Chameleon Academy Podcast

Keeping Chameleons in the European Union with Jurgen Van Overbeke

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We explore the differences in chameleon keeping regulations between the US and Europe with this interview with Jurgen Van Overbeke. Does regulating hu...

Bio-Active Chameleon Hatchling Enclosures with Michael Nash

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Nash has successfully implemented bio-active concepts to raise up healthy baby chameleons. In this episode he shares with us how he does it!

Caring for Chameleon Hatchlings Panel Discussion

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I bring on experienced chameleon breeders to share different approaches to raising chameleon hatchlings from hatching (or birth) to about three months...

Should I buy a Chameleon Egg? Part 2

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I bring on Jonathan Hill of iPardalis to offer a breeder's perspective on the practice of selling eggs. As an educator I come at this new trend ...

Protecting Our Chameleon Community From New Laws

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today is a serious topic where I give my take on the current amendment proposal to the Lacey Act. This amendment has serious repercussions for reptile...

Buying a Chameleon Egg

05 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you have purchased a chameleon egg and are now preparing for caring for a hatchling, this episode will guide you through the steps to make sure tha...

Why We Should Help People in the Chameleon Community

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you are active in the chameleon community you know how it is when you answer the same question over and over. Is it worth it? That is something we ...

Having Fun on Social Media

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We need more chameleon keepers with good husbandry having fun on social media and just being visible! As for me, I am going to experiment for the next...

Caring for Egg-Laying Female Chameleons

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are going to talk about the kind of special care a female egg laying chameleon needs. My name is Bill Strand and my job here is to help you l...

Genetic Testing for Panther Chameleon Locale

07 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What if there was a test that you could buy that would tell you what locale your panther chameleon was? Jonathan Hill and Ben Morrill, PhD are creatin...

Chameleon Gifts Day 12: Chameleon Books!

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are a few books that are prized by chameleon keepers. And my pick for day 12 is two of the best! Both Chameleons of Africa by Colin Tilbury and ...

Chameleon Gift Giving - Day 11 Chameleon Forums Calendar

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's pick is the Chameleon Forums 2020 Calendar which is made up from pictures of chameleons from our community! These are chameleons that you read...

Chameleon Gift Giving - Day 10 Solarmeter 6.5

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

UVB is critical to the health of our chameleons. Since we cannot see UVB light, the best way to ensure you have the right levels in your cage is to ha...

Chameleon Gift Giving - Day 9 Fogger

05 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fogging is a new chameleon hydration technique for many people and is worth setting up. You don't have to change anything else about what you do to pr...

Chameleon Gift Giving - Day 8 Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED Bar

04 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A well lit chameleon enclosure makes for a happy chameleon and makes a beautifully planted cage possible! My pick for day 8 is the Arcadia Jungle Dawn...

Chameleon Gift Giving - Day 7 Dragon Ledges

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The question commonly arises - how can I mount horizontal branches and live plants to the sides of my chameleon's screen cage? The Dragon Ledges were ...

Chameleon Gift Giving Day 6 - Influencer Merchandise

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you have a chameleon or reptile enthusiast in your family then they may be difficult to shop for. Here is an easy solution! Ask them what their fav...

Chameleon Gift Giving Day 5 - Repashy Bug Burger

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nutrition is of prime importance for us chameleon keepers and this requires a great deal of work in the care and keeping of our feeder insects. Those ...

Chameleon Gift Giving Day 4 - Log Lunch!

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

My gift recommendation today is the Log Lunch feeder run cup by Jim Rykbost of Sunset Chameleons! This is a functional work of art which provides y...

Chameleon Gift Giving: Day 3 - Mountain Dragons

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mountain Dragons is a photo journal recording the travels of Jan Stipala across the highlands of Kenya to document the chameleon species there. It is ...

Chameleon Gift Giving, Day 2: Black Soldier Fly Larva

28 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

My choice for the second gift giving recommendation is a cup of Black Soldier Fly Larva! BSFL (as the are called) are a nutritious feeder that can giv...

Chameleon Gift Giving, Day 1: Repti-Risers

27 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join me for 12 days of chameleon gift recommendations where I publish one recommendation a day for the next 12 days! My pick for day 1 of the Chameleo...

Taking Care of Our Chameleon Community

26 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are going to talk about going into this holiday season thinking about the chameleon community. We'll talk about how we can make a difference ...

How to Become a Reptile Community Educator

13 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you have an interest in reptiles and sharing that interest with others you can do so by joining the growing number of reptile educators and influen...

Sexing Panther Chameleons with Carolyn Laframboise

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are going to learn how to determine the sex of hatchling panther chameleons. It is tricky, but a skill that can be learned. Carolyn Laframboi...

Jackson's Chameleons Natural Environment with Jan Stipala

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today I talk with Jan Stipala about what kinds of environments Jackson's Chameleons are found in. Jan is the author of Mountain Dragons which is our c...

The Jackson's Chameleon Pregnancy

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today I talk about the pregnancy period of the Jackson's Chameleon to help you understand the steps before the babies are born. The live bearing natur...

Chameleons on Social Media with Neptune the Chameleon

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today I talk with the creative force behind the Neptune the Chameleon show on YouTube and Tik Tok. We talk about what it takes to put on  show in goo...

Using Wild Conditions in Chameleon Husbandry

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Those of us dedicated to the art of chameleon husbandry have recreating the ideal conditions as our primary goal. Determining ideal conditions starts ...

Discussion on Chameleon Behavior

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chameleon behavior is a window into what is going on in their lives. It is one of the ways they communicate with us if we have learned the language to...

Chameleon Behavior as an Early Warning

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chameleons have cryptic ways about them. And being mysterious is how they survive. But being cryptic and mysterious also hides illness and that is wha...

Chameleon Caging Decisions pt 2- Glass Cages

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Good morning Chameleon Wranglers! Today we are continuing our conversation about chameleon cage type. Today we talk with Dr. Chris Anderson who shares...

Chameleon Caging Decisions pt 1- Hybrid

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Deciding on a cage type for your chameleon can be confusing. You hear that chameleons have to be in screen cages but you have all these advanced users...

Four Pillars for a Strong Reptile Community

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The reptile community needs to be strong. And to accomplish that we need to be strong in our smaller communities. Whether chameleon, bearded dragon, g...

Giving Chameleons Natural Sunlight

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Summer is approaching and it is time to take advantage of natural sunlight for your chameleons. Today we will talk about take your chameleon outside s...

Chameleon Caresheet Confusion

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do when the chameleon experts contradict each other? You just want to set up your chameleon right the first time. Why can't anyone agree o...

Chameleon Cage Shopping List

15 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Getting your chameleon cage set-up right from the beginning is critical for your success. It starts with getting the right cage, lighting, and hydrati...

Panther Chameleon Care Summary

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is your audio care guide for Panther Chameleons. Today we will review the entire care summary to get you started on the right foot.

Creating a Chameleon Egg Laying Bin

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I take you along with me as I create an egg laying bin for a rare species of chameleon, Trioceros cristatus. By providing multiple egg laying topograp...

Choosing Your Panther Chameleon

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the more exciting times in your chameleon keeping life is when you have decided on a Panther Chameleon and now have to choose what locale and w...

Getting a Veiled Chameleon

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The most common chameleon to be kept is probably the veiled chameleon. But it is one of the most impressive of chameleons. Today I talk about what you...

Getting a Jackson's Chameleon

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are special considerations when buying each species of chameleon. But the Jackson's Chameleon has more pitfalls than most. Today we will go into...

Five Most Asked Chameleon Questions

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this first episode of season six I answer the five questions most often asked by people interested in becoming chameleon keepers. It is important t...

Wrapping up the 2020 Chameleon Year

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We have come to the close of Season five of the Chameleon Academy podcast. In this final episode of the season I am going to review 2020 through the e...

Transitioning from the Chameleon Kit

27 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The ZooMed Chameleon Kit is one of the most common starting points for chameleon keepers. But one soon learns that it must be upgraded. Unfortunately,...

Researching Chameleon Species

22 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When you step into the chameleon world you find yourself in an immense undiscovered country. You never realized how many species of chameleons there a...

Keeping Chameleons in Hybrid Cages

14 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We hear about screen cages and we hear about glass cages. But what are these hybrid cages? Today I introduce you to the benefits of keeping chameleons...

Crested Geckos with TikisGeckos

06 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Crested geckos are common place pet lizards that are available from private breeders all the way to big box pet stores. They are hardy and so are quit...

Plant Care Basics with Bonnie Person

31 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most important parts of creating a suitable living environment for our chameleons is the plant life we place in their home. Today I am join...

Temporal Gland Infections with Dr. Tom Greek

23 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Temporal Gland Infections are a bane of the keeper of the Jackson's Chameleon. The Jackson's is the most common of the chameleons with a temporal glan...

Chameleon Photography with Briana O'Brien

15 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Anyone who has tried to take a picture of a chameleon has found out that it isn't that easy. They actively plot against you and your Instagram aspirat...

The Early Chameleon Community with Jeff Hattem

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I have the honor of sharing with you a part of our early chameleon community. A multigenerational breeding project in the US which started in 19...

Green Tree Python Husbandry Pt 2 with Patrick Holmes

02 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we wrap up our study on the Green Tree Python by me asking Patrick Holmes to lead us through the steps for us to get started with this beaut...

Green Tree Python Husbandry, part 1

25 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Green Tree Pythons are a quintessential arboreal serpent. With that arboreal nature comes some specific husbandry techniques. Today, Patrick Holmes re...

Green Tree Pythons with Patrick Holmes

19 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Green Tree Pythons fit the bill as an arboreal reptile with a dedicated community that surrounds it. This is important to us because they have studied...

Nepenthes Tropical Pitcher Plants with Jeremiah Harris

11 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Nepenthes Tropical Pitcher plants are one of the most striking plants we can include in our chameleon environments. Their leaves sport ornate carn...

Nighttime Temperature Drops with Petr Necas

03 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nighttime temperature drops are an important part of chameleon husbandry. Today, I talk with Petr Necas about understanding why they are important and...

Chameleon Health Points

28 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chameleon husbandry is made up of many aspects including environmental conditions, nutrition, and emotional security. Everything we do that gets our h...

Trioceros ellioti with Michael Nash

21 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Trioceros ellioti is a small chameleon from Eastern Africa. It is a charming species where the males and females are equally desirable as far as color...

Abronia Alligator Lizards with Jason Wagner

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Often known as Mexican Alligator lizards, the members of the genus Abronia are a beautiful and charming lizard. They are arboreal with prehensile tail...

Tyrone Ping and South African Herp Photography

07 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I am joined by Tyrone Ping who is a herpetological photographer from South Africa who achieved his six year goal of photographing all the chamel...

Allen Repashy and Reptile Supplementation

31 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Supplementation powders are a cornerstone of our captive reptile nutrition. One of the most prominent supplements in our community has been the Repash...

Intro to the Chameleon Community

25 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Starting off with chameleons can be an intimidating time. Coming into the chameleon community you are bombarded with UVB, D3, gradients, and a wide ra...

The Waxy Monkey Tree Frog with Philippe de Vosjoli

17 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today we take a close look at the Waxy Monkey Tree Frog. No, it is not a chameleon, but you will be much more successful with this species if you use ...

Transporting Chameleons

11 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We all know, more or less, that Chameleons are suppose to stay in their cage. But what happens when you have to transport them? Whether just to the ve...

Breaking The Chameleon Rules

04 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Last week I talked about caresheets - how they were made and how we should use them. These provide guidelines for the husbandry. But then you see peop...

Understanding Chameleon Caresheets

27 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When we start with a new reptile the first thing we do is search for a care sheet. These are summaries that give us the basics of what that animal nee...

Satanic Leaf-tailed Geckos with Lawrence Erickson

12 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most cryptic and incredible reptiles is the Uroplatus phantasticus also known as the satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko. Quite the dramatic name for...

Planning a Trip to Kenya with Jan Stipala

05 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most exciting things a chameleon enthusiast can do is visit chameleons in their home country. And today I am going to talk with Jan Stipala...

Branching Your Chameleon Cage with Alec O'Brien

29 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chameleons perch on branches. They spend their lives on branches. So it is actually pretty important for us to give them the right branches. Today I g...

The Panther Chameleon Species with Dr. Mark Scherz

15 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Mark Scherz joins me to discuss the different colors of Furcifer pardalis. Are they species? morphs? locales? The answers may not be ours yet, but...

The Draco Flying Dragon with Charles Mcallister

08 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Draco flying dragon is an incredible species that has the ability to shoot through the air from tree to tree. But it has been exceptionally hard t...

Chameleon Tongue Issues with Dr. Rob Coke

01 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chameleons have amazing tongues and sometimes things go wrong. Today, Dr. Rob Coke joins me to discuss what these issues could be.

Sweet Pea, MBD, and the Will to Live

24 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sweet Pea is a Veiled Chameleon with severe MBD. Through the dedication of Marianna Bolin, she was given a second chance for life. Today's message is ...

Your Chameleon's Sanctuary

21 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I touch on a couple topics. I talk about the difficulty in beginners getting the right information, I revisit the Plants Alive! challenge, and I...

Mandevilla & Chameleon Psychology

20 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I talk about upending the natural order by bringing outdoor vines into my chameleon cage and I discuss using psychological tricks to get better ...

Books for your Chameleon Library

19 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Books are special, and today I review the books that, even with all the information on the internet, I still reference on a regular basis. These title...

Weekend Chameleon Thoughts

18 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I reflect on random weekend chameleon thoughts and talk about what a typical Saturday looks like for me.

Silkworms with Susan Marquardt

17 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Silkworms are a nutritious and highly prized chameleon feeder. Today, Susan Marquardt of BeastMode Silkworms shares with us a little about the silkwor...

Chameleon Old Timers & Mentors

16 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There is enormous insight the is quietly moving about in our experienced community - often outside the digital spotlight. And if you can find an old t...

Chameleon Egg Diapause Experiments with Frank Payne

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chameleon breeder Frank Payne joins me and shares his initial results from diapause experiments he is running on chameleon eggs. Diapause is the cooli...

Jackson's Chameleon Care Summary

14 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I go over the basic panther chameleon care summary in audio format! Go to chameleonacademy.com for the full details!

Panther Chameleon Care Summary

13 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I go over the basic panther chameleon care summary in audio format! Go to chameleonacademy.com for the full details!

Veiled Chameleon Care Summary

12 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I do an audio review of the Veiled Chameleon Care Summary from the Chameleon Academy website.

Five Chameleon Community Transitions

11 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Through the Chameleon Academy I am pushing our chameleon husbandry forward and with that comes a number of transitions. Today I discuss the top five h...

Vitamin Imbalance in Chameleons

10 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today Dr. Rob Coke, Head of Veterinary Care at the San Antonio Zoo, comes on and helps expose us to vitamins A and D3 and the signs of overdose and de...

What Sunken-In Chameleon Eyes Mean

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chameleon eyes are a great resource for us gauging the health status of our chameleons. Sunken eyes are a huge red flag and the chameleon needs immedi...

What Closed Chameleon Eyes Mean

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The chameleon's eyes are one of the most significant gauges of chameleon health - both physical and emotional. Today I discuss what closed eyes can me...

What a Gaping Chameleon Means

07 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When we are trying to figure out what is happening with a chameleon remotely (over social media) we need to ask important questions. Today I go over w...

Female Veiled Chameleon Feeding

06 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We are making progress in our drive to determine the feeding schedule and husbandry to maintain healthy female veiled chameleons through their lives -...

Spring and outdoor chameleon basking

05 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The seasons are warming up for those of us in the Northern hemisphere and it is time to think about getting your chameleon some natural sunlight. I sh...

Crossbreeding Chameleons - should we?

04 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are a number of issues to consider when answering the question about crossbreeding in the chameleon world. There are many strong opinions out th...

Three New Calumma Species with Dr. Mark Scherz

03 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to part two of my conversation with Mark Scherz as we get deep into the three newly described species that a team of scientists just desc...

Advice to enthusiastic beginners

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I am asked what I would share as I look back on my years of experience in the chameleon community. I talk about what I would tell people who are enthu...

Screen Walking Chameleons

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Your chameleon is showing signs of discontentment. It is walking the screen walls or top and seems to want to be somewhere else. What could be the pro...

Selecting Chameleon Plants

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Where do you start when trying to figure out what plants to get for your chameleon cage? In today's episode I give you a starting point and some hints...

Advising on Glass vs. Screen Cages

30 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We all get that question "should I get a glass or screen enclosure for my chameleon?" How we answer that says a lot about us as advisors. Today I talk...

Chameleon Feelings

29 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I answer a question posed by Suzanne Collins who was wondering what feelings chameleons have. She wanted to make sure the chameleon she got woul...

Chameleon Eating Habits

28 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We deal with chameleons refusing to eat anything but certain feeder insects to chameleons refusing to eat certain feeder insects to al out hunger stri...

Species Talk with Dr. Mark Scherz

27 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Mark Scherz joins me today for the first of a two part series on species and a paper describing three newly described species of Madagascar Chamel...