Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

JaySteel · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject: New member seeking advice.

Firstly I'd like to say 'hello' to everyone.
I'm interested primarily in taking advice about purchasing one or more chameleons.
I recently visited a pet store near me that sells lizards and snakes and I fell in love with a Yemen / Vieled Chameleon. I'm aware of the costs involved and the fact that they need a heat lamp, UV lamp, plently of fresh air circulation, pre-dusted and loaded crickets etc...
I'm not sure that I want a chameleon that grows to 24-25" (including tail). Then I heard of the Von Hohnels Chameleon which is considerably smaller when fully grown. I haven't as yet found anyone selling these chameleons though. I've taken the time to do a bit of research on the internet and that's just made things more confusing. It's amazing how much information on one web-site contradicts another web-site when trying to get good advice about keeping these cameleons. There seems to be some discrepancy over how many you should keep in one vivarium, what size of viv and what style of viv they should be kept in. Some say that these make great pets that love to be picked up and others say that handling chameleons should be kept to a bare minimum as it causes the creature a great deal of stress.
No offense meant to anyone on here who runs or works in a pet store but I'm not sure how much I trust their advice as some seem to be more interested in getting the sale rather than the long term welfare of the lizard or the new owner.
Can anyone clear up any of these points?
Can anyone recommend a breed of chameleon that is happy to be handled and has a maximum body length (without tail) of 8-10" and doesn't require a 5-6ft vivarium?
To make things even harder my wife only likes green chameleons! lol

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you may be able to offer.

Jason

arthur cooke · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

Hi Jay, welcome to the forum, I'm not sure I'm the right one to give you advice, as I've never kept Chams for long.
I think that they are probably not an animal for the novice. I've kept reptiles of many kinds for years and my only experience with some little dwarf chams was that I struggled to keep them and ended up giving them away to someone who knew what they were doing.
They are a lovely lizard and I can see how you might fall in love with them.
The fact that you have found lots of contradictions may also be a sign that keeping them is complicated.
Hopefully a cham keeper will come here and prove me wrong.
cheers arthur

lol93 · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject:

Hi, and welcome. You have some fairly tricky criteria there!

Yemens and panthers are commonly recommended for beginners, but it is generally not advised to keep more than one in the same viv. I have only ever kept a yemens, and I find him easy to care for.

www.ukchameleons.co.uk has some good setup ideas and advice.
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JaySteel · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

Thank you both very much for taking the time to reply.

arthur cooke · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:09 am Post subject:

You're welcome
cheers arthur

minno · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject:

i have no clue on cams but welcome anyway Very Happy

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Jack · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject:

me niether but welcome to the forum Very Happy

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Lynne · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

welcome to the forum
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