they are relatively easy to take care of. I was just answering the original question of what is the smallest chameleon in the world and I responded by saying brookesia minima (the micromachine of chameleons). By the way, I use to have micromachines.

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