chameleons in love

[choriona]

I have 2 free-roamers living in our huge bathroom right now. They are both against the wall and cannot see each other due to a big portable dresser/closet thingy in between them. On the one side is my female veiled, who I might add is super fat right now and ready to explode with eggs. On the other side is my ½ blind old geezer male veiled. Only one power cord connects the two cages.
Well, the other day when I went to say good-night to them, my female was missing. Sure enough, she was on top of the dresser, looking down at the geezer with the gaze of love. I decided to leave her be and see what happens. He hadn’t seen her yet because she was on his bad side.
The next day, she was hanging on for dear life, between the wall and the edge of the dresser, so I put her back in her house. This did not last, as that night she was actually over at the top entrance to his area. He saw her this time, and appeared to not care, so I let her be.
Two days later and they are still living together, taking turns in front of the basking area. Then they take turns eating. She is absolutely smitten with him, but he is so old and never performed, that I think he doesn’t know how to!! It is so cute. I keep peeking in on them to catch a bit of chameleon porn, but its just not happening. And its weird too, cause I think she’d be looking for a place to lay right now, not for some action!
Oh they are soo funny. Just thought I ‘d share.

[joer]

Thats very cute.

[J-Man]

that's friggin funny.

[Trace]

and ready to explode with eggs

LMAO! I get a visual of her actually expoding much like Mr. Creosote from The Meaning of Life. Am I weird?

That's a cute story though. It's nice he's got a friend in his old age.

Cheers!

Trace

[Chelydraman]

BAAAAAARRRFFFFF

I have the urge to watch that movie now hahaha

That is cute would like to see pics

[gfisher2002]

I would love to see pics!! They sound adorable.

[choriona]

I will try to get pics tomorrow or the next day. I have to borrow the camera though..........stay tuned.

[meow_mix450]

lol ha ha thats great, i didnt get how old he was:p

Meow

[choriona]

he is around 5 or 6, but I don't know for sure. The reason I call him a geezer is because he dosen't move very much. He is very placid and just lazes around all day. He is even lazy about walking up to his food - which can take up to 20 minutes! He is the biggest male veiled I've seen, and I had a few people agree at the TARAS show. And even though he is blind in one eye, he has perfect aim every time he shoots out his tongue.

And for more laughs, the female was in the basking spot, and I think the male wanted a turn. I saw him shoot his tongue and catch her tail and then let go immediately. Her response was to turn around and hiss at him and run away as quick as possible. Thus he gained a spot under the light.

[Trace]

Hey Choriona... when you get the chance to post those pics, I'd like some stats on that old guy. SVL and weight is fine. I've got a big fellow here too (biggest I've ever seen) and it would interesting to compare them.

Cheers!

Trace

[lizardmom]

great , need pics too , wonder what their thinking with you watching them -dam humans go get your own piece..
hey is the viagra for chams, -little tiny blue pills to put in their water.. cool, love those chams i have 2 now, they are so cool,
we have S-peedy and Louie-both are veiled chams

[J-Man]

Originally posted by Trace
Am I weird?

Yes, sorry.

[meow_mix450]

lol trace do you mind if you post one now, just wondering what you think a huge cham is cause i have never seen a really big one

Meow

[Trace]

Originally posted by J-Man
Yes, sorry.

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks.

Trace

[gfisher2002]

Trace, your my hero. lol

[Wuntu Menny]

hey is the viagra for chams, -little tiny blue pills to put in their water..

Yes, there is, its a mirror. If you ever have a reluctant or lazy male, just show him his reflection for a few seconds. Once he reacts to the potential threat, take it away and watch the fireworks. They usually get to the business at hand within seconds. I've used this on several species and it works every time.


WM

[Bartman]

Think that would work with leopard geckos?

[Wuntu Menny]

Dunno, give it a try.

[Neo]

haha bartman: leos are horney enough as it is :D

thats a great cham story though :P

[Trace]

Originally posted by Wuntu Menny
Yes, there is, its a mirror. If you ever have a reluctant or lazy male, just show him his reflection for a few seconds. Once he reacts to the potential threat, take it away and watch the fireworks. They usually get to the business at hand within seconds. I've used this on several species and it works every time.

Yeah... it does work! So much so, that sometimes they can't even wait until they see the female and they get to the business at hand on my hand!!!! That's always charming. :/

The only one it doesn't work on is Calypso (everyone's favourite homosexual). Any other tricks up your sleeve WM to get him in the mood?

Trace

[Wuntu Menny]

Hmm, ya got me there. I've never known it not to work. A gay cham, eh? Have you tried a simulated seasonal cycle with temp and lights? Veileds aren't supposed to need it, but maybe it would light his fire. On the other hand, you could just pump up the dance beats, drop a tab of E in his water, and let him be who he has to be!

Nice sig, by the way. My thoughts exactly, that's all I ever listen to. I suppose I should have known by the names of your animals. It may be winter, but Carribana is right round da corner!

WM

[Trace]

Have you tried a simulated seasonal cycle with temp and lights? Veileds aren't supposed to need it, but maybe it would light his fire.

Calypso is a Panther actually, but I just may try that. I could separate him out from the posse (all of my cham cages are in 2 rooms) and put his cage downstairs in the living room or basement. Those areas are a little cooler and darker. He'd hate it though because he is sssoooo dang friendly. Food for thought though, I'll do a bit more research into the seasonal fluctations in Maddy.

On the other hand, you could just pump up the dance beats, drop a tab of E in his water, and let him be who he has to be!

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I suppose I should have known by the names of your animals.

Yeah... Bacchanal, Calypso, Irie, Jadoo, Jouvay among others.

It may be winter, but Carribana is right round da corner!

I'm wining down as we speak. Got my rag. Got my flag. Ma bumpah cetch a fyah.

Trace

[Wuntu Menny]

Now you did it, I'm gonna have to go spin up some Calypso Rose an get some Fire ina me Wire!

WM

[choriona]

As promised, I have some pics of this unusual event. First of all, is a pic of them enjoying the basking area together.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/512/2730Cylo_Petri_nov_03_12_.JPG

Now here is a pic of them both peering into the food dish. Petri let Cylo go first. What a gentleman!
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/512/2730Cylo_Petri_nov_03_6_.JPG

Next, this is Cylo's house. She left this fine place to move in with Petri. Her house is made up of spare hamster cages and a 10 gal aquarium. The hamster cages collect lots of water droplets for her to drink when I spray her area. I put some sand in the aquarium that is topped with moss and a bunch of small potted plants. That way, she can start her digging in there when she feels the need. http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/512/2730Cylo_s_house_nov_03.JPG

And lastly, here is a wide shot of Petri's house. You can see both Cylo and Petri in this pic. I made Petri's house out of a tomato plant support wire thingy up-side-down. The stick goes down to a laundry tub where his feeding dish is and a fountain for drinking. He spands the majority of his time on the second tier.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/512/2730petri_s_house_nov_03.JPG

Thanks for looking!

[Trace]

Interesting set-ups! I like it. They don't fall out of them... or feel the urge to move off or explore? What an adoreable couple.

Trace

Oh... and a few more questions! I'm assuming Cyco has laid her eggs since you started this post? And how big is Petri? (SVL, weight)

[choriona]

Sorry Trace, I haven't attacked him with a ruler yet. But I do have his weight from our trip to the vet : 206g. I suspect it has gone down a bit now just beacuse of his eye problem.

[choriona]

I have found with veileds that once they have established their territory, they will stay there. For example, One of our veileds has a complete study room to himself. There are tonnes of plants for him to climb on and stick bridges, betta bowls to dodge or drink out of, several feeding stations...ect. But he prefers to stay in one aloe-vera plant in one corner.
My females usually stay in their areas too, unless looking for a mate - sorta what happened here. My other female, Choriona, lived in the bedroom and would venture across the room when she was ready to mate and strut her stuff for the pictures of a Parson's cham on my wall. Too cute.
The trick is to make it so they have everything they may want in their territory. Hide places, basking areas, cooler areas, areas where humidity can accumulate...if they feel safe and happy, they will stay there.

Cylo has not laid her eggs. I am a bit worried about that. I have put her back in her house, and Petri now climbs to the top of his house where he can just catch a glimpse of her. He hasn't tried to climb the electrical cords back to her house and she hasn't gone back to his. She looks uncomfortably fat now. I have been giving her extra water as a lack of hydration can cause them not to lay. Same with a lack of calcium. But she has all that. The next step will be oxytocin I guess.

[gfisher2002]

Those are awsome pics and very vreative enclosures. I think if I let Lucy have an open cage, she'd be gone. Sometimes I let her sit infront of the window(I know glass filter's UV but it's -15 out right now) she loves the warm sun. She ends up exploring the front room and climbing on all our yucca plants. She's perticlarly interested in the turtle tanks. She climbs up the tall tree next to Potter(redear) tank and puffs up her troat and stares at him. Then she moves closer and puffs up again. When Potter starts swimming "through" the glass like usual she gets mad and climbs down. It's funny.

[choriona]

Thats cute. Yeah, to get them started for their territory, first they live in a 10 gal aquarium with a mesh top. That is when they are little and fit there nicely :) . Eventually, when they look like they are growing out of that, I make something that they can climb up out of the aquarium onto. Kinda like cylo's hamster cage topper to the aquarium. They already feel safe in the aquarium and enjoy the ability to explore outside of it. But are compelled to stick near what they know.
If you just dump them into new surroundings, they have to establish that feeling of security all over again.
Once they are comfortable with you always being around and still feel secure that they know their place, I add more things to walk onto. To begin with, the aquarium is usually on a smooth surface (like a dressor top) and it is not fun to walk on. They'd rather stay on what their hands can grip. I keep everything out of chameleon reach - remember the tail!!! But yeah, once they look like they like their house, add stick bridges to more plants. Keep everything high - like at least waist level on you, but they like to be at about eye level if given a choice.
If you want more info, pm me. I'd be glad to share more stories, like all the fun it is trying to find your cham when you "think" it has run away from home!! :)