Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[baloo]

i'm thinking of adding a cham, single male or pair to my crested gecko collection. ideally 2 cages of 2x2x3 cos that would fit in perfectly
question 1
i was thinking of building a cage where only the front and top are mesh
a full screen viv is something i'm just not comfortable about. just a thing i have
question 2
i'm not sure what type of chameleon i should start with.
i know yemes are perfect but i'm a bit worried because of their reputation of being agressive. i don't want a pet to cuddle but something i don't have to worry about when my lil daughter goes near it as i will roam the fish house on occasion to stretch its legs
question 3
carpet chameleons
any advise on those.
i can't find anything useful but a few not to in depth care sheets on the net
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ULI

[cass]

im sure ole rick can answer those for u , i like yemans but ur right some can be aggresive good luck with whatever u decide
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[johne.ev]

Hi cass.
just get this one in quick before Rick....ha ha. male panther without a doubt, wouldn't you agree Rick?.

[cass]

theres only 1 great male panther round here and he goes by the name of franz
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[johne.ev]

Hi baloo & everyone else.
bit too quick for my own good, addressed my post to cass by mistake. that'l teach me to look next time. ha! ha!.

[baloo]

panthers are great but i have a bit of a budget.
i will get some store credit at a shop dealing in fish and herps.
basicly i bring some fish there get credit and leave with a chameleon or 2
i also have to buy a dimmerstat and maybe a a couple of small flexariums to grow them on a bit.
all the rest i already have.
uv, branches and fake plants. real once i buy when i get there
i am sorry but a panther is just out of the question for now
i do like carpets but can't find anything helpful about them
just basic care info but nothing a beginner like myself would like to know to find the reasurance needed.
i don't wanna loose one because of my inexperience
i also like flapnecks
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ULI

[johne.ev]

Never kept carpet chams myself, but i believe care is very much the same as for panthers. obviously can be housed in smaller enclosure. also think you can keep a pair together.

[Rickeezee]

hmmmmmm pressure, thanks guys

Well, from what has been said budget is an issue so the Panther is out. or is it, a CB baby Panther of good stock can be had for approx 120.

The size of the vivs described would suit a pair of Carpet chams, they can be housed together as a male / female pair.

There are two forms of the carpet chameleon: Furcifer lateralis Minor and Major. The later being a sub species. Both come from Madagascar.

If you decide on a carpet cham, make sure whatever one you get is not wild caught, in the wild they only live for approx 1.5 years. A good healthy Captive bred Carpet will live for approx 3 years in captivity.

I have seen CB Majors but not seen any CB minors. As the name suggests the majors grow quite large 10-14 inches overall length, minors 6-7 inches. Both are relatively easy to look after and both require different tempretures! Not to be overlooked. The majors hail from the hotter west coast area of Madagascar the Minors from the central Madagascan highlands near Tananarivo.

If you do go for a pair I would suggest the Minors due to the size of your viv, or one Major in each viv.

I have a pair of approx 8 week old Majors they are superb! If you decide upon the carpets let me know and I will give you a more in depth care guide. I don't want to waffle on about them cause once I start I won't stop


Expect to pay about about £75 for a CB carpet, these are pet shop prices. I got mine direct from the breeder much cheaper. Double check and be sure they are not WC though!

Yemens; well they are the so called classic obvious begginers cham and a good starting point for all herps chameleon rellated. Yes they are prone to being aggressive, but no chams really like being handled unless you get an exception to the rule like Franz F (Picasso Panther). Chameleons are best kept as display herps, but saying that free roaming in the right conditions can and does work, but and this is a big but, I would suggest gaining some experience first before going for a free roaming set up. Unless you feel really confident with the idea that is.

CB yemen's are readily available and hardy, expect to pay 20 - 35 quid. Dont be put off by their cheap price as they are a superb chameleon and wonderful to keep.

My own personal view is that such a thing as a begginers chameleon does not exist. If you get the husbandry wrong a Yemen will survive and tollerate poor conditions better than say a Panther, but whats the point in having a hardy but unhappy herp?

Get the husbandry correct and have a happy herp is what I say!

Feel free to ask any questions that you may have. Best to ask as you have done

Good luck and keep us up to date with what cham you are going to get.
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[baloo]

[Rickeezee]

Screen mesh front and top would be fine for most chameleons. If free roaming for a short time each evening then this should be fine as long as the room is warm enough and there is maybe a few tall potted plants about for the cham to climb up and feel secure in the foliage.

This would mean handling them every day, so I would wait a couple of months after getting them before you do this just so that they have a chance to settle and get used to your presence first. Or leave the viv open with an easily accessible plant by the viv?

Your right research first is the best way, and the true learning will come from keeping them.
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