Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking into getting a Chameleo Merelli this summer. Anyone here have experience with these guys? Or know when I might be able to find a CB baby?

Thanks
Zoe

Oops, I meant Melleri

Hey

First of all how much chameleon experience do you have? These are a VERY advanced species of chmaleon to work with....They stress SUPER EASILY and usually need a mate if they are a male or else they will spend an eternity trying to escape their cage and find one....

If you have LOTS of chameleon experience and free time definately get one. They are a great, misunderstood species that are interesting to observe in captivity...Check out the link below for care...however on a personal note i have found Mellers chameleons to enjoy a warmer, EXTREMELY humid cage...like a panther cham only with humidity in the 80% and above range.

GOOD LUCK!!! And post any more questions if you have them!
The Melleri Discovery Page

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eric

I have some chameleon experience. I can't call myself an expert but I have kept and bred several species... I've been reading up as much as I can find on the Melleri, and I do believe that I would be able to properly care for one. I have to say I fell in love with one at a petstore. The girl there didn't even know what it was. He wasn't for sale, just a "pet".

I started exploring setup ideas, was thinking a 6H x 4W x 3D cage. Melamine sides and back with an inner layer of mesh, plexi doors, screen top. I had something similar with a nosy be, and had really good results with keeping humidity - but I didn't have the inner layer of mesh and I found that really cut down on the roaming space (my ambanja in a normal woodframe wire mesh sides was often on the sides of her cage, but it was hard to control humidity). The other problem I had was with ventilation but 2 vents per side and back solved that. Plus plants branches lights and misting system, of course.

Anyhoo, I got out of herps a couple years ago when I moved. I am moving again; but instead of having a million animals I want ONE nice, perfect setup. I guess I'm looking for a challenge that I can do

I don't know, though, that I'd even succede in finding a Mellers in Canada.

I did have one question, what is their "normal" temperment? The one I met at the store was really lovely, really interested in everything I was doing (the girl at the petstore let me mist down all the herps lol).

That was more long winded that I intended, sorry :S Thanks for the reply!

Zoe

Hey,

Great idea for a cage! Should work out VERY well for a mellers...Make sure you get a female...Males CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT A FEMALE!!! this is not even a joke they will spend FOREVER rubbing there face raw on the screen trying to get out!

As for temperment, most mellers are EXTREMELY mean if wild caught,if captive bred they are tamer, but not super tame right away.Mellers chams are the most responsive of all chams in my opinion...They bond with their keeper and become the biggest love bugs ever if trained well...Ah i remember my female Beth, SUPER tame little baby girl...it takes time, patience, and knowledge to suceessfully train a mellers chameleon..They stress VERY easily and a wrong move can cause EXTREME stress on there part..Read up on the melleri discovery page on taming....It is crucial if you want to maintain these beautiful creature....

Post anymore questions that you have...( I myself am considering a Mellers too!)
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eric

How is it that you tell a male from a female Meller's?
You said that a male can't live without a female...does that mean you keep them together in pairs?

Sexing a mellers chameleon is difficult to be able to perfectly be guarantee the sex of the animal....The easiest, but not always tru method is to check the occipital flaps males have black spots under them...if the animal lacks these spots then it is a female...or a male without those spots...like i said before it is VERY hard to PERFECTLY gaurantee the sex of mellers chams

This way of sexong them worked for me...i had a pair of mellers...the feamle laid 25 infertile and only 1 fertile egg which hatched!
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eric

Did you know melamine litterally melts in really high humidity where water beads?

PS, If you are who I think you are, RC could tell you some about these aswell. I lost one earlier this year.

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CANADIAN CHAMELEONS

No, indeed I not! What would be another option then? Is there anything other than mesh sides and back?

I don't think I am who you think I am, as I don't know who RC is :S

Zoe

Reptiles Canada .com

Anyways, add me to msn if you want to chat. xexiledx@gmail.com
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CANADIAN CHAMELEONS

Shall do when I get home.

Oh yes, I just learned of RC.

I see, chameleons.ca. Very cool. Can't wait to see that up and running.