chams1
Member
I wanted to extend some big time gratitude to all of you for all of your continued well-wishes and finger-crossing (and toe-crossing) over the past couple years. Those years have been full of both successes and ulitmate let-downs with the breeding, egg laying and egg hatching of my long-time melleri project. I started working with the melleri about 5 years ago (although I have only been on here for 3), was hooked the minute I got my first and they have since invaded my heart and my home (they rule the house actually - they even tell the dogs what to do 
).
I have posted several e-mails over the last couple years keeping everyone apprised as to what is going on for a reason. Not only are the melleri my favorite species so I am quite biased, but there is not enough information out there for many reasons (most people do not/cannot devote the time, space and other resources to these giants, their high susceptibility to stress, their lack of on-the-spot breeding, and the unability to distinguish males from females on sight to name a few) and, while I have had some good successes and ultimate failures along the way, I felt it was necessary to share all of this information (both good and bad) with you so that it would be available for the next person who wishes to embark on this endeavor.
Having the triumphant hatching of 42 babies this past week was an unbelievable event for me and a long-awaited culmination of time, effort and money (and frustration) and you were there for it. You were also there for me with the unfortunate and sudden demise of all 56 babies at once last summer. That devastating blow alone made me want to give up everything chameleon related and quit.
A big thank you to all of you for lifting me up and cheering me on when I needed it most. I am just happy that all of you could finally share in the joyous arrival of the new babies.
).I have posted several e-mails over the last couple years keeping everyone apprised as to what is going on for a reason. Not only are the melleri my favorite species so I am quite biased, but there is not enough information out there for many reasons (most people do not/cannot devote the time, space and other resources to these giants, their high susceptibility to stress, their lack of on-the-spot breeding, and the unability to distinguish males from females on sight to name a few) and, while I have had some good successes and ultimate failures along the way, I felt it was necessary to share all of this information (both good and bad) with you so that it would be available for the next person who wishes to embark on this endeavor.
Having the triumphant hatching of 42 babies this past week was an unbelievable event for me and a long-awaited culmination of time, effort and money (and frustration
) and you were there for it. You were also there for me with the unfortunate and sudden demise of all 56 babies at once last summer. That devastating blow alone made me want to give up everything chameleon related and quit. A big thank you to all of you for lifting me up and cheering me on when I needed it most. I am just happy that all of you could finally share in the joyous arrival of the new babies.
