Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ive been doing a lot of reading and debating about getting a chameleon for a while but I still have a few questions.

I'm not sure which species would be best. I want something docile, hardy(by chameleon standards), and relatively inexpensive. I think I'm leaning towards a jacksons thus far. I was also wondering about gracefuls or senegals? They look really neat, and seem very inexpensive but from the little information Ive found they seem to be more difficult to keep.

I was curious about shipping too, is it safe to order one online or should I steer clear of that? It seems like a very fragile animal to ship.

Also, in general is it better to get a male or a female?

I'm not positive on whether or not to get one yet. I plan to do some more research, but any info I could get here would be very helpful.

Thanks,
Jen

I don't tjink to many chameleons are docile(when adults).If you wantr a inexspensive chameleon go with a Veiled.

-Kevin
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Tarentolas@hotmail.com
Geckos
1.1.0 Gekko gecko(Geico and Gekko)
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(male Blizzard and Hi-yellow female)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(striped and banded phase)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica(light phase)
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus basiliscus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana(Rex)
Boidae
1.0.0 Python regius
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

From everything I've read online they say vieleds are the most aggressive.
Now is "aggressive" by chameleon standards just puffing itself up and trying to look big and tough, or is it latch onto your finger type aggressive?

The only other thing that makes me hesitant about the vieleds is I dont really like the big fin like casque.

They can and will draw blood if you give them a chance but some of it is bluff. I think that is what makes them cute.
I just love that attitude! Just think how big we look to them but they still stand up to us.
This is Jumpin Jack Flash trying to kill me and my vile camera!

They have a smaller casque on their head. I know what you mean I did not like that tall pointy head at first but it kind of grew on me. Well, I mean it grew on him, gradually and now I think it is nice looking.

I was thinking maybe a female, but Ive read they're prone to a lot more problems, like becoming egg-bound

they will get egg bound but actually they will just lay infertile clutches which are usually easier for them to lay and the eggs are a bit smaller. Unbred females actually tend to live longer than those that are breeders.
They can get eggbound but if they recieve the proper nutrients and care they can live a nice long time with no egg problems.
There are several forum members that have females that are pretty old if I remember correctly and are not breeders.
You just have to be on top of things and provide a laying tub when the time comes so you have to be a bit more attentive and in tune with your animal.

Jacksons - good choice!

There's a ton of info out there a ton of people who have them. You'll never run out of articles to read.

Veileds - They are very hardy and inexpensive. Some are can be pretty agressive.

Panthers - They are hardy. They are pretty pricey for a chameleon to start out with.

Jacksons - Totally different setup from the above two. They are inexpensive, not as hardy as panthers/veileds. They are not very agressive at all. (besides one of the girls I have, AKA - Miss Satan)
-----
Joe
- www.silkwormfarm.com-

Are female jacksons more difficult/prone to problems, than male jacksons?

Hi,

Docile, hardy and inexpensive are gonna be hard to find in one species. But I'll try to break it down for you by each attribute your looking for.

Docile: Not too many chameleons are docile. However, of all the species, panthers(furcifur pardalis) seem to be the least aggressive. Veilds are among the most aggressive.

Inexpensive: Veilds are one of the least expensive chameleons ranging from 30-100 dollars depending on size. Panthers are one of the most expensive ranging from 175 to over 500 depending on size and morph.

Hardy: Seems like you already know that chameleons are not easy to keep. I would say that veilds and panthers are equal in terms of care requirements. I do know that jacksons are considered one of the hardier species, but I have no personal expereince with them. I'm sure someone on this forum can provide more info on them.

In regards to shipping, I will be honest and say that shipping does cause a bit of stress. But if the shipper does it properly, and does not skimp on the packaging materials, the animal will get there safe and sound.

For a first timer, I would recommend getting a male. With females, you run into issues of egg binding and additional care requirements for their health. I would'nt purchase a female unless she would be bred at some point.

The only other advice I can offer you is that you figure out if your budget has room for a chameleon. The chameleon itself makes up a very small portion of the cost in owning one.

And don't forget, chameleons need daily care. So make sure you can spend at least 10 minutes a day caring for him. And also provision for vacations. Will you be able to find someone to care for him while your away?

I don't mean to discourage you, but these are somethings that many new owners don't consider before purchasing.

Having said that, chameleons are not that difficult to take care of. YOU JUST NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. All this means is that you need to pay attention to the animal, and the rest is easy.

Check out the link below for an article that explains what you should expect.

Good Luck.

Vincent
http://www.screameleons.com
Getting Started Part 1

Thank you.
I have been taking into consideration the cost of the set up and the work of caring for it everyday. Ive done a lot of looking around online for good deals on screen cages, and Ive checked out various pet shops to see where I can get the right lighting and food and how much it will cost. I very rarely ever go on a vacation but in case, I have a few different people that would be very willing to help me out.
I've owned a few reptiles before, and even worked in a reptile store for a while, but these little guys are by far the most involved.

I thought of another question. What is a good age/size to get one at?

The older the better, but not too old. I would not recommend anything younger than 3-4 months. The ideal age to purchase one for a begginer would probably be between 5 months to 1 year. But this also depends on how strong the clutch is.

Do not select a Graceful or Senegal as your first chameleon experience! When found these two species are undoubtably of WC origin and thus full of parasites. While they're initial purchase price may be considered "inexpensive", the many trips to the vet for fecal checks, deworming medication, etc. will add substantially to your pocketbook. Any WC chams *must* be checked for parasites. These WCs do not acclimate well to captivity and many perish despite doing everything apparantly "right". I have had a WC Senegal for a couple years now, and trust me, she is still far and away the most difficult chameleon I have to care for, with being extremely shy still, difficult to handle when I do have to move her, etc. Having had several WC vs CB animals, I highly recommend trying a CB first of whatever species you choose.

Good luck,
~Kerry