Panther Chameleon, The Best Pet Lizard?

Chameleons are incredible pet lizards, but they are also difficult pets to keep. Clint looks at one of the best pet chameleons, the panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), to determine if this is the right pet reptile for you.

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Mesh Enclosure:

Real Plants:

Fake Plants:

Climbing Wood:

Water Dripping System:

Water Misting System:

Crickets:

Dubia Roaches:

Hornworms:

Hissing Cockroaches:

Basking Lamp Fixture:

Basking Lamp Bulb:

UVB Lamp Fixture:

UVB Lamp Bulb:

Vitamin Supplements:

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Animal Ark:

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1:31 Panther Chameleons get an overall score of 2.6 out of 5.

1:46 Score criteria: Handleability, Care, Hardiness, Availability, Upfront Costs.

2:00 Handleability: How well does a Panther Chameleon do with handling?

3:18 Care: What is involved with caring for Panther Chameleons?

5:20 Hardiness: How hardy are Panther Chameleons?

6:31 Availability: How easy is it to obtain a Panther Chameleon?

8:56 Upfront Costs: How much does it cost to get setup with a Panther Chameleon?

11:40 Conclusion: Panther Chameleons deserve an overall score of 2.6.

12:54 Bloopers, out-takes, silliness.

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Clint is a professional biologist and educator, but above all, Clint LOVES reptiles and he loves to share that love with everyone he meets. Whether you're lover or a hater of reptiles, you can't help but get excited with Clint!
We post a new video every Saturday morning! So stay tuned!

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You guys are so RAD!

[PredictableEnigma]

I love the attitude of there are no bad reptiles there are just reptiles that may be good or bad for YOU depending on who you are and your knowledge, skills, resources, and values.

[mojotheaverage]

You've got to love an animal that hates interacting with other members of its species yet has evolved an incredibly complex colour changing mechanism that doesn't camouflage them just to communicate with other members of its species!

[pain_packer]

Reptile keeper here! I have worked with several chameleons but I wanted to share the story of my panther Fauna. Having quite a few reptiles, so I have to get a lot of feeders. The employees at petstores know who I am at this point. My friend who is a manger at a location pulled me aside and told be about this cham in another town who was in pretty horrible shape. I was she had problems with her tongue and had mbd. I was also told she was 5 months old and had two different homes, including the petstore. Neither of these homes temporary or not cared for her well. After a couple of days I drove two hours to this location. I was unsure what to expect but what you are thinking she is like is an understatement. She was the size of a two month, had a noticeable kink in her tail and her front and back arms were completely misformed and almost u-shaped. You could see bone and it was quite obvious that she had multiple fractures before. Her ribs were visible and her mouth is fused open, her tongue could barely fit in her mouth so every so often it would fall out of her mouth. I was tearing up as I saw such awful care over this poor animal. I was also furious when they td me about her husbandry and care. From what they told me she lived in a 5 gallon aquarium as it fit her size and she ate twice a week. They used no supplements or special lighting because "she wasn't going to last longer anyway"
I bought her for half price and took her to my local vet right after. She was on 4 antibiotics and had to get fluids that day. Now over a year later the chameleon that "wasn't going to live long" is able to hunt and climb on her own. She is a perfect weight and is the queen of her own castle. The care she had for a good portion of her juvenile years WAS NOT OKAY.

Chameleons are very docile animals, but they are also absolutely incredible creatures. I wanted to share Fauna's story to one, sway you away from chams, don't get a chameleon unless you are an expert and have done your research. Because a chameleon's health goes downhill fast if you don't know what you're doing. Two, I wanted to share what love and correct care can do for an animal. Reptiles are beautiful and incredible animals, every day with my little zoo is a beautiful one, through rehabilitation, injections and all.
Every living creature holds a place in my heart.

I am truly lucky to have my reptiles and my life, as well as to have such a wonderful resource like Clint. I have been watching this channel for over two years now! Thank you Clint for being a ray of positivity ❤️

If you want to see pictures of my little zoo or more stories about my other rescues follow me on Instagram, only if you would like ! @Wilted_Flowerchild

[clintparsons]

My friend had one in college for several years. She loved it so much and ive never seen anyone dedicate themselves an animal more. She even got it blood work at the ver.

We were only allowed to have fish as pets, but her chameleon lived on a fake ficus tree in her dorm. No cage. Resident assistance NEVER noticed it. Not once.

[yeahexceptno]

Great video. My veiled chameleon, Vladimir, lived free in my apartment. I set up a very large area with him in my bay window with grape vines, ficus trees, pothos vines and so on. I would mist it all the time, and leave mesh with ice cubes for him to see water dripping. He only left that area once, he went to my computer desk and while he hated me (lol) and wouldn't take my hand, he accepted the handle of my swiffer and was safely transported the 10 feet he traveled back to his area and he never left there again. He only liked me when he saw his purple feed cup coming, or if I was eating tomatoes, which he loved. He was such an ass but he was so fun! Forever grumpy

[robynparker]

I'm an owner of a Masoala panther chameleon and I have to say, no amount of research can prepare you for how difficult they can be to look after. I got the best set up money can buy, do everything right by how they need gutloaded insects, dusting etc etc but still my chameleon got sick and it's taken weeks to just show a small amount of improvement. If you decide to get a chameleon make sure you have an excellent local reptile vet before you purchase one and do as much research as you possibly can. They are very rewarding animals but you need a never ending money pit.

[mattp]

My wife has an 8 year-old panther chameleon, which has to be close to a world record. She treats him with such TLC. Temperature, lighting, food, supplements, misting, everything. He’s old and infirm now. She needs to hand feed him now with superworms. But he seems happy and not in any distress

[martingargaro]

So, in short, are Panther Chameleons possibly the best pet lizard?

The answer is, unfortunately, no.

[SubstaticGames]

We lost ours to a tumour a few months ago, he had surgery but never recovered from it, he was an amazing animal with a huge personality, probably the best pet I've ever kept, RIP Bob 😔

[ClintsReptiles]

Well hi there! Today we are at the Wasatch Reptile Expo in Salt Lake City Utah. If you get a chance to stop by, we hope to see you real soon!

[MarmiteAnts]

So my first reptile was a panther chameleon named Darwin. Admittedly I rushed into it and let me tell you NOTHING prepares you for all the work these little guys require. I remember the first time I had to leave home and have someone else care for him and I just worried sick about all the feedings and misting. It’s kinda like being thrown in the deep end of reptile rearing. Darwin lived to the age of 5 and honestly rearing him was one of the greatest experiences of my life. That being said I definitely recommend sticking to beardies/leopard geckos for your first reptile. Though panther chameleons can be done as a newbie it takes so much work and they really aren’t a lizard that’ll tolerate a learning curve

I have had four chameleons. They're quite a bit of work because of the lightning, misting, and feeding. They do eat a lot.


But they're great because they can just sit on your shoulder and you can forget about them. They tend to be cleaner than a lot of other reptiles, because they don't crawl around at the bottom of the cage.


Chameleons are generally among the best lizards when it comes to capturing the attention of children. They tongues, eyes, skin, hands, etc. give them a lot of perks.

[Lunasunrize]

Panther chameleons are the best, i have a big blue panther, i open his cage and he just walks onto my hand and loves being out exploring. He even has a branch on the breakfast bar so he can hang out why i eat! He has never bitten me or puffed up. My veiled cham is a different matter, he is a grump and protests even when he gets to climb on the climbing wall i built. But I love them both :-)

[MadHunt]

I am a Chameleon mom of 8 years! My oldest Chameleon passed away at 7 years old and I've had him since he was 3 months old. My current chameleons are 5 and 1. They are an absolutely wonderful pet to have but you have to be knowledgeable. You have to be diligent. If you aren't serious about their care you should not get one. Thank you Clint for your wise words and knowledge :) more people should do research so they know what they're getting themselves into.

[diannenaworensky]

Clint, love the fact that you are so honest. These guys are not easy and having had them for 15 years I have told many people some of the same things you did here. That they are difficult and don't live long. Actually had one Panther from the wild that lived for 3 years and he was sick when we got him. He was a pet shop rescue, had toenail trauma and a respiratory infection. $400 dollars later we had a chameleon with 1 less toe and a bag full of meds. Would I change my decision that day, no Spin had the best life he could have had considering how he started out here in the US. We have had Veiled, 4 horned, Jackson and Panthers. Most of our Panthers were Ambanja like you have there today. They have the greatest personality. Veiled are cool too. My Louie lasted 5 years. He was a pistol. When the Budweiser lizards came out, we got the Tshirts. Louie thought my husband was carrying a lizard around. Finally he had to take that shirt off because Louie wanted to attack that lizard. I do miss them and one day maybe I will have another. Thanks again for the honesty in this upload. 🐊 ✌🏻❤🐊

[PhunnyConflicts]

Thanks for putting those unique words on the bottom. Helps understand what you're talking about more clearly.

[TheRainbowlabcoat]

hi clint. i know this video isn’t super recent, and i almost never comment on things. but i just wanted to tell you how much i appreciate people like you putting accurate information about chameleons out there. i’ve been keeping reptiles and amphibians since i was ten years old, focusing mostly on frogs until recently (now i’m a bit obsessed with new caledonian geckos). in the 18 years i’ve been doing this, i never wanted a chameleon, because along the way, i learned about them — i learned that they are mean, high-maintenance, and short-lived. and then, less than two months ago, a friend texted me out of the blue asking if i could take in someone’s unwanted chameleon. when i saw the conditions he was being kept in, i was horrified and i did a lot of research before agreeing to take him in.

and i’m so glad i did. he’s changed every previous opinion and perception i had about chameleons. he’s not a panther like you show here (he is a 3-year-old veiled), but he’s amazing all the same. in the short time i’ve had him, he’s taught me a lot, and i think the most important thing is that this is one of those animals a person needs to be able to fully commit to, every single day of its life, to give it the life it deserves. but if you can do that, it’s the most rewarding animal you’ll ever have. i’ve been working with mine and establishing trust with him and it’s the single most rewarding thing i’ve done in all the years i’ve kept exotics. i wish everyone could reasonably provide for these animals because i think everyone who’s considering it should experience proper ownership of one just as something to cross off the bucket list. they are spectacular beyond words. i can’t describe how amazing it is to share my home with such a gorgeous living dinosaur.

[Anna-lpxs]

In conclusion: does the benefit outweigh the cost?

No, it doesn't. Choose another animal.

I found this video very interesting, not in the sense that the chameleon requires very specialised care but more you did not recommend it but managed to remain unbiased as usual. I have watched so many YouTubers bag out (for lack of a better term) animals just because. Thank you for the content.

[Aquarimax]

Thank you, Clint, for a frank assessment of a fantastic, but challenging species! My daughter would love a panther chameleon someday, but as you do eloquently put it, we will need to ‘have our ducks in a row’ first. 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆

[legendre]

Thank you for discussing this. Chameleons are so majestic. 😊