PODCAST · science
Chameleon Academy Podcast
by Bill Strand
Hosted by long time chameleon keeper and breeder, Bill Strand, the Chameleon Academy Podcast tackles subjects from basic to advanced and brings in insight from experts in the field. There is something for everyone from beginning keepers to experienced breeders. Subscribe for a weekly dose of chameleon talk!
Episodes
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Indoor Parson's Chameleon Setups with Robin Villere
Parson's chameleons are famous for how much water they need. But how you provide it depends on where you live. In this Parson's Chameleon Month episode, I'm joined by Robin Villere of Nealon Reptiles. Robin keeps Parson's in a very humid climate, and I keep mine in a dry one. So Robin's challenge...
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Parson's Chameleon Outdoor Keeping with James Cross
Parson's Chameleons deserve more than a month — but this week we're tackling one of the biggest questions in their care: should you keep them outside, and if so, how do you do it safely? Joining Bill this week is James Cross, a master carpenter with years of firsthand experience keeping Parson's...
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Advanced Parson's Chameleon Husbandry with Craig Durbin
Parson's Chameleons aren't hard to keep alive — but getting them through a full life cycle, from wild-caught acclimation to successful breeding, is another matter. In this episode, Craig Durbin of Primo Chameleons joins the show to share what fifteen-plus years and over 20 clutches have taught…
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Should You Get a Parson's Chameleon?
Have you ever thought about keeping a Parson's Chameleon? As exciting as the thought of that is, you are right to think twice. Today I am going to walk you through an introduction that will give you the information you need to make an informed decision about whether to pursue a Parson's Chameleon
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A Chameleon's Tolerance Zone
Ideal chameleon husbandry is a direction, not a destination. Just because our chameleon is alive, doesn't mean we can stop growing in how to improve our husbandry. In this first episode of season 11, Bill Strand lays out the concept of the tolerance zone and how understanding it can make us…
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The Path Through Learning about Chameleons
What actually matters when you're starting with chameleons? Not the nice-to-know stuff, but the fundamentals that determine whether you succeed or struggle. In this episode, I walk you through the six core priorities that will carry you through your first year, from setting up your cage before…
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The Challenge of Learning About Chameleons
Starting with chameleons has never been more overwhelming. You're drowning in contradictory advice from social media, TikTok, and now AI—all delivered with equal confidence. How do you know who to trust when the beginner sounds more authoritative than the expert? In this episode, Bill explores…
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The Chameleon Keeper's Journey
Every chameleon keeper moves through three stages: learning the fundamentals, understanding your unique path, and eventually passing knowledge forward to others. In this episode, I map the entire chameleon keeper's journey—from the panic of keeping your first chameleon alive, through the...
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Feeding Mini-Chameleons
Small Chameleons eat small food! Today we take a look at some of the unexpected challenges of feeding mini-chameleons!
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Lighting Mini Chameleons
Dr. Michael Nash speaks to us about the challenges setting up the lighting for Mini-chameleons!
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Hydrating Mini Chameleons
Dr. Michael Nash is back on the Mini Chameleon Podcast with some essential discussion on keeping your mini chameleons properly hydrated! He shares his extensive keeping and breeding husbandry to ensure even the smallest chameleons receive the best care.
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Mini-Chameleon Podcast host, Dr. Michael Nash
Bill Strand introduces Dr. Michael Nash to discuss the launch of the Mini Chameleon Podcast! Hear about their excitement for the new show and what listeners can anticipate from future episodes.
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Enclosures for Mini-Chameleons
Join Dr. Michael Nash as he talks about enclosures for for mini-chameleons!
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The Bifidus Chameleon Breeding Project
A number of Chameleon Academy memerbs are starting a fun project with a rare chamleeon species from Madagascar, Furcifer bifidus. Listen in on how we are structuring this breeding project.
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Introduction to Mini-Chameleons
Welcome to thie new miniseries on the smaller species in the chameleon world. From the carpet and jewelled chameleons to the smallest Calummas and Brookesia and, of course, babies of any species, this new mini series delves into the specific husbandry needed by the smallest members. This show is...
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Pitfalls of Copying Nature
The natural world holds the answers as to how we should care for our chameleons. But those answers are mixed in with dead ends and wrong turns. So we need to be smart as to how we recreate natural conditions. This is a thoughtful conversation about building environments that are nurturing for our...
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Chameleons as Pets - what's it like?
This episode shares what having a pet chameleon is really like and gives you important things to think about before bringing one home. But it also talks about the unexpected ways you are changed after being a keeper for a while!
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Your Chameleon North Star
Your North Star is your personal guiding principle. It isn't a place you end up, it's a direction you go in. In chameleon husbandry, this means identifying what you care about most. Is it replicating nature? Ensuring efficiency? Prioritizing survival rates for breeding? When you know your North...
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Five Commandments of Raising Chameleon Hatchlings
There is a lot to take in when you are planning to care for hatchling chameleons! I give you the five commandments that will get you started on a solid foundation!
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Cage Size For Hatchling Chameleons
What size cage should we use for chameleon hatchlings? As we evaluate our husbandry to provide an enriching life for our chameleons we need to start at how we care for them from day 1. I talk about how we should be starting off our chameleons from the moment they leave the egg.
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Where to see wild chameleons
Do you think it would be cool to see chameleons in the wild? In this podcast episode I talk about my top picks to see wild chameleons!
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How to use wild data in reptile husbandry
We need to go back to the wild source if we want to move our captive husbandry forward. But there are cautions and dangers in doing so that we need to avoid. Freshly back from Madagascar, I discuss how important wild environmental data is, the dangers in misusing it, and how to change our captive...
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Beginner's Guide to Fighting Reptile Parasites
We all know parasites are an issue with our captive reptiles, but not all of us have a microscope or would know what to do with one if we did. Today I am going to give you the bare bones, high level introduction to parasites that requires no previous knowledge, but will make you highly effective…
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Why Chameleon Keepers Should Embrace Naturalistic Enclosures
We have always been amazed when we see an enclosure set up naturalistically with thriving plant life. There is a magic in getting lost in the details of one of these environments. It is even more powerful when the chameleon is the last thing you notice because it had so well hidden itself in…
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Choosing the best chameleon cage
Getting ready to buy a chameleon cage? Listen here first! We often don't think about how we are going to set things up once we get our chameleon cage. After years of doing this, I'd like to share five things that can make the difference between annoyance and smooth sailing!
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Level up your Chameleon Husbandry!
Here are my picks for the next steps for chameleon keepers to level up after they get comfortable with the basics of chameleon husbandry.
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Adding Another Chameleon? Tips for Success
Do you love keeping chameleons so much that you are thinking of adding another one to your household? We talk a lot about what you should consider if you are getting your first chameleon, but a favorite topic of mine is what you should consider if you are getting your second, third, or fourth...
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Chameleon Parasite checks as standard husbandry
Doing your own parasite checks on your chameleon has long been for advanced keepers. But there is no reason why this cannot be a part of every day chameleon husbandry for anyone with multiple chameleons.Today I am making the argument for adding fecal checks to standard husbandry.
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Coccidia Parasites and Chameleons
Coccidia is a parasite that can do great harm to your chameleon. By knowing the coccidia lifecycle we are able to device medications and strategies to eradicate it. by the end of this episode you will have a working knowledge of the coccidia parasite in the context of chameleons.
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The Forest Edge 5+5 Chameleon Cage Checklist
Evaluate your chameleons cage set-up to find what you could improve. This episode trains you on the Forest Edge 5+5 checklist which will allow you to methodically go through each item that is important to your chameleon. This is the exact system I use when I do my chameleon cage reviews on the...
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Can We Change Pet Store Chameleon Care?
What do I do to improve pet store standards for keeping chameleons? Not only are chameleons not being cared for correctly, the improper care gives the wrong message to the beginning chameleon keeper. Do we tell the pet store to up their chameleon care? Do we tell the corporation to improve their...
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Panther Chameleon Genetic Test Update with Dr. Ben Morrill
Rare Genetics, Inc. is opening up a final round of test development for a genetic test for panther chameleon locale. This is a 35 minute conversation with Dr. Ben Morrill, who is actively working on a way to explore panther chameleon local forms using genetic material from their shed skin. We are...
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Changes Ahead for the Reptile Community
If you keep chameleons (or any reptile) you might feel like there is change in the air. Yes, there are some major shifts happening and it is wise that we face them head on.
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Origin and Future of Small Batch Breeding in the Chameleon Community
Quality over quantity. TC Houston started taking about small batch breeding on the Animals at Home podcast a few years ago and it started a chain reaction. I am convinced that we can make our community better by embracing these concepts.
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Dart Frogs! with Troy Goldberg
Dart frogs are a most incredible creature! And Troy Goldberg of YouTube's Troy Goldberg's garage, joins me to share how to take care of these little guys!
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Isopods! with Rus Wilson
Rus Wilson from Aquarimax (https://www.aquarimax.com/) and I talk about what Isopods I should use for my new Custom Reptile Habitats Arboreal XL Enclosure. It has a special "forest Floor Viewing Window" and I want to have some awesome isopod action down there!!
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Changing the Future of Chameleon Breeding
Breeding chameleons is a resource consuming task if done properly. Burnout amongst chameleon breeders is common. And with that our community experience is depleted. In this episode I look at how we can use Small Batch Breeding concepts to strengthen our community and increase satisfaction for the...
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Starting a Panther Chameleon Breeding Project
Michael DiBoneventura joins us today to represent the perspective of a new breeder. He has a ton of experience with various reptiles throughout his life, like most of us, but he got started with Panther Chameleons by raising them individually. We discuss some of the information he used and what…
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Evolution of Panther Chameleon Breeding with Brian Stewart
Brian Stewart is one of the long-tenure Panther Chameleon breeders I have worked with for many years. In this episode, he talks about what it was like to attempt to verify a local form in the mail before the internet, and how much easier we all have it today. He also talks about some of his...
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Selective Breeding of Panther Chameleons
Jonathan is joined by Robbie Anderson and Bryan Long to discuss the realities of being a panther chameleon breeder and the strategies to be a good one.
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Panther Chameleons in the Wild
Madcham.de is an invaluable website compiled by Thorsten Negro and Dr. Alex Laube. Their efforts have given us insight into the wild conditions for the chameleons that live in Madagasar. Jonathan is joined by Lee and Amanda Ready to gain insight into the locales of Panther Chameleons.
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Panther Chameleons as a Species with Dr. Chris Anderson
Dr. Chris Anderson joins Jonathan to discuss Panther Chameleons from a scientific persceptive.
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Can Small Batch Breeding Save Us All?
Maybe not save us all, but Small Batch Breeding could be an answer to avoiding breeder burn-out as well as possbily establishing new chameleon species in captivity. Will it work? To be determined. But you are in the right place to watch us try!
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Discussions on Breeding Panther Chameleons
Panther Chameleons have become the foundation of the growth of our chameleon community. This is the inaugural episode of the new iPardalis Podcast produced by Jonathan Hill. He introduces us to the issues and discussions surrounding the panther chameleon community.
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A New Podcast: The iPardalis Podcast by Jonathan Hill
The Chameleon Academy is now a network . I have the pleasure of introducing to you iPardalis Podcast! The iPardalis Podcast looks at the various issues facing the panther chameleon community. Host, Jonathan Hill, of iPardalis, explores genetics, natural history, ethics, and the basics of breeding...
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Mossy Leaf-tailed Geckos with Dave Bagshaw!
One species that gets a constant love is the Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko, Uroplatus sikorae from Madagascar. This is one of the extreme bark mimics and the camouflage is freakishly good! Not only is the coloration perfect, but the frill around their lower jaw serves to ear the typical animal shape…
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The Namaqua Chameleon with Brett Hanson
Of the more than 200 species of chameleons, none breaks the mold like the Namaqua chameleon. They don't climb and they run across sand dunes. Brett Hanson shares what it is like working with and reproducing Chamaeleo namaquensis, the Namaqua Chameleon.
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Grasshoppers as Chameleon Feeder Insects with Dean Missimer
Dean Missimer wants to help us give our chameleons a more natural diet. To this end he is breeding grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects that match what is found in the gut of wild chameleons. Listen in as he talks about grasshoppers as a chameleon feeder insect!
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A Discussion about Breeding Chameleons with Kevin Stanford
Kevin Stanford, who bred Carpet Chameleons to the 10th captive generation, joins me to talk about chameleon breeding projects.
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Establishing a Chameleon Species
We often feel the desire to establish chameleon species in captivity. It should be easy. We know how to breed them. But it just doesn't seem to happen easily. Why not? Today I am going to explain the challenges of establishing a chameleon species in captivity and how we might be inching closer to...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hosted by long time chameleon keeper and breeder, Bill Strand, the Chameleon Academy Podcast tackles subjects from basic to advanced and brings in insight from experts in the field. There is something for everyone from beginning keepers to experienced breeders. Subscribe for a weekly dose of chameleon talk!
HOSTED BY
Bill Strand
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Chameleon Academy Podcast have?
Chameleon Academy Podcast currently has 354 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Chameleon Academy Podcast about?
Hosted by long time chameleon keeper and breeder, Bill Strand, the Chameleon Academy Podcast tackles subjects from basic to advanced and brings in insight from experts in the field. There is something for everyone from beginning keepers to experienced breeders. Subscribe for a weekly dose of...
How often does Chameleon Academy Podcast release new episodes?
Chameleon Academy Podcast publishes regularly with 354 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Chameleon Academy Podcast?
You can listen to Chameleon Academy Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Chameleon Academy Podcast?
Chameleon Academy Podcast is created and hosted by Bill Strand.
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