Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I don't have a chameleon (yet) but i'm researching different types of lizards that i'm interested in to see what I'd like to adventure into next (no i'm not some kid--I'm a thiry-something mother of two) We current have one bearded dragon that we've had since november and we love having reptiles. So I'm trying to gather info on a couple of different kinds so i can decide which I'd like. I have the money/time/space to do this so i'm not concerned about that. Could someone (maybe another newbie) give me there insight on owning a chameleon? I understand the house/heating/uvb/moisture as well as the live feeder insect issue so i'm just looking at overall do you like them ? glad you got them? find them too demanding? how long do they live? any insight would be appreciated. Thanks,L.
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0.0.1 Bearded Dragon (Eddie)
2.0.0 Dogs (Black German Shepherd-Nicholas, Black Lab-Cooper)
1.1.0 Budgies (Kia and Simon)
0.0.1 ?Fiddler Crab (Crusty)
0.0.25 Various Fishies (Freshwater)
2.1.0 Hubby and kids (Boy and a Girl)

iv been a veilded owner since november of last year and he was my first chameleon, he was 3 months old at the time, now some people will tell you that veilds are mean and aggressive, but mine (male)is no more aggressive than a kitten, sure he may not like being held but what cham does? i dont regret getting him one bitt. and i would recommend getting a veiled, they are cheap, very hardy and and are comical(sleeping positions ,short cuts thru the vines etc...)since you are a newbie as i was i would recommend a male (cause females have egg binding problems) enjoy....chris

I'm also fairly new to chameleons. I don't regret getting mine one bit. Yea, he adds quite a bit of work to my day but also a lot of joy. Sometimes I'll sit across the room and just watch him walk about his vines. Mine is a Fisher's Chameleon and he's as sweet as can be. But he has his moody days when he doesn't want me anywhere near his area.

Hi there,

I have owned various chameleons for quite some time now, and I am exremely happy I got into them. In my humble opinion, I think that they are one of the most beatiful lizards in the world.

As far as being demanding, they are more demanding than your average pet. But I'm not saying that they are difficult to keep. Chameleons require that you pay attention to them DAILY. As long as you understand that you are dealing with a relatively delicate animal, you'll be just fine.

Also, not all chameleons are equal. Some are hardier than others, and novices should probably start off with either a veiled or a panther.

Narrow down your search for more info by picking out a species that you'd like to keep. I'm sure you will get a bit more useful info.

Vince

There are some articles on http://www.chameleonnews.com that may answer some of your questions. Look specifically for the one about "chameleons and kids". Not that you are a kid, but this is oriented toward parents considering a cham for a pet. It gives a general overview of the demands and requirements for keeping a cham with a list of daily chores and needed supplies and equipment.

I have kept chams for years and really enjoy them. BUT, I don't have kids or a lot of other demanding pets, and they do require a lot of vigilance daily (how busy is your daily schedule and how much do you travel?) and can be expensive to get treated for health issues (do you have an experienced herp vet locally?). Chams are not really great pets for kids as they usually resent much handling or being watched. They are nowhere near a social as your beardie. Some can be nasty, at most they will tolerate handling once in a while. You'll need to watch that your other pets don't stress them too...so a space for the cage that is not in view of the other critters will be needed. But, all the negatives aside, they are beautiful and interesting creatures. Here are the sites I usually refer folks to because there is good info and good pics of different species to consider.

http://www.adcham.com
http://www.chameleonjournals.com
http://www.geocities.com/ccicenter
http://www.calumma.com