While all reptiles have very specific care requirements, the biggest difference between chameleons and "better" beginner lizards is that most chameleons have a smaller tolerance for error. The best beginner lizards, such as bearded dragons and leopard geckos, are fairly flexible in their care requirements. read more
All that being said, if somebody wants a "beginner" chameleon, there is one species that makes for a pretty easy pet. Veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) are widely captive raised, and even most of the wild collected ones are actually from introduced populations in South Florida, so there is a significantly shorter process from collection to home, mostly eliminating those problems. read more
As CalaMala stated, Chameleons aren't a cheap hobby they cost you well over $100, if that is all you can spend you might want to look into another type of pet or save up more. For a starter you will want to start with a Veiled Chameleon. read more
In my experience, most people who bring these lizards home as pets don’t fully understand what it takes to care for them. As a result, the chameleon will suffer and eventually die. Every year, thousands of chameleons die in captivity for this very reason. Here’s how it typically happens. read more