Pet Chameleon
Tips for Owning a Pet Chameleon
If you are allergic to cats and dogs, you can still have a pet to enjoy in the form of a pet Chameleon. While there are many important decisions for this type of pet, the most critical is to choose a captive breed rather than one caught in the wild. The reasons is that Chameleons bred domestically are tamer and easier to handle whereas those from the wild tend to be stressed and therefore, difficult. In addition, wild caught Chameleons often become sick easily.
As you begin looking at different options, you will discover a number of excellent breeds such as the Veiled Chameleon. In fact, for people just getting started in buying a pet Chameleon, this is one highly recommended. Since this reptile has distinct requirements for care and handling, you definitely want one that has a known history for being relatively docile. Then as you become more knowledgeable, you could always add more exotic species.
Of course, you want to make your purchase from a reputable breeder but in addition to this, as the buyer you have the right and responsibility to know what to look for before you buy. For instance, any Chameleon being considered should have straight legs in that when bent, it is an indicator of the reptile having a metabolic bone disease. Additionally, the Chameleon should be able to hold onto a branch easily, have bright, alert eyes that are not sunken in (a sign of dehydration), the mouth should not have any scaly patches, or green coloring that would indicate mouth rot and the skin should be void of any scars or wounds.
Once you decide which pet Chameleon you want, the next step is to learn the right way of handling it, as well as the things this reptile needs to survive. Remember, this type of reptile is amazing, entertaining, and it even has personality. In addition, when living in the right environment and eating a healthy diet, the Chameleon will change color. However, until about age five months, the skin coloring is a dull gray but with maturity, you will enjoy a variety of color changes to green, turquoise, black, and blue/green.
The cage in which you keep your pet Chameleon needs to be set up with lots of tree branches, which is what its natural environment consists of. You would also want to add a variety of foliage types, make sure the cage has good ventilation, that the sides on at least two sides are poly mesh or vinyl coated wire, and that the top has a secure lid in that Chameleons are notorious for getting out. Of course, the cage should be appropriate for the size the Chameleon will reach at maturity. For the bottom of the cage, substrates such as sand, moss, bark, gravel, or a combination of all these is ideal.
Another important consideration when taking care of your pet Chameleon is temperature of the cage, which would vary slightly depending on the species chosen. For instance, if you go with the Veiled Chameleon, the cage would need to be on the warmer side. If possible, the cage should be positioned so it receives natural sunlight but if not, use a full spectrum fluorescent or incandescent light fixture.
As far as food and water, this reptile seldom drinks from a dish so you need to mist the foliage daily so the pet can drink the water droplets from the leaves. Of course, a drip system designed for reptiles is another option as well. If you go this route, the system would need to be in the same place all the time so the Chameleon knows where to go for water. The benefit of misting the leaves over a drip system is that the misting provides humidity that Chameleons need.
Finally, your pet Chameleon will need a diet of different insects such as meal worms, crickets, moths, wax worms, super worms, and non-infesting roaches, which can be purchased at pet stores. Other food this reptile loves includes leafy greens, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables. Along with this, it would be important to purchase a powdered vitamin D and calcium product, which is simply dusted onto the animal.