CHAMELEON ??

[guppy]

1) how hard are they to keep
2) how much are they
3) how much is a tank cage for them

 

[Bloo]

I do not have one myself, but I have looked into this too.
As you are in the UK, UK Chameleons has a very good website about Veiled Chameleons (Or yemen chameleons). They seem to be the recommended "starter" chameleons.

Here are a couple of threads with some more info and pictures

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=88784

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=85737

That should just about answer your questions if you read those threads and care sheet

 

[abstract]

1) google
2) google
3) google

..sorry, not sure...

 

[guppy]

1) google
2) google
3) google

..sorry, not sure...

O wow thats for the help lol

ill have a look on that web site

 

[Def]

Guppy, I have the misfortune to know you, just a little, and my advice to you is DO NOT GET A CHAMELEON.

It's not about the cost, it's about the effort.

 

[guppy]

Guppy, I have the misfortune to know you, just a little, and my advice to you is DO NOT GET A CHAMELEON.

It's not about the cost, it's about the effort.

No Def i just wanted to no about the cost but i have the effort for thinks i like and i love Chameleons so y should i not get one ??

 

[maos]

how can you like and love something you know not much about>?

 

[guppy]

well i like as in i have seen them and there cool and i love as i would love one of my own

 

[OohFeeshy]

LOL gup, stick with your silly robot dog They're pretty hard IMO, thats why the first viv I have won't have a chamelion, much as I love them. Google is your friend, but what I know so far-
1. They need a moving water source to drink from
2. They eat an awful lot

And thats about it. Obviously the above is not 100% accurate, so shuddup def and don't contradict .

 

[guppy]

o Ok i think one opf the pet shops has some in so ill take a look they have tons of things for them like moving water stuff ill go there this weekend

 

[maos]

a bearded dragon is the ideal first reptile if you want something bigger than a gecko.

if you look on www.pets-classifieds.co.uk then people usually sell set ups with chameleons for cheaper than youd get it all from a shop

 

[Def]

I really am going to do my best to put you off getting one.

You need to shower them every week. That means you have to put a large plant in your shower, put the chameleon on the plant and leave the shower running at around 85 degrees for up to an hour. Every single week. Your parents will love having a lizard in the shower.

You have to make sure your chameleon is hydrated. Just because they don't look like they drink doesn't mean they don't need it. I spray Bud 4 times a day at least, one of those times is for 15 minutes. It takes TIME to get a drinking response.

Chameleons will NOT drink from standing water. They also rarely drink from moving water (the waterfall thing Oohfeeshy means never gets good reviews). They ONLY drink from droplets on plants and misting spray.

Because they need so much water, you CANNOT just buy a normal viv or glass tank. The water will pool in the bottom and cause respiratory infection. They need FRESH AIR, but they also need it hot and humid.

They eat live food. They will NOT eat dead food. That means you'll need to keep crickets, locusts, worms etc in your house. They WILL eat LOTS of food. I have to visit the local shop at least once a week for fresh food.

You not only have to feed your chameleon, you have to feed your live food. That means providing the locusts and crickets with a varied diet. Tomatoes, fruit, greenery etc all supplied regularly.

You can't just chuck the insects into the tank. You have to transfer the insects to a bag, then add vitamin and calcium supplements, then make sure the insects are dusted before feeding.

Consider this: how freaked are your parents going to get when you have an escaped locust or cricket? Don't think it'll happen? Trust me, it will. I'm super careful and I still find the ocassional rogue.

Chameleons are not like fish. You cannot self-treat. If your cham looks sick, you MUST take it to the vet immediately. And you'll need a specialist vet, and that costs more money.

If you didn't read every single word of that and skipped some, then you already know you don't have the patience for a chameleon.

I'm only trying to save the poor things life. It really doesn't deserve you.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Yep, certainly sound very complex to look after I think good beginners reptiles are leopard geckoes. *sigh* Methinks after I get bored of the 2fter I'll make it into a nice viv No reptiles are particulary easy to look after. Get a hamster Cute, fluffy, bite your fingers off when you're looking the other way. Or I have a large killer rabbit you can have for free- she eats twice as much as a normal rabbit, grouchy as hell and won't budge if you poke her with a broom (the bristley end, trying to get her into her hutch).

 

[MAM]

Chams are definitely NOT a beginners reptile. They also are not really something for younger reptile owners. They have special needs and requirements. As Def mentioned, besides the cost for the screen enclosure of the proper size, the lighting, the live foods and other foods, the tank decor, etc, there's the maintanence. They are not "just put them in the tank and let them be" lizards. Search the internet for caresheets. Read as many as you can. Figure out what the set up costs woudl be, but also the maintanence costs. You can't just feed it lizard chow or even just crickets. They require varied diets that don't come cheap and may be out of your budget.

If you are truly interested in herps (reptiles/amphibians), I recommend researching, researching, researching. And I suggest looking into something simple like a Leopard Gecko or Anoles. Both of these still require a fair cost up front for the proper enclosures, lighting, heat sources, and live foods, but their overall maintanence is a little easier, for beginners, and will be more in your teenager budget.................

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

one thing that wasn't mentioned is they don't like a lot of movement outside they're enclosure, and they can get easily stressed out if there is, the only thing i'm going to be the opposite on is the waterfall, cause the chameleons at work are always on it drinking and it makes great for keeping the humidity up

but as mentioned they aren't really a starter lizard and they can get down right nasty when they're older