Chameleon Low-Down

[BoidsUnlimited]

First of all, what is the BEST species to own.

Now I have not looked into chameleons much, but I have been browsing some sites and find the Panther and Nosybe to be the most attractive.

ONE thing I have heard is that they arent very fond of handling, which is NOT a problem.

So, if you wouldnt mind, could someone lay out the BASICS of chameleon owning to me? Later on, if I decide to get some, I might be asking for some breeding tips. But right now basic care is sufficient.

Just simple things like Temps, Humidity, Caging (what about those screen cages at Petco?), Feeding (Babys and Adults), etc etc.

Thanks VERY much,

B.U.

[Kev_Mc]

Well those screen cages at PetCo will work fine, that is if you have no other free ranged animals that could get through them, I am just using a display cabniet with a glass front right now, works great.

Temperatures varie with species, veileds like a basking spot in the 90's, but other than that they like it around 80-86, but some Jackson's like it to be cool, in the 70's

Humidity - Veileds are from Yemen and Saudi Arabia, so a humidtity of 50-70% is good.

Water - No dishes just spray once a day minimum, try once in the morning and once in afternoon.

Food- Anything small enough to fit in it's mouth that moves, but veileds will eat veggies and some fruits, babys obviously need smaller food, but avoid feeding them anything but crickets for 3 months, they will probaly reguritate it.

Sexing - You can sex veiled chameleons from birth, males will have a small tarsal spur on there ankle, which females lack.

Hope this Helps

*EDIT*
Sorry but this information is mostly on veileds, but thats all I keep!

kraum@hotmail.com

This guy is perrty knowlegable about panthers

[DragnDrop]

Generally speaking, there is no 'best' species of chams. The one that's best for you is the one you can care for properly. There's a big range of temperature and humidity requirements between the species. Find out which one needs what you can easily and always supply, and go with that species. If you have to work like mad trying to keep the conditions right, you'll get fed up in no time and give up. Get a species that's easy enough for you to work with, it's much simpler and makes for more enjoyment of your chams.

[alejandro2004]

you would need to get a all screen cage for the veiled and panthers the minimun sice would be 2x2x4.
you need to spary it atleast 2 times a day 3 would be alot better. spray for like 10 mins so you give the oportunity for the cham to drink also a drip sistem work great. For me live plants are nesesary but othere people will say that fake plants work too.
for me fake plants stress chams and dont help wit the humidity.
so a ficus benjamina or a unbrella plant or a hibiscus work good.
as for food for babys try small crickets, fruitflys and small silkworms. you can give them mealworms after they have shed but in small cuantities and waxworms just like a treat.

you will need a uvb bulb like a repti sun 5.0 and for the heat just use a normal house bulb in a dome fixture.

jackson like the cololler that othere species. like 75f and they need alot more umidity than veiled and panthers.

veiled like the baskin spot around 100 and the otheres part of the cages around 85. they will eat plants too.

for the panther the baskin should be like 90.

when those 2 species get full sice you can feed them pinkys like 1 a month or 1 every two month that help them alot to gain waigh and get more calcium.

you will need to use a calcium mineral suplement and a vitamin suplement.

for babys the calcium min 4 times a week and vitamins 1

[BoidsUnlimited]

Wow thanks for the replys all!

I greatly appreciate it.