Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have very little experience with Chameleons and wanted to know which one is best to start out with. I've been told the Jackson's or the Veiled is a good choice.
Also, most people think Chameleons are hard I was told by a fellow herper that the secret is to never handle them because it stresses them way too much. Any thoughts?

Its true that chameleons are hard to keep. But its not neccarily true that simply not handling them makes it easier. All it takes to successfully raise a chameleon is paying attention to him/her daily, and doing as much research about chameleon care prior to purchasing one.

Yes, a male jax, panther, or veiled is the best starter cham. But the other fellow said, do all your homework BEFORE you get the cham. And be aware that all three have similar (very high) hydration requirements. For a starter, the profiles on Furcifer pardalis, chamaeleo calyptratus, and Chamaeleo jacksonii xantholophus at www.adcham.com

Ed

If this helps, veils are cheaper. I handle mine daily and he loves to come out and walk around on me. If you don't handle a veiled, you run the risk of it becoming agressive. At least that is my opinion.

The amount of handling a veiled or any cham gets doesn't necessarily mean they won't get aggressive. That has more to do with the individual cham's personality and hormones. Don't expect a cham to stay docile just because you handle them. Some veileds are just nicer than others. Also, chams don't necessarily "like" to climb on you. They may see you as a convenient moveable perch to get out of a too small cage or a way to reach a nice basking spot in the house. Sorry to burst the bubble!