Crested or chameleon?

Just want to get everyone's opinion, I know that chameleons are not keen on handling, but how often would it be ok to handle them?

i've been wondering the same thing.... matt's alway's wanted a cham. but cresties are so cute...

My chameleon is only handled during cage cleaning. They do not like to be held and do not tolerate handling well. If you want a 'display' type animal, get a chameleon....If you want something to take out and play with, get a crested gecko.

Zeus doesn't even like it when you look at him.....he gets angry ;)
http://danielhillreptiles.com/New%20...CCP/zeus14.jpg

I say get a crestie. I have heard Chams are really hard to care for, but you may be prepared for that. Crested Geckos tolerate handling very well.

Oh and Daniel, That pic makes me want to toss a cricket in his mouth lol.

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Originally Posted by Kristy

I say get a crestie. I have heard Chams are really hard to care for, but you may be prepared for that. Crested Geckos tolerate handling very well.

Oh and Daniel, That pic makes me want to toss a cricket in his mouth lol.

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ha ha....he wanted fingers...not crickets ;)

IMO....Veiled Chams are pretty easy to care for if provided with the proper setup, so I would recommend them to beginning cham keepers. However, I believe you still need to have some reptile experience before getting a chameleon.....definately not a beginner reptile.

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

ha ha....he wanted fingers...not crickets ;)

IMO....Veiled Chams are pretty easy to care for if provided with the proper setup, so I would recommend them to beginning cham keepers. However, I believe you still need to have some reptile experience before getting a chameleon.....definately not a beginner reptile.

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My son Loves that pic. He wants me to print it out for him so he can put it up on his wall. I have never seen a 4 year old kid with so many pics and posters of Insects and Reptiles. Its awesome.


I have seen so many Chams in petco for adoption in horrible set ups after people have brought them back. I almost took one the other day that looked like death was breathing down its neck, it was pale and just lying on his water dish. I tried to get them to mist him, and tell them they don't drink from water dishes. It was really sad, they just left him there. I just don't know anything about them so I felt like it would be a lost cause.

lol that pic cracks me up. I've also been reading that adult chameleons need a 2'x2'x3' cage, sound about right? I think all the talk about chameleons being REALLY hard to care for is a little far fetched, yes they need high humidity, UVA/UVB bulbs, etc. but from what i've been reading it's not all that bad.

I'd go with cresties. I love mine, plus they're so much easier to take care of. With chameleons, you have to gutload crickets, dust the crickets, have supplemental lighting, etc. With cresties, you can solely feed on CGD and they require no extra heating/lighting. Plus they're quite docile when they get used to you. :)

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Originally Posted by Sausage

I'd go with cresties. I love mine, plus they're so much easier to take care of. With chameleons, you have to gutload crickets, dust the crickets, have supplemental lighting, etc. With cresties, you can solely feed on CGD and they require no extra heating/lighting. Plus they're quite docile when they get used to you. :)

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My brother has a crestie and think they're awesome, problem being unless I come up with someway to cool the room in the summer it hits 85* and up, there kinda out of the picture. Cresties are neat though, but after seeing daniels, and me wanting to except the extra responsibilty the chameleon seems much better. :)

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Originally Posted by chris B

lol that pic cracks me up. I've also been reading that adult chameleons need a 2'x2'x3' cage, sound about right? I think all the talk about chameleons being REALLY hard to care for is a little far fetched, yes they need high humidity, UVA/UVB bulbs, etc. but from what i've been reading it's not all that bad.

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That sounds about right on the cage size. Chameleons are hard to care for in general; however, some are alot easier to care for than others, so that is where people get confused. Care requirements among chameleons vary from each species too so be aware.

Besides the veiled, I also kept pygmy leaf chameleons for a while. One evening my a/c went out in the snake room. I caught it before the room temps got above 90 and killed off my entire collection, but it was already too late for the pygmies. Very intolerant of error.

I have a panther chameleon, and man, he sure has personality. It took me about a year to pick up the courage to just try handling him by hand. Even as juvies, they have their own tempers. Lol.
Shannon would know from experience. Chester's a nearing 2 years old now, and every time that Shannon would just walk by and look at him, he would instantly flare up with his red colors and puff up and hiss at her.
The husbandry issues are not the only thing to worry about. Chameleons are very prone to eye infections, and problems with their tongue. My herp vet was explaining to me (during the last check up after an eye infection) that if they don't 'exercise' their tongue flexibility that they would loose the muscle tone, which would then rot in their mouth, resulting in a very expensive surgery. So.. there's a lot more to the general care than you would think. Chester has been a wonderful learning experience, and in keeping him I have improved my husbandry for not just him, but all of my other animals as well. And despite his grumpyness, I still love him ^_^. But if I had to do it all over agian, I would have told myself to get another herp that was slightly less intensive before I got my cham.

I would go Crestie all the way. I had a Veiled for a few years, when we moved it stopped eating and started waisting away...My vet said that Chams sometimes get "depressed" from a change in their environment...so it was the move that ultimatley killed her.....


I have 3 Cresties and they are great!!