OT: Going to do Chameleons anyone have experience?
- Thread starter Bigred
- Start date
RoganTerrance
Young Reefer
They eat like 5 times a day
I bred veiled chameleons for several years. They are an awesome animal! For the terrarium, you'll want to use a material that allows air to pass through. I would recommend buying a Reptarium (google it) as opposed to DIY. I've done both and the DIY cage had a lot of cricket escapees! You might be more skilled than me though. Oh, and you don't need to feed them 5 times per day
Twice is plenty. Let me know if you have other questions
Twice is plenty. Let me know if you have other questions
Helfrichs Chic
New member
Had a large panther Cham. Years ago in tx. He was awesome and amazing colors. Never tried in az as they need such good air circulation and also such high humidity. Hard to achieve both here in az. I did the arrow frogs instead. Good luck, post pics when u get him. I also agree with the proper enclosure, some cool one now days made specifically for them and no cricket escape. Mine loved his weekly meal worm treats. I would also suggest a good calcium powder for his crickets or gut load them...or both. Pets inc should have the chameleon cages.
I use to have a Quadricornis chameleon. I started with a Montium and my dog killed it within a week. Since i had all of the equipment i took my time,looked through my handbook and found the coolest one in there and looked him up online. A petstore in florida was about to get a shippment from Madagascar. they shipped him to me and picked it up at the UPS store before it went out on the truck. He lived in a 9 foot fake tree( no cage) it was the coolest thing. he ate mothes with bodys the size of my thumb(huge). they dont eat 5 times a day but a good feeding every day or two, buying from a petstore most of them are breed so they are more taim. they do need a screen cage not glass.If you do get one post images and info, my son(5yrs) wanted one for X-Mas.Now he is going for his B-Day now.Lol Next best hobbie definatly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chrischin29g
o^__^o<-- MY PLUGS
Yea I do only with veilds tho
Most important is there lights you need like three
UVB basking light and night light
No glass cages all screen
Need to mist the tank at least 3x a day
On Cham per cage
Males gets up to about 15-18inches
Males are brighter & have spurs on rear legs
Get them REAL PLANTS makes sure there safe tho
They eat crickets meal,silk, wax worms
Give them a variety
Require very little handling
VERY MOODY! sometimes they don't like being handled
They don't drink sitting water so you have to mist alot or have a dripper
Probably the most chill pet you can own
Id recommend ordering from flchams .com
Most important is there lights you need like three
UVB basking light and night light
No glass cages all screen
Need to mist the tank at least 3x a day
On Cham per cage
Males gets up to about 15-18inches
Males are brighter & have spurs on rear legs
Get them REAL PLANTS makes sure there safe tho
They eat crickets meal,silk, wax worms
Give them a variety
Require very little handling
VERY MOODY! sometimes they don't like being handled
They don't drink sitting water so you have to mist alot or have a dripper
Probably the most chill pet you can own
Id recommend ordering from flchams .com
Frizz
Active member
I have had a lot of chameleon experience. Do plenty of research before getting anything, then decide on a species & set it up for that specie. Plan on culturing your own bugs Crickets & mealworms, even gut loaded & vitamin coated are no substitute for a varied diet & will make all of the difference in the longevity of your lizard.
They are ALL time consuming & very very particular about their environment.
Personally in this area I would recommend the Veiled to start out with. They are more suited for our climate than some of the other species giving you one less challenge to deal with.
Zoo med makes an awesome automatic mister that comes with a timer. I suggest that for any chameleon that you get. They will not drink water from a dish. You will also need to have an outdoor enclosure for them. There is no substitute for natural sunlight . All of the full spectrum bulbs in the world will not give your lizard the same excellent health that a few hours in natural light during good weather will.
I have a Huge glassed in atrium with a skylight that has housed a few chameleons in the past & is itching for one now ( except that I really don't have that kind of time)
Frizz
They are ALL time consuming & very very particular about their environment.
Personally in this area I would recommend the Veiled to start out with. They are more suited for our climate than some of the other species giving you one less challenge to deal with.
Zoo med makes an awesome automatic mister that comes with a timer. I suggest that for any chameleon that you get. They will not drink water from a dish. You will also need to have an outdoor enclosure for them. There is no substitute for natural sunlight . All of the full spectrum bulbs in the world will not give your lizard the same excellent health that a few hours in natural light during good weather will.
I have a Huge glassed in atrium with a skylight that has housed a few chameleons in the past & is itching for one now ( except that I really don't have that kind of time)
Frizz
samdaman
New member
Dang, I'm tagging along... i'm interested too. So the veiled chameleon is the only one you would recommended for the AZ weather?
Is this the color they actually get?
http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/herptile/veiled.jpg
Is this the color they actually get?
http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/herptile/veiled.jpg
Enjoihavok
New member
I had one years ago, and they are a blast, fun just to watch eat and walk around.
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/-/65-gallon-basic-reptarium/
Very good website for a reptarium cage, black pvc inside for the frame, and then the mesh outside with zippers on the sides to access things, never had issues with crickets escaping or anything.
Also you can order bulk crickets and keep them in a spare cage in maybe a garage as so you dont have to hear them all the time, just toss some cricket food in there to keep them healthy and alive, and easy to make the feedings for the cham. rather then a drive to a pet store often.
Bulbs like others are saying are very important, overtime with out bulbs they will start getting brown and not change very many colors anymore, and it hurts there health and so on.
I had a waterfall rock structure for running water use, he would climb it as well as drink from it, but misting plants is a big plus and important as well, give them lots of choices they can be picky.
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/-/65-gallon-basic-reptarium/
Very good website for a reptarium cage, black pvc inside for the frame, and then the mesh outside with zippers on the sides to access things, never had issues with crickets escaping or anything.
Also you can order bulk crickets and keep them in a spare cage in maybe a garage as so you dont have to hear them all the time, just toss some cricket food in there to keep them healthy and alive, and easy to make the feedings for the cham. rather then a drive to a pet store often.
Bulbs like others are saying are very important, overtime with out bulbs they will start getting brown and not change very many colors anymore, and it hurts there health and so on.
I had a waterfall rock structure for running water use, he would climb it as well as drink from it, but misting plants is a big plus and important as well, give them lots of choices they can be picky.
Frizz
Active member
They can be that color but what you are looking at is a display or some type. If your chameleon is that bright all of the time it is stressed. They are still very pretty even when they are not displaying though, especially the males.
I wouldn't say that a Veiled is the only kind for Az but it is probably the wisest choice for a beginner in our climate because they are naturally more adapted to a more arid environment than may species & captive bred specimens are readily available at a reasonable price.
Frizz
chrischin29g
o^__^o<-- MY PLUGS
Mine would get all dark when he was stressed or ****ed off
Frizz
Active member
They do that too but the displays are what they do when they are feeling territorial or horny. For example if a male sees another male he will puff up & become very bright, even if it is at his own reflection. That is the biggest reason that you can't put them within viewing distance of one another or have a mirror in the enclosure. It's IK once in a while but the need to constantly show off like that will take it's toll on their health.
Same with if they are all dark a lot. A sign that they need something changed to make them happier.
Frizz
chrischin29g
o^__^o<-- MY PLUGS
Or a glass tank but yeah that'd very true
chrischin29g
o^__^o<-- MY PLUGS
Get a repti glo 5 t8 across the hole cage a basking light and a night light
