What's the best *first* chameleon?

[nolagurl]

A good friend of mine wants to get a chameleon. I don't know much about them so I thought I'd ask y'all. I'm a snake person myself.

She has two tarantulas, a kingsnake, and 2 cats with weird dietary needs. She has some experience with keeping high maintenance pets and I think she does a great job.
I've heard that chameleon's are somewhat delicate, demanding lizards.

I have a few back issues of "Reptiles" magazine with chameleon articles that I've dug up for her as well.

Thanks!

[Trace]

IMHO, the best chameleons to start with is the Veiled (although they can be nasty tempered), the Panther or a Jackson's Chameleon. These 3 species seem to be the most widely available in the pet trade and rarely are they WC animals anymore, particularly in the US where you are located. Each have different husbandry requirements, so let your friend read up on some caresheets and decide what will be easiest for her.

Click here (http://www.adcham.com/html/taxonomy/species/chcalyptratus.html) for a caresheet on the Veiled's.

Click here (http://www.adcham.com/html/taxonomy/species/fpardalis.html) for a caresheet on the Panther's.

Click here (http://www.adcham.com/html/taxonomy/species/chjacksonixanth.html) for a caresheet on the Jackson's.

There are plenty more caresheets and books around for further studies.

Have fun!

Trace

[nolagurl]

Cool! Thanks a lot. I'm sending her those URLs right now.