Who has one?

1. 60

   StevenPayneposted 13 years ago

   Are these animals as easy to care for as I feel like they would be? I have five kids and we would like a pet that can be kept in a cage and is for looking and not touching. I like the idea of a chameleon and have wanted one my whole life. If kept in like a 50 or 100 gallon tank at the right temp. are they much more trouble than feeding, watering and changing the bedding?

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   1. 0

      klarawieckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
      
      You have FIVE KIDS and expect any animal to remain in a cage for LOOKING, not TOUCHING?!!!!
      
      LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
      
      You're a trip!!!

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      1. 60

         StevenPayneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Yeah some parents actually mantain control of their children and teach them how to behave, isn't that clever?

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2. 89

   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   Why not just get a hamster?

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   1. 81

      camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That's what I was thinking - just didn't know how to put it.
      
      I just took a look on Wikipedia, and I'm not sure it's a good idea to keep a chameleon as a pet. They like to drink from running water, they eat insects, sometimes small bird and other lizards, and I think there's only one that will eat small amounts of salad.
      
      I think they're better left in the wild rather than kept in a terrarium.

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   2. 60

      calpol25posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You could always get a budgie or a parrot, their caged and funny at the same time   I used to have budgies and they were so funny too they would mimic the telephone and every time you left the room they would start mimicking it and make you rush back, I think they were lonely

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3. 68

   Iontachposted 13 years ago

   Things like Lizards get quite boring after a while, you want a sociable cute pet, something to keep you entertained!
   Get an aquarium full of fish, seriously they have so much personality and are just crazy. Or get a hamster, Gerbils (very friendly) or a guinea pig!
   I suppose a Chameleon would be cool though, imagine him changing colours...

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4. 77

   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   Exotic pets are not easy to care for an easily stressed.  With a lot of kids around I would recommend a domesticated species. Or at least to stat with a small, robust animal like a turtle.

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5. 66

   Joy56posted 13 years ago

   so you dont have one then.

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   1. 81

      camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Me?
      
      No, I have a cat called Nero.

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6. 66

   Joy56posted 13 years ago

   I'd like a cat

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   1. 81

      camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I've had cats since I was four. They're pets that really need us. They're also easy to care for, and very entertaining.

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      1. 66

         Joy56posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I have had cats in the past, the last one had a death wish, it used to sit under car wheels and not move when the car did.  It had lots of injuries. Plaster Paris on its leg twice, stitches the lot..... I could not go through all that again. It is too sad.

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         1. 81

            camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            My first and third cat were run over. Nero always stays at home.

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            1. 66

               Joy56posted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Nero has sense, is he locked in.

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         2. 89

            IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            That has got to be the cat daftest ever LOL

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7. 0

   Toby Hansenposted 13 years ago

   Hermit crabs and wood cockroaches (I kid you not!) are big here in Oz at the moment. You certainly would not catch me touching a cocky... unless it was with a size 10 flip flop.

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8. 60

   Randy Godwinposted 13 years ago

   Sea monkeys!
   
   
   http://www.mookychick.co.uk/cruelty_to_ … onkeys.php

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   1. 0

      Toby Hansenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Sea monkeys?!?! Are they still around? Now that takes me back!

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9. 81

   Rafiniposted 13 years ago

   I'd suggest a fish tank.  Fun to watch and easy to care for - as long as you always have electricity to keep the tank warm.

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   1. 92

      habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I agree! We used to have aquariums, and I found the fishes fascinating. Soothing to watch, too!
      
      You could get some sea monkeys and feed them to the fish.

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      1. 81

         Rafiniposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         sea monkeys?  for some reason I feel like there's a joke behind that....

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         1. 60

            Randy Godwinposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Sort of, Rafini.  Sea Monkeys are actually tiny brine shrimp hatched from eggs sold in a kit sold for years in comic books and other magazines.
            
            The ads depicted misleading pictures of strange little creatures which look nothing like the actual shrimp.  Check out the link I posted earlier in this thread and you will understand what I mean.

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            1. 81

               Rafiniposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                 Oh.  lol  Guess I gave myself away...never read a comic book! 

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            2. 92

               habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I never could get my sea monkeys to perform all those tricks depicted in the ads. I must have received stupid sea monkeys!

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10. 58

    Getsposted 13 years ago

    I have a 35 gallon tank. Once you get a tank set up, maintaining it is not that difficult. I would not recommend using tap water. You can buy chemicals to help prepare tab water but I have never had much success in "getting it right" the first time and I've lost a lot of fish. I now only use distilled or purified water,and my fish seem to thrive on it. I've only lost two fish in the past year. Obviously depending on the size tank you buy that could get expensive for your first time. After that it gets less expensive since you only have to replace the water that evaproates over time. I would be careful selecting the fish you want, some are more aggressive than others. Pet Smart or wherever you buy your fish can tell you about that. I enjoy my tank, it does help me relax. They can be fun to watch.

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11. 57

    Beege215eposted 13 years ago

    with chameleons you have to watch the humidity, the heat, the types of plants. Oh yeah, they like live plants in their homes. They eat some of them. There should be a heat light at the top of the aquarium and a heat rock on the bottom. Sand for the bottom or small pebbles are acceptable. They don't want to be handled, but they want to be cared for. They do eat crickets,meal worms and the like,green leafy vegetables (celery tops, carrot tops)and you can get pellets for them as well. They need branches to climb on all over the cage and things to hide behind or under.  They are not an "easy" pet, you have to get a lot of things for them, and monitor their environment. But they are totally cool.  I have had several different types.

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    1. 60

       StevenPayneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you for your comment Beege. I have a Sulcata Tortoise, he has been a great pet for the family but is only about as big as a rotery phone yet. We purchased him several years ago when he was no bigger than the palm of my hand. He has not been an "easy" pet either but a joy to have. Maybe using the word "easy" in the question was not the right choice!

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12. 0

    Home Girlposted 13 years ago

    With 5 kids a cat or two is the only solution. They are so much fun when they are small and you can love them and pet them as much as you can!
    
    
    
    And they have a personality like nothing else.

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    1. 66

       Joy56posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       that cat is cute.

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    2. 60

       StevenPayneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Sorry Im a cat hater. I think they stink and are dirty.

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13. 42

    Mikeydoesposted 13 years ago

    They really are only cool for the first couple days, not really a great pet at all. Unless you want to sit there and watch it eat flies. That could be fun.

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14. 79

    IsadoraPandoraposted 13 years ago

    What about a praying mantis? A flower mantis would be a neat pet. If the tank is set up correctly they are pretty easy to care for.
    
    Hermit crabs are AWESOME pets too. BUT--when they begin to molt, you may not see them for weeks to months at a time.
    
    http://www.chameleonsonly.com/Chameleon%20Care.htm
    
    With enough research I bet you could keep a chammie without much trouble.

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    1. 60

       StevenPayneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Thanx, I was looking into getting a orchid mantis but I couldn't find a seller in my area and order one meant ordering acouple hundred eggs and I had no interest with becoming a breeder or seller so I past it up. I had fiddler crabs for a while, three, they were fine for about two months. then one day I came home from work and there was one. He was missing a leg and a pincher and scattered about were peices of the other two. Not to longer after the fight Sparticus, which I renamed him after his time in the arena so to speak,  was dead so I gave up on the crabs. But I eventually, once my youngest is about ten so in  like....................ten years lol, plan on building a terranium that is for fish and something on land. Not sure what. But I always thought that would be cool to have a huge, zoo type, enclosure for my animals.

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15. 84

    Maria Ceciliaposted 13 years ago

    all I can say is you are doing the right thing "researching first before getting a pet", most maltreated animals came from irresponsible ownership.... I suggest you get one that you really like so you can hanlode what ever hardship that goes along with it.

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    1. 84

       Maria Ceciliaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       sorry typo error I mean Handle

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       1. 60

          StevenPayneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          its cool. I meant what you knew. Yes always research the pet before purchase.

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16. 68

    Beth100posted 13 years ago

    Depending on the age of your children and the size of home you have, the pet can vary.
    
    On the farm, we had a variety of pets -- large to small, indoor and outdoor.  We had small finches to chickens, cats to dogs, horses to goats and everything inbetween.
    
    In the city, we now have dogs and small blue finches.  The finches are easy to look after. Small amount of food, fresh water and change the paper for the tray on a daily basis.  My youngest, who is 5, looks after them.  Every so often, we put in fresh fruit and dried greens.  They sing, recognize who we are and even approach the wires.  We don't handle them as they prefer not to be handled, but they love company.  When any of the children sit near them, they sing.  It's very nice.
    
    Dogs are more work -- walks, cleaning up, food, brushing, bathing and the usual stuff.  But worth it as they are affectionate and not afraid to show you.
    
    We've had all kinds of pets, and  birds are the easiest.  Pick the right breed for your climate, keep them away from drafts and feed them a good diet and they will thrive. 

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17. 68

    Beth100posted 13 years ago

    Oh yea, sea monkeys never hatched here.....    neither did the triops.... 

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18. 60

    caninecrtiticsposted 13 years ago

    Chameleons are very tough to care for especially as babies or juveniles.  Humidity is very important, i have seen some lost because the humidity dropped a little low.  With kids running around that probably not such a great idea because chameleons like quiet and a lot of noise will stress them out.  Feeding and watering are the easiest but can still be difficult.  Veil or Jackson chameleons are probably the more harder species

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    1. 60

       StevenPayneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Veiled and pygmy were the ones I saw last night. I really liked the veiled but they were in a pet store and if I do purchase a Chameleon it will be from a retile exibit.

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19. 79

    IsadoraPandoraposted 13 years ago

    Did you decide on a pet yet? Zoo-type enclosures are the best. Nice and beautiful habitats are half the fun of owning pets!

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20. 54

    JayStandposted 13 years ago

    I have 4 kids, and a variety of pets. 3 cats, a staffordshire terrier, and 2 leopard geckos. And all together i would suggest a dog for a full family such as yours. they are great fun to have around, always do the stupidest things when you least expect it, and if treated right will be a loving, loyal mamber of your family. They are also a good excuse to get the whole family enjoying long walks together, combining fitness aswell as family bonding

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