Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi im normaly on the leopard gecko forum because i have three. Now im looking to get into chameleions because i like a good challange and i think it would be cool and fun to have one. now I've been reasearching for like 2 months and problably going to keep researching for a while. Im problably going to get a veiled chameleion because they are cool and seem like the easiest to take care of (chameleion wise of course) I know theres no easy chameleion. I'm problably not going to get one untill i got a job so my mom doesnt have to pay for everything because im problably going to spend well over a couple hundred dollars on everything so this way i have everything i need. I know what everything i need for the cage and to keep him happy. Im just looking for some advice and input from people that have actually kept veiled chameleions. Like what watt light bulb for the basking light and the UVB light, and anything else people want to say please do.(sorry for the long post)

As far as lights go, try to stick with the ReptiGlo or ReptiSun fluorescant strip bulbs. The incandescant bulbs often cause problems or are very expensive, so for a beginner I would say stick with the flurescants. Get yourself an 18" or 24" bulb(preferably 24, especialy for females.)

Use normal house bulbs in a reflector lamp (from a pet store or hardware store, doesn't matter, although hardware stores I guarantee are cheaper) for the basking spot. Use a 60 or 75 watt normal bulb, like the ones you see over someones head when they have an idea. The reflector will reflect the needed light, hence it's name of reflector!

Hope that answers any lighting questions you have, i'm off for school!

Sorry, but we can't tell you what wattage or UVB to use, without first knowing the cage dimensions.
Cricket

Sorry im planning on using a 2x2x4 (lengthxwidthxheight)

Sounds good, all screen I hope?

Try not to ask too many basic questions on the forums, it's a lot of time and effort for us to tell you everything thats on hundreds of care sheets that are easily accessible.

Ask anything you want that confuses you, anything about brands, where a good place is to get a cham, or some super-good resources.

Here are a few good sites, only a few of many good ones.

www.chameleonnews.com/index.html
www.adcham.com
Those are pretty deep sites, lots of reading. The chameleonnews one is more of several articles written on precise subjects but cover many main problems that new/experienced keepers encounter.

Good luck with your new cham.

PS. make sure if you're to put a cham in the 2x2x4 that he/she (preferably he) is at least three months of age, or >3 inches STV (snout to vent, so from his nose to his cloaca (thats his bum)).