Chameleon Academy Podcast

At this episode 100 milestone it is time to reflect on where we have been and how we have grown over these last 99 episodes. I share my growth in the area of chameleon hydration philosophy and describe other challenges we are up against as the chameleon community.

Today we answer the question: What Chameleon Should I Get? This is for the keeper just starting out and finding themselves faced with a myriad of choices. Let's discuss your options and get you on the right track!

Welcome to an exploration of the world that both we and chameleons live within. We are honored to have John Courteney-Smith share with us a preview of his upcoming book. It is part 1 within the new Elements series: Fire – The Sun, its use and replication within Reptile Keeping. Today, we will talk about light and its importance to us as chameleon keepers.

Today I interview Helen Kairo from Anatomika about chameleon anatomy, MBD, and what goes on under a chameleon's skin. Helen is no stranger to the chameleon or even reptile world. If you have seen postings on social media of bright pink skeletons or beautiful images that show a window into the internal organs – that is Helen Kairo. She is actively sharing her love for anatomy and teaching. Today we...

Metabolic Bone Disease is a terminal condition. But, if caught in time, the chameleon's life can be saved.  Today we talk about living life with a special needs chameleon. Cheryl Garcia runs the reptile section of an animal rescue called Another Chance Sanctuary in the state of Ohio. Her daily duties are to manage the rescues when she is not traveling across the country picking up reptiles too sic...

Nutritional disorders in chameleons, like Metabolic Bone Disease, are a result of us not providing natural conditions. Today, John Courteney-Smith joins me to discuss preventing illness through proper environment. Welcome, chameleon wranglers, to episode 95 where we are continuing our discussion into Metabolic Bone Disease, or MBD. MBD is important enough to get multiple episodes worth of attentio...

Metabolic Bone Disease, or MBD, is one of the chameleon world's leading causes of death. And it is completely preventable. Join me in the "Scare Away MBD" campaign and let's make MBD a story we tell from the chameleon dark ages. In this first episode we are joined by Dr. Rob Coke, the head veterinarian from the San Antonio Zoo who explains what MBD is and what is going on.

More and more chameleon breeders join our ranks every day. And you may be one of those curious about starting a chameleon breeding business. There are scores of instructional materials on how to start a business. But we have an extra twist that our product is a living creature. And with that comes added responsibility. Today we will talk about the basics of pricing your chameleon babies and how yo...

Food and water fuel living creatures. Understanding the right fuel for your chameleon is critical to their health. Today we explore the diet of the Veiled Chameleon in the wild and how we can feed them a healthy diet in captivity.  

Chameleons are energized from the sun. To keep them in captivity we must replicate the sun's light, warmth, and UVB. Today we talk about what Veiled chameleons need from their light source.

The Veiled Chameleon is one of the most popular chameleons to keep as a pet. Their hardiness makes them an ideal first chameleon. But they are still a chameleon - and that means some special attention needs to be put to their set-up. Today I go over the basics of Veiled Chameleon husbandry to get you started in the right direction.

It is time to revisit our understanding of hydration in chameleons. We are well aware of hydration during the day, but that is only half of the story. Today we are going to talk about hydration over the entire 24 hours in the day to form a holistic approach to a captive hydration strategy.

The veiled chameleon is one of our most hardy and adaptable chameleons. With its wide-spread representation in the hobby It is no surprise that this lizard has had an opportunity to escape into many different environments. Florida, it seems, suited it well and we now have a viable chameleon population on the continental United States.

Veiled chameleons seem to be everywhere you would expect to find a pet chameleon and some places you wouldn't. but it wasn't always this way. Today I explore the origins of the veiled chameleon in captivity. Join me as I speak to the people who brought this chameleon to us!

Chamaeleo calyptratus , the veiled chameleon - this gorgeous and hardy chameleon is many people's introduction to the fascinating world of chameleons. In this podcast series we explore their history, ecology, and husbandry. Today we learn about the taxonomy and where they are from.

Today we are talking about taming your chameleon!

Today we are talking about Furcifer lateralis , the carpet chameleon, and its status in captivity. I'd like to give a big welcome to Kevin Stanford, Frank Payne, and Tim Marks for making up our chameleon round table discussion!

In the United States, the Large Xantholophus Jackson's Chameleons we see are almost all from a feral population on Hawaii. But this magnificent chameleon originated in Kenya, Africa. The newly started Kenyan Xanth Project is spearheading the effort to bring back the founder genetics. In this episode we learn about the natural environment of Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus, the yellow-crested Jack...

Today we are going to talk about a special handling case and that is when the chameleon is scared – or angry- enough to bite you. The only time you should ever handle a chameleon who is scared enough to want to bite you is if it is required for medicating them for their health. There may come a time when you will have to deal with a chameleon who has gone way beyond annoyance with your antics. Sho...

Today we have a roundtable discussion on Facebook and its effect on our community. I have asked Elise Stein, Dru Reeves and Nathalie Norris to join me and share their views. Elise built up our largest group The Reptile Enthusiasts. Although it is a general reptile group we chameleon people have pretty much claimed her as a citizen of our community. She also has an offshoot called The Chameleon Ent...

Chameleons are tricky things to hold in that we don't actually hold, them, but allow them to sit on our hand. Today we talk about handling your chameleon.

Good morning Chameleon Wranglers! It is time for an update as to what is going on with the podcast! Good morning Chameleon Wranglers! It is time for an update as to what is going on with the podcast! This isn't an episode per se. It is just a short update to let you know I am working hard on season three! I haven't just migrated to Madagascar for the winter! We have this break because I am substan...

Today we talk about dealing with the loss of our chameleon. Chameleons have so much personality and character that they easily become considered part of the family. And when the time comes for them to pass we can get confused as to how we should feel. Today I share my thoughts on losing a beloved chameleon.

Good morning chameleon wranglers, Today we are going to talk about how to do your own fecal exam for your chameleon. Of course, there is much more to it than I can go over here, but it really isn't that hard and we will give you a very good start. I have brought back Alec O'Brien who is a vet tech and chameleon breeder!

Today Carl Cattau and I discuss incubation of chameleon eggs. Incubation can be intimidating and I know I gravitated towards live bearers for the longest time. But hatching eggs really isn't that bad once you understand how to pull it off. Listen in and try it yourself!