Chameleons are amazing animals and very peculiar creatures among the reptiles for their characteristics such as color-changing behavior, water drinking habits, and long sticky tongue. All of these characteristics make Chameleons very special among all reptiles. They can be very good pets, yet a lot of effort goes into taking care of them, making them very difficult for beginners.
Chameleons require extensive care and maintenance as compared to other reptiles and pets. An appropriate attitude is required to take care of a chameleon as a pet, as they get stressed easily, which can be harmful to their health.
The initial Chameleon purchase ranges from 30$ to 300$, depending on its age and species. However, the task is not just over after buying the Chameleon; you need to buy the whole set of things for its maintenance: heating, plants, water tank, food, supplements, etc.
The cost of Chameleon’s
The cost of Chameleon varies from species to species, yet the average rate of a Chameleon ranges from 30-300$. Other breeds are more expensive and cause more maintenance and care.
Panther Chameleon:
It requires more care and maintenance than normal Chameleons, as they are more colorful than veiled Chameleons and their prices are according to that. A young Panther Chameleon ranges from $150 to $200, whereas adults and Juveniles range from 200$ to 300$.
Veiled Chameleons:
They are the cheapest Chameleons and very easy to buy because of their availability. You can get a young Veiled Chameleon from 20$-30$, whereas the price of a rare translucent veiled Chameleon might slightly exceed to 50$. The adults and juveniles can be found around the price of 75$ and 45$ respectively. The Translucent Veiled Chameleons’ adults and juveniles could be found at the rate of $50-$100.
Jackson Chameleon:
The price of a Jackson Chameleon ranges from $50-$80 for a baby, whereas an adult or Juvenile may cost around $180. The price may differ depending on the Locale you’re getting the chameleon from.
Chameleon Cost:
Buying a Chameleon is much trickier than buying any other pet. You must get a pile of initial supplies to keep up with the needs and requirements of the color-changing pet; for example, you need to buy a stack of food and supplements for the Chameleon to ensure the health of your Chameleon. However, you can get the lizard at different costs depending on where you’re buying it from.
Free:
Finding an unwanted Chameleon can be one way of getting a Chameleon pet when someone is trying to get rid of it. There can be many reasons why their former owner is trying to get rid of them; if the reason is just good riddance, you are getting a good deal. However, if they are getting rid of it out of some illness, then you might want to ponder it one more time.
Adoption:
The price of adoption of Chameleon is different, varying from $30 to $100, where $50 is the most common price for buying a Chameleon. However, it’s not easy to find a Chameleon brought up for adoption. So you must seek the help of a reptile adaptation service or specialist lizard to find one for you; in this case, you must inquire if they have the cage and equipment to go with, it will help reduce the cost.
The cost of a Chameleon setup
There are many items and equipment required when dealing with a Chameleon. The following provides an overview of the average cost of each item that you must have for the maintenance of the Chameleons.
- Digital timers $20
- Lighting $115
- Food $3-25
- Watering $8-$130
- Enclosure $60-$300
- Plants $120
- Thermometer $8-$30
The importance of all these things can’t be overstated; it’s crucial to have all these things before going for a Chameleon.
How much does a Chameleon Cage cost
The Chameleon cage is its territory which the chameleon is very possessive and protective about. Among the different options available in the market, the two main are; wooden enclosure with glass doors and screen cages with aluminum frames. The second enclosure, which is Screen cages, is preferred for the Chameleons’ well-being.
It’s good to buy a big cage even if you’re taking a baby Chameleon, as the Chameleon will grow attached to the same cage and will not have territory problems. Buying a small cage for a young chameleon might not be a good idea, as with the growth of the reptile, the cage must be changed, which later might stress the Chameleon.
Chameleon Lighting setup Cost
Lighting is paramount in the life of a Chameleon, so after you have set up a cage for the Chameleon successfully, you must now move to buy a good lighting system for the reptile. This setup provides lighting and heat and is also useful for producing vitamin D3 so that the Chameleon can absorb the calcium as per the body’s requirements.
The light is required to regulate the heat and temperature within the cage for the Chameleon, an imitation of the natural heat experienced by the Chameleon in the morning; this requires a lamp fixture of a heat bulb, which can be easily found on Amazon. However, you must not be tricked by the packaging, as the standard halogen bulb is no different from the bulb in a box with a picture of a lizard sitting on it.
It’s easier to get a starter kit with a reflector, fixture, and 5.0 bulb which will help you with the UVB light responsible for providing vitamin D3 as per the requirements of the Chameleons.
Chameleon Water cost
A chameleon requires a lot of water to keep itself hydrated, but that’s not just it; a Chameleon will not drink from a water dish, as it cannot sense standing water. The Chameleon can sense water only if it’s moving and drinks water from the dewdrops formed from the morning mist. The water keeps it hydrated and regulates the humidity level for the Chameleon.
This can be done using a hand pump spray, which is also a very cheap method to adopt. This procedure can get difficult as you’ll have to spray water constantly using the pump. A good pump can cost you around 6$.
It’s good to mist the cage frequently throughout the day; however, spraying twice a day can be effective. A dripping system is the best option to keep your Chameleon hydrated and very effective for a watering system, which can be made by putting holes in a plastic glass. An automatic dripping system can be easily found on Amazon and will be very effective for the nourishment of the reptile.
Cost of plants and furniture for Chameleon
After you have got a home with lighting and water for the Chameleon, the next thing you need is the furniture and plants for the Chameleon. The furniture depends on the plants you are willing to buy for the color-changing reptile. It’s enough to have two to three large and sturdy plants along with some small ones for your Chameleon to climb on.
You can get such plants easily from any plant nursery, and this will cost you around 80$ to get the whole lot of plants required to be placed inside the cage. The plants must be original instead of plastic, as the Chameleons eat the plants. Before buying any plants for the cage, make sure that they are safe for the Chameleon’s health and will not have any side effect on its health.
More branches seem attractive and relaxing to a Chameleon, which can be added artificially by collecting twigs and branches from nearby woods and placing them in the cage to relieve the reptile.
Cost of a Thermometer for Chameleon
A thermometer is crucial when you’re setting up a spot for a Chameleon to keep the warmth of the environment under control. The temperature inside the cage must not be very hot or cold for the Chameleon, along with the perfect level of humidity.
The perfect temperature can be attained by gauging the temperature inside the cage with a thermometer, which can prevent any health issues from arising in the Chameleon. You should spend a great deal of money on this one, as it decides whether or not the Chameleon is perfectly alright inside the cage.
A thermometer can be found easily on online stores and even in stores near you, cost around 10$-30$. The thermometer must be capable of measuring two things, first: the temperature, second: the humidity.
Cost of a Digital timer for the Chameleon
A digital timer makes sure that the lights and watering systems turn on and off at the same time as required. Furthermore, the lights turning on and off can also be regulated using a Digital timer. The Digital timer can cost around $15-$20 for a pair, and it can last for long periods.
Cost supplements for Chameleon
The Chameleons require a good amount of calcium and vitamin supplements, which need to be sprinkled on their food. These supplements provide backup for the vitamins and minerals for insects if your feeder fails to do so.
The supplements include multivitamins, calcium powder without D3, and calcium powder with D3. These three costs around 15$ in total. It’s important to provide supplements to your Chameleon for his healthy growth.
Cost of food for Chameleon
The food you’re buying for your Chameleon must not be more than two days old, as the food must be as fresh as possible to keep the Chameleon’s health intact. The Juvenile Chameleon will require a lot more food than an adult one. So you must keep these preferences in mind while buying food for this reptile.
Buying a tub of crickets is a cost-effective way and will cost only 3$ for the whole tub of 250 crickets and can last for ten to 12 twelve days with your Chameleon.
Cost of insects enclosure for Chameleon live food
There must be a place where you can store the insects you are buying to feed your Chameleon. Keeping them in plastic tubs cannot keep them fresh for a long period. You must get a storage bin of a decent size and a lid to store your crickets. It will cost you around 10$-20$. There are other insects keeping instruments to keep the food fresh and safe from rotting.
Chameleon Maintenance costs
After setting up and arranging all the equipment mentioned above, you’re ready to get a Chameleon as a pet. However, there is a fair amount of money required to keep your Chameleon healthy and fresh. The cost may vary depending on the quality and brands you’re getting the stuff from. So an annual cost estimate of each thing is given below.
Health care:
250$ – 400$ per annum
The health of your pet, whoever it may be, is very crucial and is entirely unpredictable when you’re talking about a Chameleon. There will be times when you will have to take the Chameleon to the vet quite often compared to some other day. The medication and vet trips are all included in this budget for the health care of the Chameleon.
Check-ups:
The check-ups of your Chameleon might cost around 30$-75$ per annum. A great option to cut down on this expense is to look for a budget and package subscription. The cost may vary depending on which vet you are consulting for your Chameleon.
Treatments for Parasites:
These are very important for the health of the Chameleon. The parasites can be checked using Fecal floats and Fecal tests, where a visual inspection identifies external parasites. The parasite treatment can run up to $150 per test.
Emergencies:
Your Chameleon can have any health emergency; an example could be egg binding within the Chameleon which needs immediate medical assistance. You can expect to pay up to 300$ depending on the severity of the case.
Conclusion:
A Chameleon can be a good pet but might also be difficult to maintain, especially for beginners. The initial purchase starts from $30-$300 and having other setups to keep your Chameleon healthy and alive might cost you an arm and a leg if you are just a beginner. The annual cost of Chameleon maintenance may be around 1200$, which includes different types of expenses, including health, food, light, water system, etc.
So, if you’re a beginner, you might want to look at these things to make sure which pet you should opt for.
