head spinning

[Clownfishie]

To start off with, I'd like to comment that I was quite pleasantly surprised by the book that I picked up from the library the other day -- The Chameleon Handbook put out by Barron's. In general, I'm usually not terribly impressed with the Barron's pet guides, although some are quite good. This book was absolutely PACKED with information -- which, after devouring the book in the course of a single day mady my head spin (as you can see by the subject... hehe :)).

The main reason for the head spinning though (and my one issue with the book) is that throughout the whole thing they only use the latin names for the different cham species -- which is great, and the best way of keeping the species straight (much more accurate than using common names of course), but they didn't even provide a list of the common names to match up with the latin names, so I spent a great deal of my time having no idea what kind of chameleon they were talking about ;) At the end they have a species account, and there's a few species that sounded quite interesting that they listed as being good for beginner's -- I was hoping that someone might be able to match up the scientific name with a common name for me -- and maybe even mention if they're commonly seen in captivity :)

- Bradypodion thamnobates
- Calumma b. brevicornis
- Chamaeleo c. calyptratus
- Chamaeleo chamaeleon
- Chamaeleo gracilis
- Chamaeleo j. jacksonii (that one I figure is Jackson's cham, but just making sure :))
- Chamaeleo johnstoni
- Furcifer lateralis
- Furcifer minor
- Furcifer pardalis
- Chamaeleo quadricornis
- Chamaeleo senegalensis

Thanks :)
Jen

[Trace]

Hey Jen! Here ya go:

- Bradypodion thamnobates = Natal Midlands Dwarf Chameleon
- Calumma b. brevicornis = Short-horned Chameleon
- Chamaeleo c. calyptratus = Veiled Chameleon
- Chamaeleo chamaeleon = Common Chameleon
- Chamaeleo gracilis = Graceful Chameleon
- Chamaeleo j. jacksonii = Jackson's Chameleon
- Chamaeleo johnstoni = Johnston's Chameleon
- Furcifer lateralis = Carpet Chameleon
- Furcifer minor = Lessor Chameleon
- Furcifer pardalis = Panther Chameleon
- Chamaeleo quadricornis = 4 horned Chameleon
- Chamaeleo senegalensis = Senegal Chameleon

Save for the Panther's, the Veiled's and the Jackson's, most of that list is NOT readily available in the pet trade. At least in Canada anyways. :(

Hope this helps!

Cheers!

Trace

[Clownfishie]

Thanks a bunch Trace! :D

Yeah, those are the only 3 that I've seen available as well -- some of those others sounded quite interesting though! Ah well -- I'm probably best to stick with the most common ones for my first foray into chams anyways :)

Out of curiosity, do you know of anyone working with Jackson's and Panther's? I've seen them in the pet store, but we all know that buying from a pet store is generally not the best idea ;)

Jen

[Trace]

I went and dug out some of the chameleon books that I refer to on a semi regular basis, just in case you need your head to spin a bit more!

"Care and Breeding of Chameleons" by Philippe de Vosjoli and Gary Ferguson. ISBN1-882770307. It's a good general care/husbandry/breeding book for Jackson's, Panther's, Veiled's and Parson's chameleons.

"Chameleons: Their Care and Breeding" Linda J. Davidson. ISBN 0-88839-353-9. This one is a little more indepth than the first one I listed. It's got a nice medical section and covers a few more species.

"Chameleons: Nature's Hidden Jewels" Petr Necas. ISBN 1-57524-137-4. This is my chameleon bible!!!! Lists almost every species, their indentification, systematics, habitats, biology etc etc. This one is spendy, but worth every penny to me.

Breeders? Me!!!!!!!! LOL! I've got a batch of Veiled eggs cooking at the moment. It is my intent to be breeding the Panthers within the year. I'm just waiting for my females to get a little older.

Honestly I'm not sure about all the breeders in Canada, I really haven't looked that in depth for them. They have to exist though. Maybe somebody else can chime in here and give you a hand, particularly some of you left coasters! As you know a lot of my chams are rescues and most of the weird species I have, I've gotten through private sales and want ads, and some, yes, I've gotten from pet stores.

I do go to the reptile shows here in Ontario and I'm quite taken with the Panther Chameleons bred by Arboreal Exotics. She has lovely animals and all are healthy. I'd recommend Connie for sure!

Cheers!

Trace

[Clownfishie]

I've dealt with Connie before! :) Got one of my first leos from her actually, right after I got into herps a few years ago... she seemed quite nice and I was very happy with my girl from her... I forgot that she was working with chams too... would you happen to have an email addy for her? I know I used to have a business card of hers, but for the life of me I can't remember what I did with it!

Thanks for the book info :) I already picked up the de Vosjoli one at the pet store the other day and read through that one -- his books are always good. I'll have to keep an eye out for the others... Always open to a little head spinning -- LOL :)

Is keeping a veiled in an aquarium even remotely an option? It just seems like a more secure route to go with the cats around... I'll figure something out if it's not. I've read that having a small fan blowing across (not into) part of the aquarium can help with keeping up ventilation -- don't know if that's true or not. Any thoughts on that?

Sorry for pestering you with so many questions, you just seem like the cham guru around here ;)

Jen

[Trace]

Hey again!!! :D

I forgot that she was working with chams too... would you happen to have an email addy for her?

Oh geez.... somewhere! I have the same problem with business cards as you! LOL! I'll find it and PM you with it. Honest!

Aquariums? I keep my babies in aquariums (24x12x18) because I find it's easier for them to find the crickets, then if they are in one of my bigger screened enclosures. Once they are about 3 or 4 inches SVL they get transferred into the cages.

I guess I would still think that even you were using a fan on the tank, it wouldn't provide enough proper ventilation and a good temperature gradient. Maybe it would, I've never tried this method. Depending on the personality of your chameleon as well, sometimes they are able to see their reflection in the glass of an aquarium, and that reflection can be perceived as a rival chameleon. I've taken my male chams into the bathroom, some of them get QUITE angry at the boy in the mirror, others just don't care. Some of my fellows are so easy going it's not funny. I digress! Also for good mental stimuation, chams want height. They want to climb around and be taller than anything else in the room. You can't get that height factor in a tank.

I did read the responses by Jaylyn and Zoe in your other post about cats and chams. It seems that they aren't having that much of a problem with their cats?!?!?! (except for Jaylyn's Pumpkin :( I'm still sad about that). You are just going to have to be vigilent with them. Make your cage bottom heavy so it doesn't tip over if the cats jump on it, and make it predator proof so the cats don't claw their way in.

Sorry for pestering you with so many questions, you just seem like the cham guru around here

Questions are good! That's how we all learn. You aren't pestering me in the least. I'm happy this forum is so active! WWWEEEEEE! Thanks for the kind words too :D

Cheers!

Trace

[DragnDrop]

I'd suggest you check out the "iCHAM Database" at The Chameleon Journals (http://www.chameleonjournals.com/)
The direct link to the db is iCHAM Database (http://www.chameleonjournals.com/icham/index.html) You'll find all the species and pictures(of most species)

Kathy also has an email-type chameleon help group which you might want to sign up for. It's the one that kept me sane when I first started in chams.

[Clownfishie]

Thanks Hilde! :) That looks like a great site, I'll spend some time checking it out... I didn't even know that you kept chams! What species do you have...

[DragnDrop]

I used to breed Jacksons, but now I'm down to just Nosy Be Blue Panthers.
John Kirlin on Vancouver Island has (had?) some jacksons that came from me if you're looking for that species. From what I know about him, he's a good person to deal with.

[Clownfishie]

Cool :) Are you breeding the Panthers, or just keeping them?

You wouldn't happen to have some contact info for John, would you? (email address or something)... might want to get in touch with him :)

[DragnDrop]

Originally posted by Clownfishie
Cool :) Are you breeding the Panthers, or just keeping them?

You wouldn't happen to have some contact info for John, would you? (email address or something)... might want to get in touch with him :)

I used to have his email, but he changed his ISP so now I have no idea. I do know though that he and Matt from HQ Reptiles are friends, so he might be able to help out.


My panthers are just pets. There are so many panthers available around here, I don't feel like adding to the numbers. Too many makes them seem like disposable pets. The number of panther breeders around here right now is enough to fill the demand.