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Chameleons
- Chamaeleonidae - Maintenance in captivity
Origin: Africa
Gender: ---
Life expectancy: from five months to 15 years, depending on the species
Length: from three to 80 centimeters long, depending on the species
Chameleons are the artists of the transformation of the animal kingdom: Depending on your state of mind, may change color and shape.
Panther chameleon at Zurich Zoo, Switzerland – Marc Staub, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Content
What do chameleons look like??
The Chameleons belong to reptiles (crawlers) and they look like lizards: Have an elongated body, four legs and a long tail.
The smallest species only measure three and a half centimeters, the largest reach a meter.
Attention is drawn to the crest of the back and the protrusion in the form of a head helmet.
Some even have small horns in their nose..
His eyes are unmistakable: they are big, protrude from the head like small balls and can move independently in different directions. With them, some species can see clearly up to a kilometer away.
As the top layer of scaly skin is hard, can't grow. So, chameleons have to shed their skin regularly. To make it easier to shed your old skin, animals are often rubbed against branches or stones.
The Chameleons are perfectly adapted to living in trees.
They can grip well even in windy conditions because their hands and feet have been transformed into real tweezers.:
The toes and fingers are fused two by two and three by three.
The bunch with all three toes or fingers points inward, the two points outward.
The tail also serves to hold: can wrap the branches and additionally secure the animal.
That is why it is also especially stable and cannot break and grow back as in other lizards..
Males and females are distinguished by the heel spur: it is a process on the back of the leg that only males have.
One of Madagascar's best-known chameleons, for example, is the Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis).
Males come to measure between 40 and 52 centimeters, the females up 30 centimeters.
Depending on the area of origin, have very different colors.
Males are green to turquoise in color and have light stripes, sometimes red, on the sides of the body. Females are usually more discreet.
Although the Panther chameleon originally found only in Madagascar, it was also introduced by man to the islands of Mauritius and Reunion, located east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
Where do chameleons live??
The Chameleons they are only found in the so-called Old World, that is to say, in Africa, Southern Europe and South and Southwest Asia.
Chameleons are arboreal: they stay mainly in the branches of trees and shrubs, sometimes also in the low weeds.
Species that live in regions where there are few plants are adapted to living in the soil.
What species of chameleons exist?
There are some 70 chameleon species. On the island of Madagascar, off the coast of southeast Africa, lives a particularly large number of different species.
How many years do chameleons live?
In a terrarium, chameleons live four to five years. It is not known how many years they live in the wild.
What does a chameleon eat??
The Chameleons they feed mainly on insects.
His favorite food is grasshoppers, but also other insects and small lizards.
in the terrarium, feed them with insects, meal worms, caterpillars and earthworms. Larger chameleons even eat young mice.
Wild chameleons get water by licking leaf spray in the morning.
Chameleons in captivity
The terrarium
One of the most common chameleons in terrariums is the Chameleon of Yemen. It comes from a high valley (until 2.000 m) from Yemen, in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, where it lives in shrubs and trees.
The Chameleon from Yemen come to measure some 60 centimeters, females only a little more than 40 centimeters. But, animals kept in terrariums remain smaller.
The Panther chameleon it is also usually held in terrariums. Comes from the tropical island of Madagascar, where there are dry seasons every year. Thus, this species tolerates better than others fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the terrarium.
But like the Chameleons they are quite demanding solitaires, they are not animals suitable for pampering. It's best to keep them alone.
Males don't get along with each other at all, rather you can put two females together in a very large terrarium.
The Chameleons need a lot of space. The terrarium must be one meter long, one meter wide, at least 50 centimeters deep and, above all, high altitude, as chameleons like to climb.
The enclosure should be provided with many branches and plants. Normal sand is suitable as soil.
The Chameleons need heat: the temperature must be 25 at 32° C, and at night of 15 at 18° C. A special lamp in the terrarium provides the necessary heat.
Chameleon Care Plan
Water should be sprayed into the terrarium once a day to keep the humidity high enough.
The Chameleons they should only be fed every two or four days. Receive crickets, flies, grasshoppers and occasional mealworms. Before feeding them, insects are sprinkled with a mixture of vitamins and minerals.
To drink, chameleons lick plant water or give it to them on a shallow plate.
How does a chameleon live??
The Chameleons they are solitary animals and live in trees because there they can camouflage themselves especially well. But, predators, such as snakes or birds of prey, they cannot be chased away by the play of colors. And chameleons can't run away quickly either.. Avoid attacks by camouflaging themselves: with its spasmodic gait, imitate leaves that move back and forth in the wind. This makes animals appear much clumsier than they are.: Chameleons make excellent climbers. They roll up their long prehensile tail, that is normally coiled into your body, around the branches; this gives them additional support.
With your climbing toes, cling to branches like tweezers. But, these lizards fall off the tree from time to time, but they do it on purpose: if an enemy gets too close, the dead are made and dropped. No harm is done in the process: inflate their huge lungs and thus cushion the fall, as if they had tied a thick pillow.
How do chameleons reproduce??
The Chameleons they are also quarrelsome loners in the mating season. This occurs when several males fight fiercely for a female.; but males and females also quarrel with each other, sometimes even during mating.
The females of chameleon put between 30 and 40 eggs. They have a soft, apergaminated shell and bury themselves in the hot earth.
After a few months – this varies by species and habitat- the young hatch.
They are immediately independent and hunt small insects. Some species of chameleons give birth to live young: here the eggs develop in the womb of the female of the chameleon.
To prevent too many from living Chameleons in the same area, the young quickly go out on their own and search for their own territory.
The young do not yet have a color as defined as that of their parents, but when they turn one they are already adults and can have their own offspring.
How do chameleons hunt?
Chameleons usually sit quietly on a branch and be on the lookout for their prey.. If an insect gets close enough, catches him in an instant with his long tongue.
It is thickened like a club at the end and has two leaf-shaped lobes with which the prey is grasped..
This so-called tongue shot is so fast that it is almost invisible..
What's so special about chameleons??
When the Chameleons males are "in love", are more colorful. Try to impress the ladies with this colorful show. In general, change color depending on your mood, and that in a few minutes. It's as if animals talk to each other in this way..
If they are afraid, for example during a fight over a female, many species change to black. This points to the rival: My opponent feels inferior and prefers not to fight. If, on the other hand, lizards are eager to attack, turn red. This then means something like: "Get lost or you'll get it!!». It also, animals change their skin tone based on temperature and time of day.
In the morning, adopt darker shades to warm up, because dark colors absorb more light and skin, Therefore, absorbs more heat. After a long, hot day, animals are rinsed to cool off.
For a long time it was a mystery how the Chameleons change color so quickly. Scientists discovered it just a few months ago: Tiny blocks of glass in the skin of lizards are responsible for the chromatic frenzy. When light hits these blocks, reflect it in color.
The fact that the color changes is due to the fact that the distances between the crystals change according to the mood of the chameleon. Yes a Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), is relaxed, for example, the blocks are close together and glow blue. When the animal is excited, separate and glow red.
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Veiled chameleon
- Chamaeleo calyptratus
Origin: Yemen, Saudi Arabia
Gender: Chamaeleo
Life expectancy: 7 years
Length: Until 20 cm.
Depending on local origin, males of Veiled chameleon reach a length of 35 to 60 centimeters, the females of 20 to 45 centimeters.
Chamaeleo calyptratus, Chamaeleonidae, Veiled chameleon; Staatliches Museum of Natural Sciences, Karlsruhe, Germany – Chamaeleo calyptratus, Chamaeleonidae, Veiled chameleon; Staatliches Museum of Natural Sciences, Karlsruhe, Germany
Content
Origin / Distribution
The Chamaeleo calyptratus (Veiled chameleon) is a lizard native to Yemen and southern Saudi Arabia. There are local variants with different colors.
Characteristics / Appearance
Depending on local origin, the males reach a length of 35 to 60 centimeters, the females of 20 to 45 centimeters. Adults have a hoof-shaped parital crest on their head, which is flattened on the side and heads backwards. This helmet is not only much larger in males, up to eight centimeters in height, but also much more striking than that of females. They also develop a characteristic calcaneal spur on the heels of the hind legs., which may be seen as a bump in young males shortly after hatching.
In the course of growth, a thickening of the tail area in the cloaca is added. The coloration of both sexes depends mainly on mood and varies greatly. The color spectrum of your (i)chromatophores includes green, the brown, the blue, the target, the black, yellow and orange, as well as many intermediate tones. The basic coloration of males is usually dominated by green tones. On the flanks there are usually three, rarely four or five, vertical stripes, wide and yellow, often with fine brown edges, to which darker horizontal spots may be attached (brown). Females usually show paler shades between green and brown, often with irregular yellow spots. The structure of the body, especially typical eye adaptations, the language, tail and legs, correspond to the typical structure of the Chamaeleonidae.
Habitat
The species inhabits an extensive and climatically heterogeneous range in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. In this area several local forms have evolved that differ significantly in color and size, and those living in the north outnumber those in the south in size and color. Some of them inhabit very different habitats.. They are found both on the dry plateaus and poor in vegetation of Yemen and Saudi Arabia as on the slopes of the vegetation-rich mountains of southern Yemen. Even in the tropical to subtropical climate of the province of Seize, that belongs to Saudi Arabia and, with an annual rainfall of 2000 Mm, It is the wettest and most vegetated area of the Arabian Peninsula, There are Chameleons from Yemen, represented here by the subspecies Chamaeleo calyptratus calcalifer.
Behavior
Veiled chameleon – Karlsruhe State Museum of Natural History, Germany – H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Males are the typical loners who defend their territory against any other male. During conflicts they show a typical threat pattern. Animals flatten their body and inflate the throat pouch. Nod their heads, make wheezing sounds when they have their mouths open and wag their tail in and out. The body slowly swings back and forth, revealing the most garish colors. If this display behavior does not have the desired effect, can lead to fights in which animals can be seriously injured. This occurs especially when the lower male lacks the possibility of retreating.. Males as young as four months old behave aggressively toward each other. Females are more compatible with each other.
Diet
Like all chameleons, the Veiled chameleon feeds mainly on small animals. Mainly, "shoot" a wide variety of insects with their tongue. But, nor do they disdain vertebrates to the size of half-grown mice. In addition to food of animal origin, plant foods are ingested, especially in the form of succulent leaves, such as those of various species of Kalanchoe. This plant food serves, among other things, to complement the water balance, and water, whether it is available in mostly steppe habitats, also drunk. It usually licks the leaves in the form of dew. In the first months, the Chameleons of Yemen need a lot of food, as they grow very fast during this period. In some cases, four-month-old males can reach a length of 30 centimeters.
Reproduction
When a male meets a female, flattens your body to the maximum, swings back and forth, rolls its tail rhythmically up and down and displays a magnificent mating show. If the female is not ready to mate, becomes intensely dark and threatens the male with his mouth open. If the male does not retreat, can be seriously injured by the female, although it does not defend itself because it is blocked by a kind of bite inhibition. In the wild, the female is ready to mate once a year. It is then recognized by a turquoise blue coloration in the upper back. The male who courts chases the female who is willing to mate, giving him violent blows on the flank. Mating, which is repeated several times a day, hard between 10 and 30 minutes and usually takes place over a period of three to four days, in exceptional cases even two weeks.
The female indicates subsequent pregnancy with yellow and turquoise blue spots on a dark green background, almost black. After an average period of 20 to 30 days, in exceptions up to 50 days, the female digs a tunnel-shaped burrow, at the end of which the eggs are laid, an average of 30 to 40 (maximum up to 100), of about 15 millimeters long and 10 millimeters wide. Then, this burrow closes. Depending on the temperature (of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius), the offspring of 55 to 75 millimeters in length hatch after five to nine months. At a constant temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, males and females hatch after about six months, while at an incubation temperature consistently higher than 30 degrees Celsius, almost only males hatch. This is obviously a temperature-dependent sex formation.. It also, young animals appear to coordinate or synchronize their hatching, since normally all animals of a clutch are born on the same day. Split but incubated clutches in the same conditions are usually born on completely different days.
Threats to the species
The Veiled chameleon has the protected status of the Washington Convention on the Protection of Species II, Appendix B and, therefore, is notifiable to the owner of the terrarium at the time of acquisition.
The "Veiled chameleon" in captivity
The Yemeni chameleons can become very confident and meek.
The terrarium
The Veiled chameleon it is kept in a high terrarium with very large ventilation areas. These animals must be kept individually. The terrarium must have at least 130 x 60 x 180cm. Higher would be better. Animals need a lot of fresh air, but without drafts.
In the terrarium of a Veiled chameleon there must be many possibilities to climb, preferably a tree (Ficus benjamina), remained, other plants, cork and bark tubes, that also offer places to hide.
Temperature and lighting
The temperature in the terrarium should be 28-32°C during the day (locally, about 40°C) and between 18-22°C at night. The humidity should be 50-60% and around the 80% At night.
For your well-being, good lighting and ultraviolet light are necessary (30% of UVA rays and 5-10% UVB), as well as a place to sunbathe. UV radiation is very important and necessary. In the case of females, a suitable place for egg laying must be provided.
A spray system can be installed in the terrarium, spraying some water in the morning and evening. For fluid intake, a dropper must be installed, that is always cleaned.
Food
The diet of the Veiled chameleon consists mainly of insects such as crickets, crickets, grasshopper, flies, fruit flies, cockroaches, and rarely wax moth caterpillars – but be careful when feeding! Animals gain weight easily and can develop gout. It is convenient to supplement your diet with fruit.
no lettuce, iceberg lettuce or similar, since its calcium-phosphorus content is unfavorable. And cabbage or spinach should rarely serve as food for them by oxalic acid.….
Additional vitamin and mineral supplements are recommended.
Reproduction
Adult chameleons are only given animal food every two to three days. This can prevent females from laying eggs too often or even having difficulty laying eggs due to the development of unfertilized eggs. . Females can often be kept together in spacious terrariums. Keeping them in pairs is rarely permanent and should only be tried when females have reached the age of one year to avoid premature pregnancy.. Pregnant females should be separated from males and moved to a terrarium with a slightly moist substrate of at least 30 centimeters deep.
Hibernation
You have to let the Veiled chameleon hiberne for two or three months. Animals need a temperature of 20-25°C. Hibernation is very important for animals to regulate their bodily functions and stay healthy.
Buy one "Veiled chameleon"
The price of a "Veiled chameleon" in the exotic animal market ranges from 70 – 120 EUR.
Videos "Veiled chameleon"
(Guide) YEMEN CHAMELEONS 🦎 Chamaeleo calyptratus ► Feeding and Care 🦎 🦎 🦎
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Montane side-striped chameleon
- Trioceros ellioti
Origin: Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gender: Trioceros
Life expectancy: 4 years
Length: 22 cm. females - 17 cm males
The Montane side-striped chameleon (Trioceros ellioti) has a soft personality. Although no chameleon should be considered a pet to be kept and interacted with, this chameleon isn't as over the top as some of its bigger cousins.
The Montane side-striped chameleon (Trioceros ellioti) is a small chameleon that lives in East African countries like Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Congo, Sudan and Burundi.
It has many common names, as Side-striped chameleon, Elliot’s groove-throated chameleon or Montane side-striped chameleon. But, these common names are rarely used and, when they are used, they are not very consistent. The Trioceros ellioti is one of those chameleons whose scientific name is the best known.
Characteristics / Appearance
The Trioceros ellioti usually reaches an age of 1 to 2 years in nature. But, In captivity they can live up to 4 years. In these animals, the transition to ovoviviparity stands out., that allows them to reproduce even in the coldest areas of high mountains.
Its helmet is slightly pronounced and there are evenly serrated ridges on its back., belly and throat. The rest of the body has a rather irregular scale. The females of this species reach a total length of 22 cm.. Males are still somewhat smaller, with a maximum of 17 cm..
A definite distinguishing feature of the sex is the thickened tail root, very pronounced in males and completely absent in females. The great heterogeneous range and the extreme altitude amplitude are also reflected in the color variability. Like this, depending on the population, the color spectrum of the males is just as diverse as that of the Carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis) and usually shows high proportions of blue and yellow. Females are usually less conspicuous and appear exclusively in shades of brown., gray or green. The white or brown lateral stripe is common to all animals., that runs along the entire flank. Due to its close relationship with the Trioceros bitaeniatus, is often confused with the latter. But, can be easily distinguished from Trioceros bitaeniatus by its 2-3 longitudinal black stripes on the interstitial skin of the throat sac.
Habitat
It is a very adaptable species of chameleon, found at altitudes of 600-3000 m above sea level. They prefer savannah landscapes with low bushes and tall grasses., as well as the edges of the forests and, in some cases, farmland and gardens. They must have reached the latter through human introduction, daytime temperatures typically range from 25 and 27 °C and drop to 16-18 °C at night, and even up to 10 °C at higher altitude. The relative humidity is 60-80%, with an average precipitation of 1.000 mm per year.
The Montane side-striped chameleon (Trioceros ellioti) it is ovoviviparous. The females of this species give birth to 2 to 14 pups up to four times a year. This usually happens in the early hours of the morning, whereby the fully grown hatchlings are simply deposited in a clear eggshell on the grass. just a few minutes later, the hatchlings break free of this skin. Due to the ability to store sperm in the seminal receptacle, females can produce multiple clutches with a single mating. But, they are ready to mate again 14 days after birth.
The young reach sexual maturity after about six to nine months and the gestation period is 100 to 160 days. For the mating act itself, he approaches the female. After a brief orientation, the male should approach the female with head movements. If the female is not ready to mate, will display warning coloration and will bite or attempt to escape if male approaches closer. Otherwise, does nothing and mating occurs when the male climbs sideways onto the female and tries to bring both cloacal openings over each other. Copulation itself lasts a few 15 minutes.
Threats to the species
State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ(UICN)ⓘ
This species has a wide distribution and seems to have the ability to adapt to a certain degradation of its natural habitat., as it also occurs in agricultural and semi-urban areas. It has therefore been classified as a "species of least concern" by the UICN.
How it is being captured for the wildlife trade,1the species has been included in the Appendix II of CITES to limit its effects
The "Montane side-striped chameleon" in captivity
The Montane side-striped chameleon (Trioceros ellioti) has a soft personality. Although no chameleon should be considered a pet to be kept and interacted with, this chameleon isn't as over the top as some of its bigger cousins. Usually, they are not aggressive towards each other, although there are reports of sudden violent responses in the interaction between chameleons.
Like all chameleons, the ideal situation is one chameleon per terrarium. Although breeders can keep two females in one terrarium if they are kept together, be careful not to let this give you a false sense of security. When this species behaves, he does it in a very strong way that is potentially dangerous to his cage mates.
The pups seem to be calm with each other, but it is better to separate them as soon as possible. This species grows rapidly, so they are not "babies" for a long time.
Currently, the Montane side-striped chameleon is available both in the wild and captive-born. Captive-born are ALWAYS the best option and deserve the extra money. These pups are raised with the best nutrition and are raised between humans and cages to acclimate to captive conditions.. If you are familiar with acclimatizing wild-caught chameleons and want to breed them to introduce a new bloodline, then you know what you're getting into by buying wild-caught animals. But if you want to get one of these chameleons for the pleasure of keeping it, then avoid the challenge of acclimatization and get one born in captivity.
If you buy a female caught in the wild or any female that has been kept with the males once it is from 4-6 months of age you are likely to have a female who will give birth to live babies. The timing of this is unknown and one morning you may come across babies crawling around the cage. The females will store the sperm and produce multiple sets of babies from a mating., so being away from a male for a year doesn't save you from this. It is a very good idea to be prepared for babies unless you are sure you have a captive-born female who has never been in a cage with a male.. after 3 to 4 months of age.
The terrarium
Terrarium Size: 36 x 24 x 18 inches. Tough screen lid provides ventilation and allows UVB and infrared penetration.
terrarium size: The Montane side-striped chameleon is a small chameleon with little need for movement. So, can be accommodated in small terrariums. The absolute minimum size of the terrarium for a copy is 40 x 40 x 50 cm.. But this is for experienced caregivers and breeders who know how to create the necessary conditions of a terrarium in small spaces. If you are going to buy a chameleon to enjoy it, then don't settle for the minimum. The size of the terrarium of 45 x 45 x 90 cm., easy to get, gives a little more space. But if you want to maximize your enjoyment and comfort of your chameleons, get a terrarium of 60 x 60 x 120 cm o 90 x 45 x 90 cm.. Your little chameleon will be happy in that amount of space.
Consider it from this perspective. When you get a minimum size terrarium, you place the branches, plants and lights very strategically because you only have one chance to create the minimum gradients and microclimates necessary for the chameleon's healthy life. When you get a terrarium that gives you extra space you start looking at the cage artistically.. You place plants and branches where they look best. Of course, you have the needs of the chameleon in mind when you do this, but now you have the luxury of meeting these needs with an artistic approach that is pleasing to the human eye. This can create a piece of nature that is much more pleasant, soothing and beautiful than is possible with the condition of a terrarium of minimum dimensions.
Y, finally, with a small space, you are responsible for creating the proper temperature gradients with light bulbs that are designed to terrariums bigger. This means it's very easy to provide more heat or UVB than is healthy simply because the small space was quickly energized and there is physically less room to escape heat or UVB..
Type of terrarium: You can use mesh terrariums, hybrids or glass terrariums. The terrarium should be chosen based on the help you need to achieve the environmental goals of temperature and humidity.
Ambient temperature
The Elliot's chameleons thrive in the typical mountainous environment, daytime temperatures are usually between 25 and 27 °C y caen a 16-18 °C at night, and even a 10 °C at higher altitudes. It may seem to us that they survive well in a different environment, but temperatures very different from those of their natural environment will end up affecting them. It will be a constant and cumulative physical stress on the body and will result in a compromised immune system. This allows opportunistic infectious agents to gain a foothold.
Resting temperature
A low night temperature is a requirement for a Montane side-striped chameleon (Trioceros ellioti) healthy. But your chameleon will need to warm up in the morning to start the day off right.. In the wild, chameleons watch the sunrise and bask until their body temperature is sufficient for optimal hunting, digestion and general function.
In captivity, We give them this heating through a sunlight bulb which is usually an incandescent or halogen bulb that shines on their sunlight branch..
Care must be taken when placing this bulb, since it is very easy to burn the chameleon. Chameleons don't seem to have a keen sense of when they're burning. They know when they need to warm up, but they have not developed a mechanism to measure the concept of "too hot". There is nothing in nature that encourages the development of this ability. So chameleons get overheated or even burnt. We have to be very careful to protect them from this possibility.. This is why we encourage the tanning bulbs to be mounted on top of the terrarium rather than on top of it.. The closer to the bulb, more temperature difference can be in a centimeter. The ideal scenario is to have a higher wattage bulb further away. This produces a larger, "softer" heated area that is not at risk of burns..
Regarding the solar temperature, these chameleons seem to like basking temperatures in the range of 30 Celsius degrees. This is slightly taller than other known montane chameleons, but still ok within reasonable limits. But the exact temperature is not so important. It is more important that you set it up so that you feel a soft, warm warmth on the back of your hand when you place it on top of your chameleon's head when it is sunning itself.. Its main goal is to set a safe temperature to start with and then it will adjust the distance from the bulb based on your chameleon's behavior. If your chameleon displays the following behaviors, you can consider the possibility of providing a solar temperature for a longer time or, With precaution, a higher solar temperature.
Hanging from the top panel of the screen under the light bulb.
Staying dark and lethargic. After sunbathing, they should take rest colors.
The problem with relying on behaviors as a cue to ward off the lightbulb is that it's usually physical harm to the body., like burnt gray areas, open wounds and fused spines. And it is worrying how long this type of situation lasts before the caregiver realizes what is happening. This means that the chameleon will be sunbathing even if it is too hot.. Also keep in mind when reading your chameleon's behavior that each chameleon will be slightly different. Learn about your chameleon's behaviors so you can verify that they are following standard chameleon behaviors.
Humidity
The elliot's chameleons experience high humidity nights and medium to low humidity days. A night humidity of between 75% and the 100% and a descent to 30-50% during the day will allow them to carry out their natural humidity cycle. Exact figures are not critical. There are two important aspects.
1) During times of high humidity, keep the air moving. Terrariums are often modified to close off the sides to prevent airflow so that a mist can increase humidity. In this case, have a ceiling or computer fan mounted on top of the terrarium to ensure the "fog bank" circulates. stagnant air, no matter how wet, it is not healthy.
2) All surfaces must be dry during the day. Even if the humidity is higher than the indicated figures, if the surfaces are dry there should be no health problems. When the surfaces, like the branches that the chameleon climbs, are constantly wet, the paws become full of sores and bacteria, fungus and mold take hold.
Illumination
The Montane side-striped chameleon they accept the standard bright light that we put in our chameleon terrariums. A four times the width of its cage high output T5 fixture with four 6500K fluorescent bulbs will nicely illuminate a terrarium of 15 height cm. A cycle is used 12 power on hours and 12 off hours. Kenya is near the equator, so this cycle 12 power on hours and 12 off hours do not have to change throughout the year.
Your chameleon will need light inside its terrarium. The biggest deficiency of a terrarium, besides not having a hiding place, is the lack of light, because when you look at the terrarium, the chameleon seems to be in a cave with a skylight. A luminous terrarium will allow plants to grow and their environment to be vibrant.
Natural sunlight through a window is great, but dangerous. Sunlight tends to be too strong and could overheat your chameleon. Be careful in sunlight. Definitely, give your chameleons natural sunlight whenever possible, but the sun can cook your chameleon quickly, especially a small one like him Montane side-striped chameleon. Well-planted outdoor greenhouses and constant supervision are recipes for success.
UVB
Out of natural unfiltered sunlight, the most efficient and reliable way to produce UVB for your chameleon is with high output T5 linear fluorescent tubes. These bulbs can go in a multi-bulb fixture, but they are more effective in a single bulb reflector. I highly recommend using a single bulb reflector for your UVB source, as it gives you not only the full power of the bulb (your UVB is absorbed by other bulbs), but it gives you full control over the UVB force that reaches the sunbathing zone based on the height of raising the appliance above the cage.
Currently, a good goal is a UV index of 2-3 in the sunlight branch with a maximum of UVI of 6 to allow sufficient synthesis of vitamin D3. This is usually what can be generated using an accessory T5 HO Arcadia ProT5 with 6% of UVB or Zoomed Reptisun 5.0 on a single bulb reflector on a sunning branch 6″ inches of light going through a standard screen cage top panel. All of these numbers are general estimates., as each reflector has its own reflective properties and each bulb will have a different strength depending on age. Fortunately, this does not have to be an exact value. An approximate value is fine. If you are using a Reptisun T8 10.0 in a single bulb installation, the sunning branch must be at 8 cm below the bulb running through the top of the cage screen. Ideally,, regardless of the bulb you use, can lift it from the upper surface of the terrarium. UVB bulbs produce very high UVB radiation in the first few centimeters in front of the bulb. You can continue to use the given distances of the bulb with the bulbs raised two or three inches above the top of the cage. This reduces the maximum level of UVB that enters the cage and your chameleon is exposed to. Although we have not been able to measure what damage occurs at what levels of UVB, it's safe to expect there to be a point where the high UVB from the lamp can cause problems. They may not be human, but chameleons have living cells, and living cells are damaged by UVB.
Just a note, UVB meters are expensive equipment, but they are a valuable tool in setting up your chameleon's environment. if you can get one, ¡hazlo! get the model Solarmeter 6.5.
Set the lighting and hydration schedule
When we set our daily schedule, we try to reproduce the wild conditions to which the chameleon has become accustomed. let's start at midnight.
At midnight, the chameleon has slept for many hours. It's dark and, though the moon waxes and wanes, chameleons will look for dark places to sleep. They see light of all colors well and any light can disturb their rest.
As the morning progresses, humidity increases. Fog banks may begin to form and the chameleon breathes moist air. This high humidity forms an important part of your natural hydration.. To simulate this, we turn on ultrasonic humidifiers around the 1:30AM. Fog from humidifiers tends to bounce off surfaces and exit the cage, so we operate the misting system for a couple of minutes to cover the cage with a layer of water. This helps make the fogger more effective and the mist tends to stay. The nebulizer goes from 1:30 to 6:00 in a pattern of 30 minutes of ignition and 30 minutes off. This is to protect against excess mist.. This is wise when you have closed off three or more sides of your terrarium to retain moisture.. If you have a full screen terrarium, you can leave it on all the time. All this is done so that the chameleon can breathe moisture. Right before the lights come on, run the foggers for a couple more minutes to ensure that when the chameleon wakes up it finds surfaces covered in "dew". This is a natural source of water for them, even in its dry season. Once the dew has settled, lights can be turned on.
Around the 7 in the morning the lights of the day turn on. This may include UVB light if they are the same fixture. If it is separate installations, no need to turn on the UVB light to match the sleep bulb on. It's okay to leave daylight bulbs on for 15 or 30 minutes to give the chameleon a chance to calmly lick whatever spray it wants. Next, I turn on the sunlight bulb to warm them up.
As the ambient temperature begins to warm, the sunlight lamp is no longer necessary and it turns off. The actual length of time the tanning lamp is on will depend on your chameleon's needs. Observe their behavior. If the chameleon routinely gets the heat it needs in 30 minutes and then walks away with the happy colors to hunt, then reduce the time in the sun to that time in which you make use of the heat. If they need the heat for a longer time, leave the bulb on for longer or consider slightly increasing the temperature. Watch your chameleon and he will tell you what he needs. With a mesh terrarium there is usually no problem leaving it on during the day, but if daytime temperatures start to get too hot for your comfort, you can turn off the heating lamp.
at some point of the day (can be the 3 in the afternoon) start the dropper. This is a reserve hydration strategy to make sure they have enough water. While it is true that they do not have drippers every day in nature during the dry season, they also do not need to reconstitute dry calcium powder in all their feeders. The advantage of using a dropper is that it is completely optional for them and, as advantage, it also allows you the opportunity to ensure that your plants receive water. Place it on a different plant each day and, over week, all plants will receive water. The time the dripper is started is not critical. It may be in the late afternoon so that the chameleon can rehydrate before the night's rest.. It is a good rule to start the dropper an hour or more after feeding them so that they can replenish what they need.. In the wild, your food is an important source of hydration. We spoil it a bit with the food we provide them and a dropper is a way to compensate for that.. Ideally, the chameleon will have obtained sufficient hydration from the humid night air, morning dew and food. I consider it a hit when the chameleon ignores the dropper and an early warning sign when he drinks from the dropper.
Once the chameleon settles down and goes to sleep it is good to maintain a couple of minutes of misting just to establish the humidity for the night.
You will notice that there are no daytime mists. Although this is common in chameleon breeding. Chameleons have been consistent in their communication that they don't like to be sprayed. You do not have to decide that I know what is best for them and you have to start listening to them. the night fog, morning dew and evening dropper provide necessary hydration naturally. With them there is no need to force them to shower in the middle of the day.
Food and supplements
Feeding of the Montane side-striped chameleon (Trioceros ellioti)
The Montane side-striped chameleon not a picky eater. Will eat the insects that we feed standard for chameleons. Flying insects are highly prized. An interesting feature is that it seems to prefer smaller than normal food.. Usually, when determining the proper feeder size for a chameleon, we choose a size of the length equivalent to the width between the eyes. And then the chameleon often surprises us and gobbles up something bigger. The Montane side-striped chameleon, on the other hand, seems to prefer smaller foods than we would normally give him. It is important to pay attention to the sizes of food that each chameleon prefers. they are the experts. Try different sizes and your chameleon will quickly let you know what he prefers. But don't worry if your adult goes after a fruit fly.. This is a characteristic of the species.
The Montane side-striped chameleon it is insectivorous. You can feed them anything that moves and fits in their mouth. It is not necessary to provide fruits or vegetables to this species.
As with the care of any of our chameleon species, we want the insects we feed to be as nutritious as possible. Unfortunately, our knowledge of nutrition from insects to chameleons is in its infancy, so we do not know what the diet of wild insects gives chameleons or, even what nutrients in what we feed our feeders gives chameleons. There are reports that insects exposed to UVB rays produce vitamin D3. Then, do chameleons really get any dietary D3 in the wild? There is a lot of speculation and little firmness. So, we feed these insects with the greatest possible variety of food and with the greatest variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, etc., What can we find. A healthy, well-fed cricket is supposed to be nutritionally superior to one that has eaten little..
We also dust the feeders with mineral/vitamin powder to provide the chameleon with calcium.. We call this supplementation.
Supplementation is one of the less defined aspects of chameleon husbandry. We literally don't know what they need. we are guessing. The best thing we can do is try to get as close as possible to their natural processes and try regimes..
There will be a number of approaches that work. The background test is whether it produces a healthy, long-lived chameleon. If you do, is valid.
It is assumed that the Montane side-striped chameleon has typical "mountain" sensitivity to overfeeding. Although we are not seeing that cases of edema are known.
Supplementation
In the news, we see that the Trioceros ellioti behaves well when regularly supplemented with calcium and bee pollen. Monthly vitamin supplementation has been included, although currently you have to check the pros and cons of including vitamin A made in this monthly dose. Mineral supplements are being recommended, as it has been tested, but it is being evaluated Arcadia RevitaliseD3 for their equivalent levels of D3 and the addition of small amounts of vitamin A. We are depending on UVB for our D3.
Reproduction of "Eliot's Chameleon"
The Montane side-striped chameleon is a life-carrying species and, since the mother incubates the eggs, it is quite easy to breed. In fact, if your mature female has had contact with a male in the past two years, may have offspring, whether you like them or not.
As exciting as it sounds, having chameleon pups can be heartbreaking if you're not prepared. If you have a female who had any chance of having contact with a male, then at least read about caring for chameleon offspring.
The actual breeding process is standard. The female moves to the male's cage. If she is receptive, will allow you to mount it. If you are not receptive, will be speechless, will sway menacingly and show dappled colors. It is highly recommended to monitor the situation.
Gestation is three to four months and then they can be born up to 22 pups, depending on the size of the female.
Buy an "Eliot's Chameleon"
The price of a "Montane side-striped chameleon" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 60 – 120 EUR.
1. Montane side-striped chameleon, Elliot’s groove-throated chameleon, Mountain Dwarf Chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon d'Elliot (French).
3. Elliot's Chamäleon, Chamaeleo ellioti (German).
4. Camaleão-de-Elliot, Camaleão listrado de montanha, Camaleão de garganta estriada de Elliot (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón de Elliot", Camaleón de montaña de ellioti (español).
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Von Höhnel's chameleon
- Trioceros hoehnelii
Origin: Kenya, Uganda
Gender: Trioceros
Life expectancy: 4 - 6 years
Length: Head - torso, until 10 cm.
The Von Höhnel's chameleon (Trioceros hoehnelii) is a high-altitude species that ascends to more than 3.000 m on Mount Elgon.
Von Höhnel's chameleon – Wikipedia
Content
Origin / Distribution
The Von Höhnel's chameleon (Trioceros hoehnelii) found mainly in Kenya, but is represented by a wide range of local variations. The form found on Mount Elgon, in Uganda, is called Trioceros hoehnelii «altaeelgonis«. Whether there are subspecies within this species is disputed.. But, regardless of official status, the breeder and caretaker community has adopted the term "altaeelgonis» for varieties from Uganda.
Characteristics / Appearance
The Von Höhnel's chameleon has a very pronounced helmet, which is much more marked in males than in females. Also noteworthy is a small nasal process, which is also higher in males. There are a large number of local and location variations. Especially the helmet and the nasal process are quite different. The species has a coarsely spiny dorsal crest that extends the entire length of the body and tapers towards the end of the tail.. The throat and ventral crest are formed by large spiny scales.. Both sides of the body usually have 2 greatly enlarged plate-like scale rows. Scale and body coloration are highly variable, consisting mainly of shades of brown and green with partially light transverse bands.. There are reddish or brown animals, as well as a well-known color form with a yellow head and green body.
Male hemipenis pouches are clearly developed by the time they reach sexual maturity. Females show a much more homogeneous scaling, secondary sexual characteristics are less pronounced in them. Males grow to a maximum length of 25 centimeters, females reach a maximum length of 20 centimeters. The life expectancy is of 2 to 4 years.
Habitat
The Von Höhnel's chameleon is a high-altitude species that ascends to more than 3.000 m on Mount Elgon. They have developed the ability to regulate their body temperature through sunlight to take into account low ambient temperatures.
Behavior
The Von Höhnel's chameleon shows very interesting defensive behavior in the wild. The greatest danger for this species of chameleon is the snakes that live in the trees, as the green mamba. If the chameleon sees a snake, immediately turns deep black, he rolls up his body and drops to the ground, where the snake does not usually follow. Next, the animal remains motionless on the ground until the danger has passed.
Threats to the species
State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ(UICN)ⓘ
This species has a wide distribution and seems to have the ability to adapt to a degradation of its natural habitat., since it also occurs in agricultural and semi-urban areas. It has therefore been classified as a "species of least concern" by the UICN.How is it being captured for the wildlife trade?,The species has been included in Appendix II of CITES to limit its effects.
The "Von Höhnel's chameleon" in captivity
"The Ugandan Variation of the Trioceros hoehnelii rarely seen, since Africa's exports come from Kenya, having different varieties of color. There are several populations at different heights, each with a different color scheme.
Care is very similar to Montane side-striped chameleon (Trioceros ellioti). Thrives in a well planted terrarium. They have been kept in groups from one male to multiple females, but the females can have two litters a year and, therefore, are almost always at some stage of pregnancy and must be separated. So, despite reports that they are not aggressive, the saying is still valid: One chameleon per cage and not to worry.
They seem to be enjoying their morning sunbath. Taking into account the drastic drop in nighttime temperature in your home environment, they are experts in absorbing all the sun's rays they can. And the decrease in night temperature is important for health. Special care must be taken with the young and the heat.
Hydration is through a standard chameleon protocol of around three hours of night misting in the early morning with 15 minutes of fogging in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon.
Breeding is not difficult. The gestation is 4 to 6 months. Young females can produce 6 offspring while a mature female can produce 20. They can have two litters of pups a year and become receptive again 40-50 days after delivery. The young are sexually mature after one year..
The terrarium
the bigger, best!. Minimum (45 x 45 x 90 cm.).
Full or hybrid mesh (combination of mesh and glass or panel).
UVB source (inside or outside).
natural light source (inside or outside).
Heat source (exterior).
Nebulizer at night.
Manual fogging in the morning and at night.
full mesh.
Small fans when using a hybrid cage and/or the air is stagnant.
live plants (not fake)
natural branches (no fake vines, no strings, or bleached wood).
No substrate or bioactives
Food
In captivity, animals eat crickets, domestic crickets, all kinds of flying insects and small cockroaches. It also, get vitamins and minerals (pollinating insects). Animals can cover their water needs by lapping up the sprayed water.
Reproduction
The Helmeted Chameleon is viviparous in the egg., and there is also fertilization by storage; can get pregnant again right away. In courtship, the male approaches the female, nodding and flattening to one side. When the female is ready to mate, he remains seated and mating occurs, this process can be repeated for several days. Gravid females repel males willing to mate.. If the stress is too great for a pregnant female, must be separated. During pregnancy, females have a greater need to drink and feed. After a gestation period of 150 to 180 days, females give birth between 4 and 22 pups. Before this, the female becomes restless and egg laying takes place in the early morning hours, preferably on thick bark or rough branches. The young are released from the egg case and are immediately independent.. Sexual maturity is reached around 8 months. But, should not be mated before one year.
For sale "Von Höhnel's chameleon"
The price of a "Von Höhnel's chameleon" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 50 – 150 EUR.
Videos "Von Höhnel's chameleon"
MOUNTAIN CHAMELEONS 🦎 Trioceros hoehnelii ⛰ Care, information...
1. Von Höhnel's chameleon, Helmeted chameleon, High-casqued chameleon, Kenyan high-casqued chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon à casque élevé (French).
3. Helmchamäleon (German).
4. Chamaeleo hoehnelii (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón de casco" (español).
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Jackson's chameleon
- Trioceros jacksonii
Origin: Kenya, Tanzania, United States
Gender: Trioceros
Life expectancy: Until 10 years
Length: Head-torso: until 16 cm.
The Jackson's chameleon is diurnal and shows a foraging behavior with few movements per minute and a very slow locomotion rate.
Jackson's chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksonii) b. 27-01-2005 1 year Wellington Zoo 22-01-2006, Wellington, New Zealand – Photo credit: Peter Halasz. (User:Pengo)
Content
Origin / Distribution
The Jackson's chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii) is native to Kenya and Tanzania.
It has been introduced in the US. USA, in California, Hawaii and Florida.
Subspecies of Trioceros Jacksonii
Currently there 3 subspecies of "Jackson's chameleon" described:
The Machakos Hills Jackson’s Chameleon is originally from Kenya, and it is the rarest type of chameleon. It measures an average of 20-25 cm long. Males have 3 horns, and the females have 1 or 3 little horns, which can sometimes make sex determination difficult. Females are lighter green in color than males., although sometimes they are red. Males are dark green., sometimes with aquamarine blue head and bright yellow patch on flanks. Individuals with this coloration may soon be described as a separate subspecies.
Mount Meru / Dwarf Jackson’s Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii merumontanus)
The Dwarf Jackson’s Chameleon comes from Tanzania and is very difficult to find in captivity. Wild-caught specimens are no longer available, as all export of wildlife from Tanzania is prohibited. it is extremely rare, although there are some breeders of the Mount Meru in Europe.
These chameleons are the smallest of the species, with 17-20 cm length. Males have 3 long narrow horns, while the females only have a diminished horn on the nose. Both sexes have a dark green or blue-green body with much yellow on the face and at the base of the horns.. The eyelids are bluish-green.
The Yellow-Crested Jackson’s Chameleon is originally from Kenya, specifically from a limited range in the foothills of Mount Kenya and Nyambeni. It is the most common type of Jackson's chameleon. As the largest member of the species, individuals can grow to 36 cm long, and males are known to far outnumber 40 cm.. Males have 3 horns and females do not have horns.
Invasive populations of the Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus are present in the Hawaiian Islands because a well-meaning pet store owner released some in O'ahu in 1972 in an attempt to restore the health of a wild-caught cargo from Africa. They have since spread to Maui., Hawaii and Kauai.
Characteristics / Appearance
Most measure approximately between 15 and 35 cm length. They usually have several shades of green, but they can become as dark as black when they are very distressed.. Are sexually dimorphic. Males have three long, pointed horns protruding from the head. These horns are absent or underdeveloped in females. The back of the head has a small crest. There are small spines along the vertebral line. Like other chameleons, the Jackson's chameleon has zygodactyl feet (divided so that two fingers point inward and three point outward) that are specialized for life in trees, and a prehensile tail that is also used for grasping.
But, the most recognizable feature of all chameleons are their eyes. The pupil is the only visible part from its skin covering. Each eye rotates 180 degrees and is independent of the other. Chameleons have unusually strong control over the curvature of their lenses, and can enlarge an image.
They are considered a long-lived chameleon (until 10 years).
Habitat
The Jackson's chameleon prefers to live in thickets and mountain forests. They need to hide and prefer to live in trees. They rarely venture on the ground, except for laying eggs or mating.
Behavior
Males are territorial and fight with their horns, which they can also use to attract females. When two males meet, they stand on their side, flatten their bodies, curl their tails and push their heads forward. They inflate with air to appear larger and become brightly colored. Next, open their mouths to show the varied colors of their interior, while swaying and wiggling with the occasional soft hiss. The submissive male will normally try to hide, freeze on the spot or try to escape the area. Fade into muted colors. When males fight, they hit each other with their horns and try to push themselves from the branches. These fights can cause physical harm to chameleons.
They use stillness and dull natural coloration to protect themselves from bird predation, Snakes, shrews and lizards.
Reproduction
The Jackson's chameleon has a mating ritual that mimics its threat ritual. The male initiates the display of threat to the female, including color changes, inflating of the throat and elevation of the front legs towards the opponent. The female then has two options. May make threatening gestures, in which case you do not want to mate. If you want to mate, make weak threatening gestures or make no gestures at all, in which case the male recognizes his will. Then the male surrounds the female, grabs your neck with your mouth, is placed on your back and inserts the hemipene into the cloacal orifice. This whole process usually takes a few 13 minutes. The female will continue to mate during 11 days, but not with the same male twice in a day. Gestation lasts approximately 190 days. The young are usually born in the morning. The female opens the cloaca and the young are born one at a time on a branch.. They are still surrounded by a gelatinous egg sac and remain asleep until the egg touches the substrate.. The young then wake up and stretch and break the egg sac.. At birth, the offspring measure some 5,5 cm long and weigh some 0,6 Gm. After 20 days females copulate again. The young will reach sexual maturity at the age of 9 or 10 months.
Food
The diet of this chameleon consists mainly of insects and spiders. Using your eyes independently, sit completely still and watch if an element of prey crosses your path. When you locate it, both eyes converge and it swings a bit to improve its vision and confirm the distance at which the prey is located.. The prey is captured by projecting the tongue, which has a fleshy tip covered in sticky saliva. The prey is brought back to the mouth, chewed and swallowed. Language, one and a half times the length of the lizard, can reach its full length in a sixteenth of a second.
They get water by licking the drops from the leaves.
In the morning, sunbathe, bending one side towards the light and flattening the body and stretching the neck to increase its surface. Once heated, are able to hunt.
Threats to the species
State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ(UICN)ⓘ
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) classifies all chameleons as threatened. Two reasons for its decline are habitat destruction and the exotic pet trade.. Demand for chameleons encourages pet suppliers to pull them out of the wild and ship them over long distances; the survival rate may be approximately 1 of each 10, and those who survive arrive malnourished and stressed. Proper care methods for these lizards are not well understood, so they can be mistreated without knowing it. Captive breeding has not been very successful, with the exception of the San Diego Zoo and some private breeders.
The "Jackson's chameleon" in captivity
The terrarium
Size: The bigger, best, minimal 60 x 45 x 90cm.
Type of cage: Full or hybrid mesh (combination of mesh and glass or panel)
Lights: UVB source (inside or outside), natural light source (window or LED) (inside or outside), Heat source (exterior)
Hydration: Nebulizer at night, manual misting in the morning and afternoon
Ventilation: full mesh, Small fans when using a hybrid cage and/or the air is stagnant
Interior: live plants (not fake), natural branches (no fake vines, non-strings, non-bleached wood), non-substrate.
Care
UVB light source: T5 HO 12 hours a day, 5-12% according to the height of the cage Visible light: Full spectrum or natural light, 12 hours a day Resting point: 26-28°C, 1 time maximum 2 times a day Temperature during the day: 21-23°C. Temperature at night: Max. 15-17°C, Ideal temperature below 15°C. Humidity during the day: 50-70%. Humidity at night: 100%, fog Hydration: Nebulizer at night, Manual nebulization, Dropper Type of feeding: Crickets, Soldier flies, Cockroaches, No vegetables, Fruit-free Volume of food: Youth without limit, Adults maximum 1 daily cricket Supplement – Every meal: Simple calcium, Bee pollen Supplementation – Once every two weeks: Calcium with D3
Buy one "Jackson's chameleon"
The price of a "Jackson's chameleon" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 150 – 250 EUR.
The Furcifer pardalis, also known as Panther chameleon, are native to the island of Madagascar. They are distributed throughout the island, but they are locally abundant on the coasts of the center-east, northeast, north and northwest. The Furcifer pardalis they have also been introduced in areas such as Reunion and Mauritius.
Characteristics / Appearance
The most fascinating feature that has the Panther chameleon is its extraordinarily vibrant coloration. Adult chameleons are sexually dimorphic and males are recognized by their larger size, the swollen base of the tail indicating the presence of hemipenes, and have a wide range of coloration and patterns. Females are identified by being more uniformly pale green or pink in color, smaller, with a thinner tail base and sometimes with eggs detectable through the walls of the body. Adults can reach a length of 23 cm.. It is much more difficult to distinguish the sex of juvenile chameleons of less than 6 months of age due to their smaller size, its dull coloration and lack of hemipenial protrusion in males.
The coloration and pattern of the Panther chameleon varies significantly depending on its origin or location. Normally, the Panther chameleon of the Malagasy island Nosy Be are bluish green, emerald green or have a turquoise body. Northwest coast males are usually bright pink, with a yellowish-white stripe along the sides; this is commonly referred to as "the pink panthers". Males may also be orange, red and dark green, with a large variation of spots, streaks and/or bands around the head and eyes.
The Panther chameleon lack a vomeronasal organ, an auxiliary olfactory sensory organ found in many animals. They also have no outer or middle ear, suggesting chameleons might be deaf. Chameleons have specialized tongue-like feet called zygodactyls.. On each foot, all five fingers are merged into a two-digit group and a three-digit group. On the front feet, the group of three toes is on the inside of the foot, and the group of two fingers is on the outside. This is reversed in the back foot, which gives them a secure and strong grip and allows them to maneuver horizontally or vertically in a wide variety of vegetation or structures. These specialized feet allow chameleons to hold on tightly to narrow branches.. The sharp claws on each finger help them climb and grip surfaces they can't hold on to tightly., like tree trunks.
Habitat
The Panther chameleon it inhabits mainly dry deciduous lowland forests, near belts of thin trees that line rivers and roads. This particular species seems to prefer open habitats that are not excessively shaded.. Scientists believe this is due to the need to colonize open spaces where they can sunbathe and males can use visual cues aimed at females. (during courtship) or for males to establish territories. Male panther chameleons also have a greater elevation range than females, most likely for territorial reasons.
Behavior
In general, the social structure of the Panther chameleon It is little known. It is known that the Furcifer pardalis, like most chameleons, is solitary and territorial, regardless of age or gender. Males tend to have larger distribution areas than females. Males often do not tolerate other males invading their shrub or tree of residence and will defend their territory by participating in an exhibition., chasing and possibly seriously injuring an intruding male. Hostility increases during the breeding season. It is not known whether females of Panther chameleon are intolerant of other females in general or only at nesting sites.
Chameleon eyes do not contain the melanin rods and pigments needed for night vision, which is why Furcifer pardalis is diurnal.
Reproduction
The females of Panther chameleon gestate fertilized eggs during 2 or 3 weeks. The young usually take between 6 months and a year to come out of the eggs. From that moment on, the offspring take others 6 months until they are sexually mature and have developed the coloration and size of an adult.
Courtship usually begins with displays by males. This usually includes the display of bright colors and a series of head movements that shake as they move towards the female.. Some males move slowly, with a choppy or spasmodic step, but others move very quickly and can be aggressive with females. Females that are not receptive or are gravid may run away or face the male chasing them with their mouths open while theirs., they stand on the hind legs and swing to discourage the male's advances. If the female seems interested, the male will mount it by grabbing its flanks and it will be placed to the right or left of its body.. Copulation takes place when the male everteja the closest of his two hemipens and introduces it into the cloaca of the female. Some species copulate for a few minutes and others for several hours, after which they usually follow different paths.
There is little information on the mating systems of the Panther chameleon, but some researchers have observed mating behavior consistent with serial polygyny. Studies in captivity of the Furcifer pardalis have shown that males have wider ranges than females. Females usually stay in a small area and are visited by males during the breeding season. This species has a slight pair bond, which consists of the males deciding to remain in the territory of the female for a period after breeding and probably defend this female from other males. Females that have already mated have shown aggressive behaviors towards successive males that walk through the territory. The successful male stays with the female for a brief period after mating and then continues to roam, probably looking for another partner.
Polygynous mating system
In most places, reproduction occurs between January and May, but this may vary geographically. Females in some areas can breed several times a year. After mating, the period of hard gestation of 3 to 6 weeks. Females dig burrows by digging with their front legs and then backing up on them to deposit 10 to 46 eggs. When they finish, bury eggs, fill in the tunnel and trample the earth to hide the location of the nest. Some females drag leaves and twigs over the place. This is the last act of motherhood of a chameleon, and their offspring shall be independent at birth. The young come out by opening a star-shaped opening at the end of the eggshell with the egg tooth., a sharp, calcified bump at the tip of the upper jaw that then comes off. The young weigh between 0,25 and 0,75 g at birth. Juveniles reach reproductive maturity at 6 months of age.
Females and males of the Furcifer pardalis show no more parental investment than creating and depositing eggs. The mother will try to protect the buried eggs from predators by hiding the location of the nest with twigs and leaves., but that is their last participation and the offspring will be independent immediately after hatching.
The females of Panther chameleon invest a lot of time and energy in making sure their young develop fully. The success of chameleon pups depends largely on the adequate amount of vitamin D from the mother during gestation. Ultraviolet light is known to (UV) the sun produces vitamin D in the skin of many vertebrates, like panther chameleons. UV-induced vitamin D serves as a signal in the body to help adjust the calcium-phosphorus balance in the body. Its main function is to stimulate calcium uptake from the intestine and reduce calcium reabsorption from bone. Eggs do not hatch if the mother does not have an adequate amount of vitamin D, either by exposure to UV rays or by food intake, because you can't supply enough vitamin D to your eggs to make it easier for developing embryos to form their skeleton. An important discovery made in recent years was that females seem to be able to perceive their internal vitamin D status., recognize an external source of UV rays and voluntarily expose themselves to that source when they have a vitamin D deficiency. On the other hand, choose to avoid elevated UV sources when they have enough vitamin D.
Food
The Furcifer pardalis they are considered opportunistic hunters because they wait for prey to pass within reach of their long tongues. They feed mainly on terrestrial invertebrates and, very rarely, of plant material. They have the ability to turn and focus their eyes separately to observe two different objects simultaneously.. This allows them to have an arc of vision 360 degrees around their body while remaining completely still and camouflaged. When the prey is in sight, both eyes can focus in the same direction, providing acute stereoscopic vision and depth perception.
Chameleons have very unique languages specialized in capturing their prey.. An extensive study carried out in the year 2000 revealed the complexities of chameleon language functioning. Prey capture was often attributed only to adherence to the lingual pad., but now scientists believe that the speed and shape of the tongue also create a suction device.. The hyoid bone is a piece of cartilage that extends into the mouth from the throat bones. (called hyaline apparatus) and is attached to the long tongue of the chameleon. This is where the tongue rests when not in use. The tongue is thrown from the hyoid bone with the use of ringed muscles on the tongue. This complex structure is made up of cartilage, muscles, nerves, glands and tissues that work together to create an incredibly fast and effective tongue to grab your food.
Life expectancy
Although males can exceed five years of age in captivity, most Panther chameleon wilderness only survives one or two years after maturity. Females have a shorter half-life in the wild and in captivity due to the stress of reproduction and oviposition..
Threats to the species
The Panther chameleon is one of the most sought-after chameleon species in the international pet trade due to its beautiful coloration and the success of its captive breeding..
Tighter trade quotas have been applied and recent export levels are within a sustainable range. There is currently little risk to this chameleon species, apart from the threat of continued habitat loss and modification.
The local population uses relatively little of the Furcifer pardalis within its range. Chameleons are not used very often in the local kitchen. But, Furcifer pardalis is caught and sold in the international trade of live animals. United States, Europe and Asia are the main participants in this traffic.
The "Panther chameleon" in captivity
The terrarium
The Panther chameleon is kept in a tall terrarium, but does not require as much ventilation as other chameleon species. These animals must be kept individually. The terrarium must have at least 100 x 60 x 150cm. Higher would be better.
Food
The diet of the Panther chameleon consists mainly of insects such as crickets, crickets, grasshopper, flies, fruit flies, cockroaches, rarely wax moth caterpillars… but be careful when feeding him!! These animals gain weight easily and can develop gout. It also, feeds with leaves, colorful flowers, or possibly some fruit.
no lettuce, iceberg lettuce or similar, since its calcium-phosphorus content is unfavorable. And cabbage or spinach should rarely be fed oxalic acid….
Additional vitamin and mineral supplements are recommended.
Lighting and temperature
The temperature in the terrarium of the Panther chameleon should be 22-28°C (locally 35-40°C) during the day and between 16-22°C at night. The humidity should be 60-80% and around the 100% At night.
In the terrarium of a Panther chameleon there must be numerous possibilities to climb, preferably a tree (Ficus benjamina), remained, other plants, cork tubes and bark, which also offer hiding places.
Good lighting and ultraviolet light (30% of UVA rays and 5-10% UVB) are necessary for your well-being, as well as a place to sunbathe. UV radiation is very important and necessary. In the case of females, it is necessary to provide a suitable place for laying eggs or several possibilities.
A spray system can be installed in the terrarium, that sprays water repeatedly (about three to four times a day), or a nebulizer can be installed in the terrarium. For fluid intake, a dropper must be installed that is always cleaned.
Hibernation
The Panther chameleon it is usually more inactive in winter and here you can simulate a kind of hibernation by lighting. Reduce daily lighting time by two to three hours over a period of about two months. Hibernation is very important for animals to regulate body functions and stay healthy. But here you have to observe the animals well to see if they are prepared for rest.. This can be noticed in the behavior when the animal calms down on its own in autumn..
Reproduction
The Panther chameleon puts up to 46 eggs. They are quite aggressive animals, so you have to be careful when mating. Raising young animals individually in small terrariums.
It is essential to provide enough calcium and vitamins in breeding.
Housing conditions
To keep the Furcifer pardalis (Panther chameleon) we recommend creating the following conditions. Especially regarding the minimum size, we ask you to keep in mind that optimal conditions can only be achieved in much larger terrariums.
temperatures during the day: 22° to 28 °C (locally 35-40°C)
Night temperatures: 16-22°C
Humidity: 60-80% during the day and approx. 100% At night)
Minimum size of the terrarium: from 120x60x150cm for an animal (better higher)
Buy one "Panther chameleon"
The price of a "Panther chameleon" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 300 – 500 EUR.
The Fischer's chameleon (Kinyongia fischeri) split into several species 2008. Most of them are potentially or critically endangered. They are medium-sized chameleons that are characterized by having two nasal horns., and which are popular with private carers, especially in the United States, but rarely seen in European zoos. Usually, not a real Fischer's chameleon, but representatives of other species of the complex Kinyongia fischeri.
Characteristics / Appearance
The Fischer's chameleon reaches a total length of 26 – 33,5 cm., the females being much smaller than the males. The queue occupies between 15 and 20 cm.. The most prominent feature is the strongly laterally compressed and warty snout processes., that can measure up to 20 mm in males. In females they reach 8 mm is missing completely. A helmet is only vaguely present. The first third of the back bears a crest formed by a loose row of spiny scales..
Habitat
The Fischer's chameleon It inhabits the edges of humid mountain forests and, possibly, in neighboring plantations and gardens, at an altitude of 800-1.700 m, with an annual rainfall of 800-2.000 mm, and with a dry season of 2-3 months.
Behavior
The Fischer's chameleon prefers to eat beetles and grasshoppers, but also takes other invertebrates and small vertebrates. Mating females are light green with a red head.. 47-55 days after mating, the female lays between 10 and 21 eggs in a hole 15-20 depth cm. The young grow rapidly and can reach sexual maturity at 6 months. The most important predator of the fishing chameleon is the hummingbird (Dispholidus typus).
Threats to the species
State of conservation ⓘ
Near Threatened ⓘ(UICN)ⓘ
The Fischer's chameleon (Kinyongia fischeri) is listed as potentially threatened on the IUCN Red List since 2014 because the area of the species is small and the habitat is fragmented. The habitat is gradually disappearing due to conversion of forests to farmland, logging and underuse of crops. The same goes for the Kinyongia boehmei, Kinyongia tavetana, Kinyongia matschiei, Kinyongia multituberculata and Kinyongia vosseleri, are classified as critically endangered. Kinyongia uluguruensis It is not considered in danger of extinction.
International trade is regulated by CITES Appendix II.
Among 2001 and 2015, Tanzania exported an annual average of about 3.700 animals. The main buyers were the United States, with a 53%, Germany, with a 13% (a few 470 animals per year) and japan, with a 10%. But, It was rarely the Kinyongia fischeri Properly said, but mainly from Kinyongia multituberculata, Kinyongia matschiei, Kinyongia vosseleri and possibly Kinyongia tavetana and Kinyongia boehmei. Exports of hatchlings from Europe and North America are insignificant
The "Fischer's chameleon" in captivity
The terrarium
The Fischer's chameleon should normally be kept alone. To support an adult individual, A well-ventilated and humid terrarium is recommended. 4 x 3 x 6 times (length x widht x hight) the length of the head and torso, that is to say, a few 60 x 45 x 90 cm for a large male. If they stay in pairs, you have to add a 20% of the ground surface.
The terrarium should be equipped with spotlights and UV lamps and have plenty of climbing branches and a water trough. It is recommended to plant the back and side walls with, for example, Ficus benjamina. A mixture of sand and peat is suitable as a substrate that should always be kept slightly moist..
The substrate for the terrarium Fischer's chameleon should be loose and absorbent. These may include, a mixture of sand and peat is suitable. If you have a female, it is important that the substrate is filled to a sufficient height. In this case, the substrate must have at least 20 centimeters high so that the chameleon can bury its eggs.
Air temperature should vary between 24-28°C during the day, locally up to more than 30°C and drop about 10°C at night. Relative humidity should be 50-70% during the day, with slightly higher night values.
Buy one "Fischer's chameleon"
If a «Fischer's chameleon» in a pet store or elsewhere, it is not uncommon for it to be another species of two-horned chameleon in the same genus. The gender Kinyongia includes now 18 species; Kinyongia fischeri It is one of the species that is least kept in captivity.. Often an apparent Fischer's chameleon hides close relatives like Kinyongia multituberculata, Kinyongia matschiei or Kinyongia boehmei.
The prices of Fischer's chameleon are usually correspondingly high due to this rarity. It is difficult to give a general amount because it depends on the seller, but you probably won't get a Fischer's chameleon for less than 100 EUR.
The fact that the real Fischer's chameleon is rarely offered is also due to its comparatively small area of origin.
1. Fischer's chameleon, Fischer’s two-horned chameleon, Nguru blade-horned chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon nain de Fischer (French).
3. Fischer's Zweihornchamäleon (German).
4. Camaleão de Fischer (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón de Fischer" (español).
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Brygoo's chameleon
- Brookesia brygooi
Origin: Madagascar
Gender: Brookesia
Life expectancy: 4 - 6 years
Length: Head-torso: until 10 cm.
The Brygoo's chameleon it is a small to medium sized chameleon, earthy brown to blend in with leaf litter.
leaf chameleon (Brookesia brygooi), South Center of Madagascar – GRID-Arendal – Flickr
Content
Origin / Distribution
The Brygoo's chameleon (Brookesia brygooi) it is endemic to southwestern Madagascar, where its type locality is Analavelona, in the province of Fianarantsoa, in south-central Madagascar.
Characteristics / Appearance
The Brookesia Chameleons they are some of the smallest reptiles in the world: one of the species reaches a maximum length of just over an inch (30 mm). These tiny creatures are found in the leaf litter of tropical rainforests and dry deciduous forests across much of Madagascar..
The Brygoo's chameleon it is a small to medium sized chameleon, earthy brown to blend in with leaf litter.
Habitat
It is located at an altitude between 20 and 571 m above mean sea level, and in an area of 147.782 square kilometers. Details about the true population of the Brygoo's chameleon, although it is known to be very widespread.
Behavior
The Brookesia they feed on small insects and respond with their camouflage to hide from predators. When resent, these chameleons play dead in an effort to look like a fallen leaf.
Brookesias are easier to find at night, when they sleep on the leaves of small bushes.
Threats to the species
Because it is widespread and commonly found in protected areas, was listed as Least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The "Brygoo's chameleon" in captivity
The terrarium
Minimum measurements are 60 x 31 x 46 cm..
Behavior
Males can become territorial and separate from other males. It is usually meek, but frequent handling stresses the animal. It is usually quite docile and shy. The species is diurnal.
captive environment
Use full spectrum lighting 12 to 14 hours a day. Provide multiple climbing areas on branches, trunks and plants. This species likes dense foliage to hide when climbing.
Temperature
The daytime temperature should be between 23 – 27 degrees C. Maintain night temperature between 20 – 2 degrees C.
Humidity
This species requires moderate to high humidity levels.
Water requirements
Provide a large, shallow container for drinking and soaking. Provide a constant running or trickling water supply. The enclosure must be well ventilated.
Nutritional requirements
This species is carnivorous (like meat). eat small insects, flies, mosquitoes and insect larvae. Always offer variety for proper nutrition. Sprinkle food with calcium and vitamins.
Buy one "Brygoo's chameleon"
It's probably the leaf chameleon What is most legally exported from Madagascar. Specimens of this species can be found relatively easily in specialized stores.. Its price in the exotic animal market ranges from 120 – 150 EUR.