If you are considering getting a pet chameleon for the first time, there are several things to consider before making your final decision. These lizards can live up to 30 years in captivity, so it is important to do your research and make sure that this is the right choice for you. We have compiled information about these fascinating creatures into an ultimate guide that will help you decide if they are good pets for beginners.
Are Chameleons Good Pets for Beginners?
Chameleons are some of the most beautiful lizards on earth. Their vibrant colors and cute little faces can make them seem like great pets for beginners, but is this really true? Chameleons generally live between three to five years in captivity. Many chams die within a year due to improper care by their owners. This is why chameleons are not good pets for beginners. If you do want to get one, I recommend that you research them extensively first and make sure that you can provide all the care they need before taking one home. It’s important to understand everything there is about owning a cham before bringing him into your house! This way you will know if a cham is the right pet for you before getting one. If this sounds like something that interests you, read on! This guide has everything there is to know about owning a chameleon as your first lizard.
The Best Pet Chameleon
The Panther Chameleon has a very interesting trait of being able to change color from light green, dark brown and even yellow depending on its mood. This makes it easy for beginners as they can make sure their chameleons are happy by allowing them to display different colors throughout the day. The only negative with this chameleon is that it has a much less docile temperament than other lizards which can make handling them difficult.
Another popular pet chameleon for beginners is the Veiled Chameleon because it’s very hardy and easy to care for, but you should be aware they are not as colorful or active when compared to the Panther Chameleon.
The last chameleon that is a perfect pet for beginners is the Jackson’s Chameleons because of how easy they are to care for and their large size makes them great pets if you have limited space available at home, but just like with the Veiled Chameleon it’s not as colorful or active when compared to the Panther Chameleon.
Because chameleons are such unique pets they’re perfect for those that want an exotic pet but don’t have a lot of space available, which is why beginners should consider this species before any other reptile.
Always Choose Captive Bred Animals
If you are considering bringing a chameleon into your home, always remember to choose captive bred animals. They will have the best temperament and thrive in captivity better than wild caught or imported animals do. Captive breeders work tirelessly to make sure that they are providing quality pets for their customers with healthy habits, bright coloration, strong immune systems, and a good head-start on training. A pet is for life, so make sure you get a healthy one!
Advantages of Captive Born Chameleons
Easier to maintain compared to wild caught chameleons. In the case of a pet store or breeder, they’re less likely to be exposed to parasites and diseases that could potentially spread between you and your new reptile friend. Captive born specimens are accustomed to people. This means it’ll be easier for them to adjust to living with you or other humans in the home. A captive born chameleon will be used to being around different environments, including people and pets. Chances are low that they’ll feel threatened by your presence which decreases the likelihood of them running away when approached by you or guests. Most pet stores or breeders offer a written health guarantee. Since captive born chameleons are less likely to be exposed to parasites and diseases, you can rest assured that their lifespan will be greater than one who is wild caught.
A species of chameleon that tends to remain small in size throughout adulthood making it suitable for children as well as adults. Captive born specimens are accustomed to being cared for by people, making them easier to train and handle compared to wild caught chameleons that can be more skittish around humans.
In conclusion, owning a pet chameleon is a great opportunity for those who are interested in becoming more familiar with reptiles or want to own an exotic pet. They’re fun, easy to care for and their small size makes them perfect for children as well. The best part of owning captive born chameleons is that there’s less risk involved which means they’ll live longer and happier lives than those who were rescued from the wild.
General Factors to Consider for Chameleon Pet Ownership
How much time is available for daily care and cleaning of the habitat? This will greatly depend on whether you have a baby or adult chameleon, as well as their size. A young hatchling should be handled very carefully- however an older one can walk around your home all day long!
The 2 Best Chameleons for Beginners
The Panther Chameleon is the Best and most Popular pet chamaeleon out there. They are very colorful and can change colors to blend in, which makes them a great choice for beginners because they’re not as easily stressed as other types of chameleons. Male panthers grow up to be about 24-30 inches long, while females are about 20-24 inches.
The Veiled Chameleon is a hardier species that can survive in more environments than other types of chameleons. It’s very popular and thus there are lots of breeders out there who produce high quality babies for sale (which means you don’t have to worry about getting an unhealthy pet). Females can grow up to be 20-24 inches long, while the males only get to be 18-20.
How Much Do Chameleons Cost?
Chameleons are one of the most expensive exotic pets to buy. A single chameleon can cost anywhere from $75-400, depending on where you get it and what kind of animal it is. Chameleon owners agree that they are money pits, requiring a lot in upkeep costs even if your pet lives for many years.
Chameleon’s Life Span
The life expectancy of chameleons is up to 10 years. You should just consider that fact when making your decision about adding a pet chameleon into your home because it will be there for a long time.
How Big Do They Get?
Chameleons are not big animals, and most of them stay relatively small. The veiled chameleon is one exception because it can grow up to 12″. Most of the smaller species only get about 8″-10″ in length although some even smaller than that like the Jackson’s chameleon.
What is Their Food Like?
You can buy live crickets from a pet store and feed them to your chameleon. You will have the most success in keeping it healthy by gut loading these insects with calcium, vegetables, and vitamin supplements before feeding them to your animal.
How Much Work Does Chameleon Ownership Involve?
If you’re going for a pet chameleon, you will need to set up a special tank for it. The minimum size is about 50 x 40 x 30 cm/20″x16″x12″. You can use an aquarium or terrarium but make sure that it has the proper lighting and heat sources required by your species of animal.
Should I Get a Chameleon as a Pet?
Chameleons are good pets for beginners but you should be aware of the amount of work and money it will require to keep your animal healthy. You need to have space, time, and financial resources available so that you can provide everything this type of pet needs.
Can They Be Handled?
What Makes a Good Pet Chameleon?
A chameleon is an exotic animal and should only be kept by experienced owners. They require a lot of attention, training and special care to make sure they’re healthy and happy in their habitat. The best way to tell if you’re ready for one as a pet is if you have experience with other reptiles from the reptile family.
Chameleons can be a lot of work to take care of, but they’re fun and rewarding! They have different personalities just like humans, so you might find that one chameleon is more difficult than the other – or vice versa! If you want something easier as your first pet reptile consider a snake.
Chameleons make great pets for people who can provide them with a proper habitat and diet, but it’s not impossible to keep one in an apartment if you have the right conditions and they don’t get any bigger than 12 inches (30cm). You may need to consult your landlord or property owner before getting a chameleon as a pet.
Chameleons are very unique and special creatures, but they can be a lot of work! They’re not for beginners who might get bored or frustrated with the responsibility that comes along with having them in your life.
How about a crested gecko?
While not as impressive as a chameleon, crested geckos are still fun to watch and they make great pets for beginners. They require some attention from you but nothing scary or difficult. Crested geckos are native to New Caledonia, an island nation near Australia. They like a warm and dry environment but they don’t need it to be humid or moist.
Crested Gecko Food
You can feed your crested gecko crickets, mealworms and wax worms. They also like fruit baby food (the kind with no onion powder) as a treat every now and then. Just make sure that whatever you give them is cut up into small pieces for easy chewing and swallowing. You can’t feed them anything bigger than the space between their eyes.
Crested Gecko Habitat
You can keep your crested geckos in a glass tank or plastic terrarium with controlled temperature and humidity levels. The floor of the enclosure should be some sort of substrate (floor covering). You can use paper towels, newspaper or carpet samples. You can also use reptile bark or coconut fiber to line the bottom of your tank/terrarium.
A crested gecko enclosure should be around ten gallons in size for one adult and fifteen gallons if you have two adults living together. A screen lid is necessary because these animals are great climbers, but they need something to keep them from escaping. You can use a wire mesh lid or an aquarium hood/top with metal screening for this purpose.
Crested Gecko Lighting and Temperature
You’ll need to provide your crested geckos with special UVB lighting (lamps, lights) which should be placed over the screen lids of their tanks/terrariums. This helps your gecko absorb calcium, which is necessary for strong bones and healthy growth. You should also have an incandescent light bulb or ceramic heat emitter in the tank to provide warmth during the day when they are most active. The temperature of their habitat should be around 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit on the cool end and 85-90 degrees on the warm side.
FAQs
Why do you say chameleons don’t like to be held, my chameleon wants to climb on me all the time?
Chameleons are very active, and they like to climb around. It may seem that your chameleon wants to be held because it is constantly climbing on you or near you! However, the reason a chameleon might do this isn’t necessarily because it wants attention: in the wild, their habitat has many places for them to climb up and down on, so they are instinctively drawn to these places. They also like climbing because it helps with their digestion–they eat a lot of insects every day! So don’t feel bad if your chameleon doesn’t want you holding him all the time – he just wants something tall he can climb on.
Can I have a male and female chameleon in the same enclosure?
No. While they may look similar, male and female chameleons are very different creatures with unique needs that require special attention—and separate enclosures. This is especially true for the females of some species who can become aggressive toward one another once in breeding season.
Do Chameleons Bite?
This is a common question that beginners have. The quick answer is “yes, but it’s rare”. Chameleons are predators and will use their teeth to grab prey. However, they do not have strong jaws so the chances of being bitten by one are pretty slim as long as you handle them correctly.
Other Chameleons are Mean?
Some of the larger species of chameleon are known to be more aggressive. However, again it depends on how you handle them and what type of experience they have with humans. The best way is to get your first one young so that they can adjust properly. A good thing about these types though is that if their mouth gets stuck, they won’t bite down and can drop to the ground without injury.
Senegal, Flap-Necked, Graceful Chameleons
One of the more affordable chameleon pets, Senegal Chameleons are generally hardy and adaptable. They will do fine in a 15 gallon tank with lots of branches or vines for climbing. A screen lid is necessary to prevent escapes! These creatures need daily UVB light as well as full spectrum fluorescent lighting which should be on for twelve hours a day. They also need temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels around 60%.
Graceful Chameleons are bright green with yellow spots and they can blend into the background to hide from predators. Males grow bigger than females, reaching up to 15 inches long! These lizards will do best in an enclosure that is 30 inches long and 20 inches wide. Adults will need a 15 gallon tank that is 24 by 12-inches tall, but hatchlings can do something smaller to start with. These creatures like temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels around 60%.
Senegal Chameleon care is simple as long as you provide the proper lighting, heat and humidity.
Carpet Chameleons
Carpet Chameleons are native to Madagascar and they come in a variety of colors including yellow, orange, green and blue. They can live up to 20 years with the right care!
Males grow larger than females so if you want to breed your Carpet Chameleon make sure that males will have enough room when mature.
Carpet Chameleons should be housed in an enclosure that is 40 inches long, 20 inches tall and 30 wide. They need both a day time basking spot as well as areas where they can cool off so make sure your tank has plenty of branches or vines for climbing!
Pygmy Chameleons
Pygmy chameleons are the smallest type of chameleon, growing to be only about four or five inches long. They originate from Madagascar and other nearby islands. Their small size makes them easier for beginners to handle than larger types of chameleons, but because they can’t climb many surfaces, it’s important that you keep them in a low-friction environment.
Are Chameleons Good Pets?
It is very important to consider if chameleons are good pets for beginners. Chameleons have special needs and it takes a lot of time, patience, and money to meet their needs. If you don’t feel that you will be able to spend the necessary time with your chameleon then they may not be the best pet for you.
Useful Video: Do Chameleons Make GOOD Pets!? | What It’s Like Owning One!
Conclusion
Chameleons are interesting pets. If you want an exotic pet, they make a good choice because of their unique appearance and ability to change colors. Chameleons can be difficult for beginners though because it takes time to learn how the care is given in captivity. They are very active lizards that need roomy enclosures with lots of plants, branches and climbing space. They need a special diet that is high in calcium to support their bones which are not solid like mammals but have spongy bone tissue. In the wild they eat insects, small lizards and even sometimes birds eggs – a far cry from the crickets you offer them at your local pet store! When it comes to chameleon care, just remember to provide them with the best environment possible and feed a healthy balanced diet.