Do Panther Chameleons Make Good Pets?

Panther Chameleons are incredible animals! And we are lucky that they are easily available as captive hatched juveniles. These aren’t coming from the wild. They are healthy, growing, and ready for a life zapping bugs! Yes, they are fascinating, but the question is, do they make good pets?

Panther Chameleons make great chameleon pets, but only if having a chameleon is what you truly want for a pet. You need to be realistic as to what a chameleon is and whether that is what you are looking for in a pet.

Let’s talk about what you might look for in a pet and what a chameleon can offer. If those two thing match up then the panther chameleon is the one to choose. If they don’t match perfectly then let’s talk about whether another reptile might be a better fit!

So, in this episode I am going to explore

1. What do you want in a pet?
2. What does a chameleon offer as a pet?
3. Could there be other reptiles that might be better for you?
4. If a chameleon is right for you, then is a panther the right chameleon species for you?

Let’s take a moment to lay out just what we want from a pet. One person might want to run around the park with their best buddy and have them sleep in their bed. Obviously, a dog is the #1 pet for that. Someone else might be gone all day and come home exhausted. They want to enjoy a living thing to be company, but not require emotional engagement. A beautiful fish tank comes to mind for this one. So, everyone has a different definition of what makes a good pet. And this can change as your life situation changes. So, what would fulfill you at this point in your life? The reason why I don’t just jump into explaining what a chameleon is like as a pet is that it is too easy to just agree that those things would be cool without really exploring what you want.

So, are you wanting a pet for an emotional connection and interaction? Are you wanting a pet for intellectual stimulation? Are you wanting a chameleon because only a chameleon will do and you are willing to accept them for whatever they are?

Let take a look at what a chameleon is like as a pet and you can judge for yourself whether that  piques your interest or not. If the top priority for you is to have a chameleon then this following will just be a list of what you will receive! If you want a reptile to enjoy then this list may convince you to check out another species.

Chameleons are more of an intellectual pet. They provide a chance to learn about a creature with a completely different life than ours. Chameleons give us a chance to create a slice of nature in our living room and enjoy being part of an alien encounter.

Chameleons are not an affectionate pets. They do not form emotional bonds and they will not appreciate being touched, held, or cuddled.

That said, chameleons do allow some interaction.  You can train your chameleon to equate you with their favorite food and you can hand feed them. This means holding their favorite food item in your fingers and having them zap it out of your hand. It won’t be long until most chameleons start looking forward to you coming into their room of the house and look at your hand expectantly. Panther Chameleons are especially quick to learn this!

The important part of all of this is for you to come to the table accepting the chameleon for what they are. To be sure, your actions around them can definitely speed up the process of them getting used to you or they can make your chameleon more fearful of you. But you have to bring a chameleon in your life without expectations that this one is going to break the mold and be the special one that is great with humans. The most responsible thing I can do is set your expectations to the most realistic level possible and have you be pleasantly surprised if you get an exception. The thing is that if your chameleon disappoints you because you had unrealistic expectations, the chameleon often suffers from neglect because they aren’t giving you what you want. Let’s avoid getting into that depressing cycle right up front!

Are you disappointed by any of this? Because if you want more hands on time or interaction, there are reptile alternatives. If you want a reptile that you can hold and take places, a bearded dragon is a good direction to look. Would you like to keep a family of lizards that may like to hang out with you? Emerald Tree Skinks are lizards that like to live in groups and show an acceptance for humans that borders on playful. I was talking with Clint Laidlaw from the YouTube channel Clints Reptiles. Clint has a degree in evolutionary biology and he doesn’t even have a good explanation for why these lizards would be so friendly too humans! So, they are a mystery! But, if you want true interaction with a reptile then check into Emerald Tree Skinks. It isn’t the most common reptile and you may have to search a little, but the people who work with them are obsessed with their personalities! If interacting is important to you then pick one of these other reptiles and you will get what you want! Don’t get a chameleon and risk the high probability that you will be disappointed. This is unfair for the chameleon.

Now, there is the case where both adults and children are looking for an animal companion because they are allergic to fur. The decision process is the same. You just don’t have the option of having, say, a dog for the high emotional interaction. If you want the interaction then definitely check out the emerald tree skinks. When you look at them they don’t look like much. Traditional lizard body and green. But their personality will win anyone over. I am definitely in the chameleon corner. I have dedicated my life to this incredible lizard, but the best thing I can do is make sure that anyone who gets a chameleon does so with full knowledge of what to expect! Of course, nothing says you can’t have a chameleon AND a group of emerald tree skinks! (Different cages of course!) The important thing is that you know what each one needs!

Let’s say, though, that nothing can replace a chameleon and you are set on your decision. Then we ask the question, are Panther Chameleons a good species choice? And to this I would say that the Panther Chameleon is the best species of chameleon for the first time chameleon keeper! They are colorful, hardy, available as captive hatched, and have a wide network of knowledgeable breeders to support you with any care questions you might have. Many chameleons have interesting features about them, but none combine the availability of captive breeding and wide spread support that the panther chameleon does.

The final step is to turn things around and ask – are you right for a chameleon. Will you put in the time to research their needs and invest in the equipment and space necessary to provide for their environment? Are you patient enough to let them develop on their own time as far as how much interaction they want to have with you and what type of interaction they are comfortable with? Will you be happy with whatever they are and will you enjoy seeing what they will become all the while being the caretaker of their cage environment?

I hope this was a useful review of panther chameleons as pets. This page is the partner to the podcast episode on the top of the page. The Panther Chameleon Podcast is part of the Chameleon Academy Outreach. On this Panther Chameleon Podcast, I take on aspects of starting with panther chameleons that will directly benefit a person just starting off. Please note that you have an entire detailed panther chameleon care summary here on chameleonacademy.com.  This has been put together as a free resource to ensure the widest number of people can get a good start with their panther chameleon. If you would like to support this outreach you can do so at the Chameleon Academy Patreon page linked below and that helps keep this all running.

Getting a panther chameleon is a step to an incredible new world and an experience you will remember for your entire life. And I am going to do what I can to make sure it is a great one. If you would like to ask questions about any of this, check the Chameleon Academy home page for the schedule of when I do live interactive sessions on YouTube and Instagram.