First chameleon.. what do I need???

[oiler17]

thanks for all the input.. I suppose my next question is..

what does everyone mean by "mesh" when talking about enclosures? From what I've read, it seems that mesh is the way to go.. also, if anyone knows some dependable places to buy these fine little animals, feel free to post about that too..

thanks

[Trace]

Who said chams are agressive?

Probably me.

No one said they were agressive in general.

Oh, that would probably be me again! My door is always open to people who think they can get my Ichiro or my C.J. out of their cages without sustaining a bite. Not all chameleons are nasty, but some are.

Hey Oiler! Good choice with the Panther Chameleon! Now I have not worked with thousands of them, but I have found they tend to be a little more agreeable and tolerant of handling than the Veileds. This is not, of course, the rule but I think you'll be quite happy with a Panther Chameleon. I would also recommend getting a male as your first chameleon. They are prettier, larger and don't have the reproductive problems that the females sometimes get.

As for the "mesh"... look for PetScreen or aluminum screen at your local hardware store. Avoid fiberglass screen as it tends to break down over time and small shards come off the mesh and could possibly get imbedded in your chameleons feet. I won't be able to answer your questions about construction of said cage as I'm hopelessly inept with powertools!

Breeders down your way? Hmmm. A lot more than what I've got available to me up here in the Great White North that's for sure. Maybe some of our American members can help you out here. I do like the chameleons that the Kammers breed. Check out their site: http://www.calumma.com/ as a start. You can also see the different locales available in the Panther Chameleons. Morgana at Reptayls is another. My apologies in advance to my breeder friends down that way, everybody's name is escaping me right now. It's time for a nap for me I think.

You could also try some local herp expos as well. A lot of the breeders will bring their animals to the shows and you can take your pick and ask them pointed questions about their stock, breeders, husbandy etc. Again I'm not sure what particular show is close to you at this point.

I hope this helps in some small way.

Trace

[meow_mix450]

Try to finds a show near you

Meow

[latazyo]

haha...a reptile show near ND, you guys are comedians

[oiler17]

What do you all use to keep the humidity up? Am I fine if I just spray down the leaves a few times each day? And if I make a 4' high enclosure, what'd be the best way to orient the lights? I'm thinking about using a merc vapor bulb for heat and light, unless that'd be a bad idea. I'm unsure about what I should and shouldn't use as a substrate. If I were to have live plants, is regular soil fine, or do I want to use something else? And if I use fake plants, what's good to use for that also? Also, I should ask what kinda stress, if any, noise puts on them. I'm trying to figure out where to put the enclosure but if putting it around a speaker is going to be a terrible idea I'll have to arrange for that.

sorry if they're redundant questions or whatever, but I don't want to screw anything up. I'm planning to build the enclosure at home over Xmas break and hopefully buy the animal when I get back here (at school). Oh and I changed my mind from panther to veiled because of money issues. I've read that both are good pets, even though the veiled isn't usually as friendly. Either way I don't plan on handling it very much so I didn't think that would matter.

So any help you're willing to give me is always appreciated! Thanks a lot!

[meow_mix450]

fogger, use t in te winter, and trce told me that lee valleys sells it cheper then te pet stores, and are both pretty muc the same

Meow

[Trace]

Morning Oiler! Excellent questions.

What do you all use to keep the humidity up?

I usually don't have too much of a problem during the summer months with maintaining humidity. It's very dry here in the winter months so I increase the amount that I'm spraying. When it's really bad here (Jan / Feb) I do have a small humidifier that I run in the room and I also use ultrasonic foggers on the cages. Humidity is important to chameleons yes, but I think it's more important to provide water for drinking than humidity. Dehydration is one of the major causes of early death in chameleons.

And if I make a 4' high enclosure, what'd be the best way to orient the lights?

I have mine sitting on the top of the cage, usually in a corner. I will orientate the sticks so that the one corner is the highest spot he can go, and that's where I put the heat light and UV tube. I can get a pic if you want.

I'm thinking about using a merc vapor bulb for heat and light, unless that'd be a bad idea.

Not at all! I love them. Just be careful with them though... if you accidently spray them they explode and they are also VERY hot. Position this bulb far enough away from the top of the cage so your little guy won't accidently burn himself. I recommend an indoor/outdoor thermometer with probe ($10.00 or so at Home Despot) to check that basking spot temperature. Oh, and because these bulbs are usually rated at 100watts or 160watts, you will have to look for a dome fixture with a ceramic element that can withstand the heat they give off. A regular plastic dome fixture will melt and burn down your house.

I'm unsure about what I should and shouldn't use as a substrate.

Personally I don't use anything in the bottom of my cages for the fact that they might accidently ingest substrate when they "zap" bugs. Other members may comment here, some do use newspaper, towels, sphagnum moss without too much problems. Avoid barks, mulches and the like.

If I were to have live plants, is regular soil fine, or do I want to use something else?

Regular soil is fine. I don't have my plants planted persay in my cages. They sit in pots at the bottom of the enclosure. What I have done, is put small rocks over the top of the exposed soil so they don't eat it. The rocks are small enough to fit them in puzzle wise in the pot, yet not small enough that they can eat them.

And if I use fake plants, what's good to use for that also?

Fake plants are fine, real ones are better. Real ones tend to hold the humidity up for longer periods then fake ones. I use a combination of both in my bigger cages for cover. When selecting fake plants, look for ones that are green plastic, not dyed green as the dye comes off during misting and the chameleon may drink that. Wash any fake and real plants before putting them in the cage, just in case.

Also, I should ask what kinda stress, if any, noise puts on them.

Realistically they don't hear all that well. Through evolution they have lost their external ears but they do have rudimentry ear canal in their heads. He might not have a problem being in the same room as your stereo sound wise, but he might not like being in the room because of the heavy traffic. You'll have to see about that. As mentioned previously, all chameleons have different personalities. Mine range from uber-friendly to uber-nasty. My friendly ones are in this room (with the stereo) so they can see me and interact with me while the idiots are in the quiet chameleon room.

sorry if they're redundant questions or whatever,

Hey, I'd rather you ask then not at all! The more prepared you can be ahead of time, the happier your chameleon will be. I have also noticed that you have been reading some of the past threads in this forum and that's fantastic.

Cheers!

Trace

[latazyo]

what about regular potting soil for the plants, it's impossible for me to get any topsoil here in ND?

[Trace]

Originally posted by latazyo
what about regular potting soil for the plants, it's impossible for me to get any topsoil here in ND?

Sorry guys, I should have been more specific when I went on my rant about soils. Regular potting soil is fine and what I use for the potted plants in my arboreal chameleon cages. I buy the no name stuff from Loblaws or Home Despot or WalMart... wherever it's cheap and where I happen to be at the time. Some of the cheaper brands do have additives like perlite, so that is why I cover the exposed soil with small rocks so the chams don't accidently zap it and eat it.

For my terrestrial chameleons I went and bought a fancy bag of dirt with no additives. These guys live on the ground, or close to it, and I didn't want them to pick up the bits of perlite when they ate.

Hope this clears up any confusion.

Trace