which kind?

snakemann87 · 02-12-03, 02:34 PM

hey everyone, I have three snakes and am interested in gettting a chameleon and I have some ?'s.
1)Which type is the best, and male or female?
2)What size cage?
3)How much will it cost at a US herp show?

P.S.- any other info would be GREAT!!!!!!!!

katev17 · 02-12-03, 03:03 PM

Probably a male veiled or panther (panther costs more)would be best, but theres no reason to limit yourself if you are dedicated... females are more prone to calcium deficiency because of the eggs they lay (Takes a LOT out of them), but if you know how to take care of them, then best of luck!

You'll want a tall screened cage, and it depends on what species you get, but a veiled or panther can be housed up to 30 x 30 x 48 but you can get away with 18 x 18 x 36 [ bigger/taller = better ]... People claim they're hard to care for but you just need to provide them with sufficient calcium and uvb/uva lights. If you do, you shouldn't have a problem!! (well aside from the feeding & providing humidity lol)

Good luck

Kate

Ps I live in Canada so I cant answer Q#3

snakemann87 · 02-12-03, 03:09 PM

ok thanks. forgot to add a ?, what do you feed them when babies and adults, and how if its flies.

katev17 · 02-12-03, 03:55 PM

Variety is the key! Crickets mostly, but things like mealworms and such are good too. As babies you dust them with calcium about every 2nd feeding, but as adults 1-2 times a week is good!!

Good luck!

Kate

BWSmith · 02-12-03, 06:48 PM

Quote:

People claim they're hard to care for but you just need to provide them with sufficient calcium and uvb/uva lights

Compared to many other species of lizard, they are difficult. They are much less forgiving of slightly insufficient husbandry. Stress is also a major factor with Chams. They can be kept with what I consider a "moderate" amount of time and experience. But I would not recommend a cham as a first lizard (I am assuming it is a first or close to it). There are countless other choices for lizards out there. I think Chams are best suited for those who have a few years of experience with lizards.

snakemann87 · 02-12-03, 06:52 PM

ok, i have kept two green iguanas. If I'm not to get a chameleon, how about leopards? I know what to do but anyone keep them and give some personal advice? More advice on chams would be great also

Zoe · 02-12-03, 06:52 PM

Hi,

My first cham was a female panther (I wanted a male) and she is just awesome! She has a 3 x 2 x 2 cage with branches, an umbrella tree and a pathos vine. She has U.V. light, and I feed her crickets 3 times a week. She eats 5-10 a feeding, and twice a week I dust with vitamins and once with calcium. She she was a baby she ate the same amount only in baby crickets. She was 120$ canadian, and they probably go for 70-100$ U.S.

You'll be very happy with a panther chameleon, and males have amazing colours! (BLUE!!!)

:] Goodluck!
Zoe

snakemann87 · 02-12-03, 06:54 PM

awesome, thanks for the info zoe, about how big are they?

BWSmith · 02-12-03, 06:57 PM

Of course you will do what you like, but my recommendation would be to start with something a little easier like Leos are Beardies. Lizards are much higher maintenance than snakes. Takes some getting used to.

snakemann87 · 02-12-03, 07:05 PM

i will just stick with a leopard gecko then, thanks for the help

Quote:

Originally posted by BWSmith
Of course you will do what you like, .

Im not sure that was needed though BW?/??????

Zoe · 02-12-03, 07:26 PM

snakeman, I don't think you need to start with a leo. If you have experience with herps in general and read lots of care sheets, and ask any questions you have here on the forums I am confident you will do well!

My girl is about 12-14cms from head to vent, and my male is almost double that. They don't get that big.

Zoe

snakemann87 · 02-12-03, 08:03 PM

ok cool. I am really into my animals and know i will properly care for one if i get one, does your male show any agression?

Zoe · 02-12-03, 08:08 PM

I just got my male, and he still isn't a huge fan of being handled but I know he will calm down soon, once he starts to recognize my face. My female used to be a terror (she'd puff up and turn brown if I'd get near) but recently she has gotten quite friendly, she even sometimes comes to the door when I walk by if she wants to come out.

They aren't by nature very aggressive animals.

Zoe

BWSmith · 02-12-03, 09:52 PM

No offense was intended. people do what they want. that is why it is advice, not an order.

Andy · 02-13-03, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZoeStevens

They aren't by nature very aggressive animals.

Are you serious? Chameleons are very aggressive by nature and dont take to handling well. Handling stresses them out and It is only smart to do it once a week at the most. The only time I handle mine are when I am cleaning cages or moving my male to my females cage. Everytime you pick a chameleon up it probably will hiss and try to bite you, if they dont something is wrong with them.

Veileds are a good chameleon to start with. They are hardy and get big. For a cage get yourself a reptarium, you can get them at lllreptile for cheap. Provide uva/uvb light a hot spot and calcium and vitamin supplementation and your good to go. Its very rare for a chameleon to drink out of standing water(water bowl) so either a drip system, a fogger, or a spray botle is needed. I use a spray botle and spray down all the leaves and walls of the cage a couple times a day.

From a breeder you can get a well started Veiled for $30-$40. You will probably want to get something that is pretty well started because they tend to be fragile when they are very young. Hatchlings eat flightless fruitflies or pinhead crickets. Then you just move the food says up according to the size of there head. Most places suggest not feeding anything larger than 1/2 the legnth or there head, I usually fed stuff 2/3 the size of there head or larger with little problem. When feeding larger I always watched them eat to be careful of choking. (You will enjoy watching them eat so much that you wont not want to watch them eat anyways) If you get a male be ready for a big animal. He will be full grown in less than a year (probably somewhere are around 18 inches long).

Variety is good when feeding them. If you can catch flies DO IT, they love them. Crickets, Roaches, mealworms, Pinky mice are all different things I feed mine. When they get older provide them with some greens once a week. The best way is to clothes pin some spinach or mustard leaves to there vines, or the side of the cage.

If you get a chameleon good luck, and I know you will have a good time. I still watch every cricket that gets thrown in by mine, they are so fun to watch eat.