Keeping chamleons....

[Marsdinho]

Hi,

 

After a number of years keeping tropical fish, I have decided to change my aquarium for a vivarium.

 

I want to keep Chameleons, but dont know much about them really (I plan to do a lot of research first !)

 

Does anyone on here keep them, or know anyone that does and can offer any information.

 

Many thanks

[Ponty]

Hi,

 

After a number of years keeping tropical fish, I have decided to change my aquarium for a vivarium.

 

I want to keep Chameleons, but dont know much about them really (I plan to do a lot of research first !)

 

Does anyone on here keep them, or know anyone that does and can offer any information.

 

Many thanks

I can tell you that they're not the ideal rep for a novice. They're fairly delicate and demanding of exactly the right conditions, etc. They're not particularly hardy either, so one mishap can end in tears.

 

Cute little fellas though.

 

There are reptiles more suited to a first timer, depending on the sort of vivarium you'd like to have.

[Marsdinho]

Im just in the process of researching them...at the moment Im looking at Pygmy Chamleons, but it does seem that they required some specialist care....

 

I'll keep reading.

 

cheers

[SuperMikey]

If you've not had reptiles before, start with something like a Gecko and work your way up.

That's my advice anyway.

[mack rill]

We have kept chameleons for over 7 years, And they are one of the essayist reptiles to keep. All you need is a viv with Eco dirt, plant for them to climb, with a heat bulb,at the top. a reptile UV strip light, food is crickets fruit flies wax worms, and mist them with a spray bottle every day. We take them into the garden on hot summer days and let them climb in the pear tree. sort of catch there own food safari.

[tpbury]

I have a bearded dragon, try to avoid talking to her though. Also, I keep a lizard.

[Arizona]

By an odd coincidence, I bought this little fellar this afternoon:

 

 

 

 

 

The reptile experts amongst you may have noticed that this is not infact a lizard. It is infact a three foot male anaconda.

[S4INT]

Aaah I've always wanted a snake - one day... just need to get rid of the gf first...

[SuperMikey]

Snakes are such beautiful creatures, really want one but Mum is sh1t scared of reptiles so that's a big no-no until I move out (which luckily is in September!). Was he expensive Arizona?

[Arizona]

The yellow anaconda was £80. The cheapest you can probably get is a corn snake for £40-50. I'd budget for about £200 for a small snake, including the full set up. Vivarium, thermostat, heat source (there are several options here), decorations, water bowl and substrate. I had the mum problem too. Wouldn't let me have any, now I have three. Her fears were somewhat justified when I brought them home for a week last year and one escaped.

 

The itinery for this one was something like:

 

Anaconda - £80

Vivarium - £150 (but you could get away with something half that size for a small corn or king snake)

thermostat - £25

2x light fixture - £20

UV light bulb - £15

Light bulb - £2.50 (bog standard 9W low energy bulb from B&Q is fine, although some lizards need a full spectrum ligh bulb)

Decorations - £50

Coarse bark - £20 (Massive bag, could cover the viv 5 times)

Cage lock - £7 (one of the more important investments, trust me )

Water Bowl - £10

[Ponty]

I may post a couple of pics of my crestie later.

 

No, that's not a euphemism.

[Robsk II]

Chameleons are rubbish; you can't see them.

[Marsdinho]

The wife is reacting as if our lounge is going to be Jurrasic Park !!!!

[Arizona]

Incidentally, I'd say snakes were generally easier to care for. I haven't owned any lizards but they eat live crickets and meal worms, at least every other day. They also need to be kept alive and fed, I'm sure Ponty will tell you more. A snake on the other hand will take a relatively sized mouse or rat every week or two.

[hutch]

I used to have chameleons in the garden, before we moved. Cute.

 

Also had a cobra in the same garden, before I took his head off with a spade. I would've preferred to chase him away, but Mrs. H wouldn't have set foot outside the door again unless I showed her the carcass.

 

I do have the African equivalent of the Black Widow spider (Brown Button spider "latrodectus geometricus") in the garden at the moment, but don't tell Mrs. H

[Trader]

We have kept chameleons for over 7 years, And they are one of the essayist reptiles to keep. All you need is a viv with Eco dirt, plant for them to climb, with a heat bulb,at the top. a reptile UV strip light, food is crickets fruit flies wax worms, and mist them with a spray bottle every day. We take them into the garden on hot summer days and let them climb in the pear tree. sort of catch there own food safari.

 

Do you provide them with pen and paper, or do they have keyboard skills?

[Wes Tender]

There's a business contact of mine who is a great bloke and is well known locally as a breeder and supplier of snakes. He is based at Havant. His name is Midge Piasco. Lots about him on Google, but his own site is

 

http://www.royalpythonmorphs.co.uk

[Arizona]

I got the annie from a guy in Havant too. He mentioned Midge and some of the incredible stuff he breeds, including some massive royals.