Chameleons, Chameleons, Chameleons!!!!!!

[Morelia_Hunter]

Brought some pics back of some animals I used to keep and breed back when I was still living in South Africa. We have quite a few native chamaleon species and about 95% of them are endemic. We also have dwarf chameleons from the genus Bradypodion witch means slow foot. These little chameleons occur all over the country and are live bearers. Here are some pics of the adults and some babies the common name is the Cape Dwarf Chameleon or Bradypodion pumilim.
Adult:

Adult:

Baby:

Babies tend to be less colourfull than the adults and males are real show offs. Our chameleons are some of the most prettiest lizards in the world.

I am also attaching some pics of a Parsons Chameleon I was also lucky enough to keep. Just before CITES laws made it impossible for them to leave Madagascar. These chameleons grow to 3 foot in length and this male was close to that.

 

[chameleon]

adorable..

 

[chameleon]

is it true that you must provide running water in their enclosures?

 

[southy]

lucky man, id love to keep on of them, maybe when the npws let us (not trying to start a fight or any bitching i know they are illegal etc etc etc)

 

[newtosnakes]

How tiny is that baby!!! So gorgeous!!

 

[Morelia_Hunter]

Just need to be sprayed as they only lick water off leaves. They are some of the most difficult reptiles to maintain in captivity. It took me many years and lots of mistakes to perfect keeping them. Especially the more exotic rainforest species.

 

[Rupes]

they so cute ohhhhhhh

 

[southy]

is it true also that if they don't get proper uv their bones go all spastic "metorphorically speaking"

 

[SLACkra]

ah chameleons my favorite lizards. if they were legal i would have a vieled chameleon again in a heart beat!

Just need to be sprayed as they only lick water off leaves. They are some of the most difficult reptiles to maintain in captivity. It took me many years and lots of mistakes to perfect keeping them. Especially the more exotic rainforest species.

ya thats what i ended up doing with my veiled. i would clip in romane lettuce leafs to the side of her cage then mist them. she loved her romane lettuce so it allowed me to make sure she was hydrated.

is it true also that if they don't get proper uv their bones go all spastic "metorphorically speaking"

yes, if i remember correctly insufficient uva/uvb causes bone deformaties. i kept my little girl under a desert type uva/uvb bulb.

morelia hunter what were your cage setups like? mine was quite basic. it was roughly a 1m x 1m x 1m cube. completely diy and with some non-toxic plants. had a red heat lamp aimed at one branch and the uv lamp. no thermostats ect. i generaly hand fed her crickets and gave her calcium suppliments regularly.

nice pictures btw!

andrew

 

[Morelia_Hunter]

Outside is the way to go! If only those mesh vivariums were available ten years ago. Would have made life a lot easier. I used to keep them in old aviaries in summer and move them inside during winter. Into big hanging enclosures. With some tanning globes I imported from germany. South Africas economy is not that strong so these globes nearly broke me. They also get bored with crickets and other commercially available live foods, so I had to take a net and do it the old fashioned way. They are very prone to metabolic bone disease and a electrolite imbalance causes their tongue to not withdraw and thus be amputated. They are great to keep if you have the right setup and food for them. Males and females are highly territorial and hate each other. They are best kept singly or in pairs. Those dwarf chameleons do occur in colonys though and can reach densities of up to 200 per hectare.

 

[redline]

Wow thast nice i wish we could get that here.

 

[AntaresiaLady]

They have to be one of the most beautiful exquisite creatures I have ever seen.
I am awestruck!

 

[Hickson]

Absolutely gorgeous. That first pic is a beauty!



Hix

 

[nickvelez]

absolutely phenomenal male cape dwarf chameleon. great pics

 

[SLACkra]

They are very prone to metabolic bone disease and a electrolite imbalance causes their tongue to not withdraw and thus be amputated.

electrolite imbalance? first time i have heard of that, maybe more common with that peticular species than the species i kept.

They also get bored with crickets and other commercially available live foods

never had any boredom with mine she just gulped them down with glee

cheers

Andrew

 

[pugsly]

WOW! Stunning!

Lucky B@$!...

 

[thals]

Great pics Morelia, especially that first one! I'd love to be able to keep chamelians, those creatures are truly fascinating

 

[Linus]

These chameleons grow to 3 foot in length and this male was close to that.

:shock: I had no idea chameleons could get that big. What do you feed one that size? Great photos too mate. This would be the only reptile I want to keep that lives outside Australia.

 

[NinaPeas]

Is there a big demand for reptiles in South Africa? I know it's getting more and more popular here, but do many people keep them as pets over there??

 

[Morelia_Hunter]

Electrolite imbalance is common in them. Veiled chameleons are common and hardy, thats why they are so popular. Rainforest specialists are notorious for getting bored with food. I used to feed the parsons black crickets, grass hoppers, american cockroaches and hissing cockroaches. They are good feeders if there is variety. Reptile keeping is common back home. We are not allowed to keep indigeounous reptiles without a license. And we have a red data book that contains a list of CITES animals that are endangered or vulnerable that is a no go for keeping. Otherwise most exotic reptiles is legal to keep without a license. Of course there are a few like red eared sliders that have been outlawed but this is the case in most countries. They are trying to restrict it at the moment but in the last 40 years we have not had any ferrel population of any species establish itself. There is regulated import from overseas and this seems to curb the smuggling trade, although this still happens. But hey it happens in every country. Chameleons will always be my favourite reptiles to keep, closely followed by pythons.