Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My original post got deleted for some reason. Ok, I had originally thought about getting a c.j. jacksonii, but I saw some fishers on a web site and their colors plus the 'horns' are even cooler than the jax. I can't find any care sheets, but ADCHAM says their care is just like a jacksons. Is this true? Or do they mean the meru jackson's, because I also read the fishers are a montane species (which I assume means from a mountainous region)? Anybody know any specific care sheets on these little fellows? Any owners on this forum of a fishers? Responses are appreciated.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.1.0 Leucistic Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.1.0 Orange Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

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BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

There are several species and it does matter which one you are looking at. The "giant" or "monkey tailed" Fischer's (Bradypodion fischeri fischeri) will need a much larger cage than the smaller subspecies. They will also like a cooler cage than Bradypodion fischeri multituberculatum would (but we're talking a few degrees at most). Not as much is known about their nutritional needs (they seem to be sensitive to overdusting vitamins) and almost all available fischeri will be wildcaught. You may have better luck acclimating a known cbb jackson's. The Fischeri tend to be shyer than most jax I've met and will want less handling and a really heavily planted cage. I've kept both and my general feeling is that jax are better understood. Check with Kammerflage Kreations too. They have bred some of the Fischer's.

Yeah, Kammerflage is where I saw these guys for the first time. Their site said they are very "personable" little chams, I took this to mean friendly. I guess friendly can include shy, and I don't really want a chameleon that will constantly hide from me. I know what you mean though, the jax is better understood, so I have a better chance of success with them after proper research. Oh well, now I am really confused, because I have no idea what I want now. I am still leaning (80%) on the jax.

I see that you are one of the more reliable and helpful keepers on this forum, and I am sure I speak for others when I say we all appreciate that. Anyway, maybe you could answer a couple other strange questions for me:

1-How shy are jax? Will I always have to spend 10 minutes scanning my cage to see him, or will he be visible and out in the (relative) open?
2-What about the c.j. xanth (I don't exactly know the right name)? Are these really a much brighter/differing color than c.j. jacksonii? Do you know anyone who sells them?

Many thanks for your time!
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.1.0 Leucistic Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.1.0 Orange Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

My Home Page

BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

Thanks for the thanks! I do try to help as I know how much I appreciated the help I got way back when. As for jacksoni xanth I have never kept or even seen one in person.

As for the Kammer's description they've probably been around more individual fischeri than I have and know them better. By personable they may mean less aggressive and prone to gape or bite. It's kind of a toss up about how visible they are. If you have a densely planted cage that makes the cham happier you won't see it as often (basking sessions in the morning are the best time, and if you offer houseflies as feeders you will see them hunting them out in the open more often). But if you have a pretty bare cage the cham will stress more easily and hide or react to you more. Most chams like a place in the house where there isn't a lot of activity. Once they settle in to your routine and know what to expect from you they may be a lot more visible. Also, offer favorite treats by hand so they learn that you are not a big funny looking predator. Most will learn to come to you for a special treat like waxworms. I had one B. fischeri multituberculatum who was not shy at all (the exception). When he saw me coming with the food he would almost throw himself into the dish before I took my hand away. Once he knocked the dish out of my hand and both cham and dish fell to the cage bottom (about 4 feet). I picked up the dish in time to see him munching on a cricket completely calm.