Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought two chams from the same (brood/batch?)

They lived together fine for about 6 months (as babies). I have since separated them, though they have found ways to get into the other's cage and have since given up on keeping tem separate (its a semi-freerange setup). Every once in awhile they will posture towards eachother, with their mouths open. The male now and then tries to mount the female, and mate, I guess.

My question is:

1) If they mate, being bother and sister, is this a problem?

2) the lizards seem to cohabitate ok. Think things will be ok?

Inbreeding your chameleons is simply irresponsible husbandry and a detrement to the future of chameleons.
By breeding siblings, you are increasing the risk of genetic defects manisfesting in the resulting clutch. Further, you are polluting the future gene pool by introducing these inbred chameleons to the unsuspecting general public.
I would HIGHLY HIGHLY reccommend freezing off ANY resulting eggs from this pairing!
Secondly, I HIGHLY disagree that it's impossible to keep them apart. I mean, why can't you simply put a LOCK on the door or simply secure it properly!
Third, you are compromising the health of both your chameleons by allowing them to co-habitate. Chameleons are solitary in nature, not social animals. Co-habitation leads to stress or the death of one or both of your chameleons.
Finally, very sorry about the abrupt, and possible rude tone of my reply. I don't mean to come off that way, honest! I just came off two back-to-back 18 hour shifts, I'm tired and I should really get some rest. I just thought you should be aware of the dangers you are placing your chameleons in.
Best regards.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi@yahoo.com

yes i agree with gomez and actually these facts are clearly and easily found in books,internet etc i would also agree that the eggs should not be hatched responsible breeders will alway use the fackt that there chams are from unrelated pairs as a selling point because any responsible and informed cham owner would not buy interbreed chams mistakes might happen but they should not be breed especially if they are breed knowingly they are related
good luck with your chams

Cohabitation is a problem. Stress is cumulative and can be very subtle. The gaping you were seeing IS a sign of stress. Just because they don't actually attack each other doesn't mean they are getting along. If your free range area was the size of a room full of trees, they might do OK, but again, if they mate you will be looking at deformities at the least. If you weren't planning on breeding they must be separated. The male will continually pester the female. Egg production is stressful and risky for any female cham, as things do go wrong, so even if you planned not to let any eggs develop why put her through that?