Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought a mellers chameleon and will be purchasing a 260 gallon reptarium (right now he is in another reptarium that we use for our bearded dragon's sunning cage).

I feed him every morning about 30 crickets dusted with vitamins and calcium (they've been gutloaded prior to the feeding). He eats all of them up very quickly so I wondered if I should be giving him more. I don't want him to be overweight but I do want him to be full so I'm not sure how much is too much, if you know what I mean. I have been feeding him right before bed time as well- should I continue this or is it too much?

I have a book on Mellers but it's a little vague. I've been searching the Internet for information on Mellers but it's hard to find anything. Does anyone have a good care sheet on them?

Thanks!

Generally they are imports and don't live long due to stress, parasites, diet, and so on.
They require large housing (larger than a 260 gal for an adult).
They will need prey items such as lizards and birds which is something else most don't understand.
Let it eat as much as it wants. They will not over eat (like humans lol).
Plan on other food items meaning larger as he will need it and crix are only going to be an appetizer..
Did you get him as an adult import? If so he's probably full of parasites. I wouldn't let a vet pump him full of meds as it will likely kill it. They do need some flora in their staomachs. Treat this part with care.
It will benefit from being left alone and plenty of foilage will gretly help. They are large so keep water available during the day..
Good Luck they are awesome chameleons..

He is captive bred and we will be getting a fecal test done shortly to make sure he is parasite-free.

I didn't know I'd have to feed him birds!!! I thought it was just mice and insects. Man, it doesn't pay to do research when the information out there isn't detailed!

Right now, he's only about 1' long and when he gets older, we will be able to house him in something bigger (when we move).

Can you give me more information on mellers?

Hi - a good portion of the Nov 2002 issue of Cham News is dedicated to the melleri...check it out:

lele
melleri info

-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & no name
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & no name

You don't have to feed him birds. You can if you want, like a small finch when he is full grown. How old is he and how big is he?
We have a Mellers that is about a year old. We got him in March he was a captive hatched. He eats about 36-48 crix a day. We will also feed him superworms (he loves these) and silkworms. You can try roaches as they are a larger feeder and can carry more gutload but keep them porportionate to a size that he can handle. You can also feed him pinky mice, but i'd say no more than once a month. be sure to mist him often. ours loves water. take him in the shower at least once a week. Put the water on warm and leave him on a plant. Of course keep an eye on him at all times while he is in the shower to make sure that nothing happens to him (ie falling)
ours likes to eat small pieces of dried up sticks. we had him in with a very branchy manzanita and he would bite the tips off of the branches. I don't know why he does this, but he seems to enjoy it. plus he thouroughly chewed it up so there was no concern for impaction. We were told to offer him some cuttle bone (like the stuff used for birds) let me know if you have any other questions.
-----
groups.msn.com/JEChameleons
1.1 Chameleo Calyptratus
1.1 Furcifer Pardalis (Diego Suarez)
1 Chameleo Melleri

The pet store got him from a breeder who they buy their snakes and lizards from but didn't ask any questions about him- I can't believe they bought him without asking questions about his care but well, that's a pet store for ya.

Anyway, I'm just guessing but I think he's a juvenile and he's only about 1' long. He's pretty wide around his girth- my husband can't even put his hand all the way around him.

I would love to speak more with you about caring for Rupert (that's what we named him). I'd like to read over the Web site lele sent me incase it answers most of my questions but, if you don't mind, I'd love to contact you for further information...

The articles written were absolutely wonderful. Thank you for giving me the link. I'll soak up the information like a sponge!

Glad it helped! If you are new to chams and to this forum you will find this resource is often recommended. Here are some other sites:

www.chameleonjournals.com/
http://www.chameleonjournals.com/
http://www.calumma.com/

Some of our forum buddies have sites as well:

groups.msn.com/ChameleonParadise
http://groups.msn.com/REPTAYLSChameleons
http://groups.msn.com/JEChameleons

lele & Luna

p.s. love his name! Rupert! post pics when you get settled in

-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & no name
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & no name

When i state they eat birds and lizards among other items that's what there diet consists of in the wild.
As for parasites like i said be careful as they need some in their stomachs as it helps break down non insect food items.
It also can cuase problems as the animal is stressed, then the poison, and parasites equal a dead chameleon.
Generally they are imports, farmed, and/or captive hatched from wild caught females.
I believe Curtis had some a few years ago from a breeding.
Pet stores generally carry wild caught so don't always believe what they say unless they can show them breeding, eggs laid and hatching..
Just remember they are one of the hardest to keep and life span in capitivity is often short(1 1/2-2 years) and diet may play a big part.
They generally don't come across mass numbers of crix and other insects in the wild to fill their apetite and that's why diet may play an important part in survival or death in captivity (meaning other lizards, birds, etc;

if i can be of any help at all. you can reach me at jcunitz@msn.com or at jechameleons@msn.com
-----
groups.msn.com/JEChameleons
1.1 Chameleo Calyptratus
1.1 Furcifer Pardalis (Diego Suarez)
1 Chameleo Melleri