Couple of Melleri questions

[Pure]

Ok I think I have it locked down, but I'll knock on wood just in case. Next week I should be the proud owner of 2 Melleri. I have to take a 12 hr round trip to get them but yeah I never said I wasn't crazy. lol

They are supposedly CB, but either way they are adults and have been in their current home (private residence) for over 5 months. The animals are well acclimated and eating like pigs.

Currently they are being housed in a free range together; they have been almost the entire time. Things have been pretty tame between the 2 with only a couple of shoving matches. But from what I've read this is pretty normal male/female behavior. The 2 were sold as male and female but to the best of my knowledge there hasn't been any actual testing done to prove this.

My questions are:
1. When I re-home them should I separate the 2 wile they reacclimate or should I keep them together?

2. The enclosure I have planned (and will be built this weekend) is going to be a corner unit that is 8'/4'/4/8' tall. That should be big enough right?

3. I have free and open access to an X-ray machine. I plan on trying my hand at X-raying the pelvis to see if I can get a gender conformation. I will probably try and snap some pics of the X-rays for ya'll to verify my findings. Well, should I wait until they are acclimated to their new home or should I go ahead and stop off at the Dr Office before bringing them home? Since they will already be stressed from a 6 hr car ride.

4. At what angle would be best for the Xray. I'd rather not take multiples unless really really needed. I can't imagine the cham is going to enjoy being restraind for one shot let alone 2 or 3. I assume looking down at the pelvis from above is the way to go?

Edit: forgot number 4

 

[Pure]

No one......?

 

[jannb]

I personaly don't have Melleri but my daughter has 2. At least this will get you bumped back to the top. Personally, I would think since they are use to being together, I would not seperate them unless they are not getting along. Also, I would think it would be very hard for them to have to go in a cage after free range.

 

[Pure]

Yeah the cage vs free range has been considered. In my house free range isn't the safest idea. I have a kitty that seems to love sneeking into rooms when doors get opened. Half the time we don't even see her.. So I am going to try caged, but will convert to free range in a spare bedroom if I have to.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

CB melleri are very hard to come by. If they are CB, the owner will know for sure where they were produced. CB melleri adults are not too common, and would probably fetch a high price if available. Are you sure they are not Captive hatched? Just as good, really, and that woudl be more likely, considering the numbers available the past 2 years.

Just make sure they're not WC. I have seen lots of adult WC melleri be marketed as CB, due to the increased awareness of the problems of WC melleri. Just be careful - WC melleri can live fine, but take time and money.

 

[Sepioteuthis]

My questions are:
1. When I re-home them should I separate the 2 wile they reacclimate or should I keep them together?

I would keep them together but have a back up cage ready in case one of them is having a harder time acclimating than the other.

2. The enclosure I have planned (and will be built this weekend) is going to be a corner unit that is 8'/4'/4/8' tall. That should be big enough right?

How big is the free range that they are in now? If it's a lot bigger than this cage than the cage might be too small because they are used to having more space.

3. I have free and open access to an X-ray machine. I plan on trying my hand at X-raying the pelvis to see if I can get a gender conformation. I will probably try and snap some pics of the X-rays for ya'll to verify my findings. Well, should I wait until they are acclimated to their new home or should I go ahead and stop off at the Dr Office before bringing them home? Since they will already be stressed from a 6 hr car ride.

I don't think taking them in for a vet check the same day would be a problem.

4. At what angle would be best for the Xray. I'd rather not take multiples unless really really needed. I can't imagine the cham is going to enjoy being restraind for one shot let alone 2 or 3. I assume looking down at the pelvis from above is the way to go?

I have no experience with sexing melleri with an X-ray.

And like Eric said, real CB melleri are hard to find. Ask some questions, like how old they are exactly and who the breeder is.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

I agree about keeping them together. Our 2 are very sensitive to separations, even momentary ones.

 

[Pure]

WC melleri can live fine, but take time and money.

Indeed they do. I'm prepared for that. To me, honestly I don't care if they are CB/CH/WC. They are beautiful animals and well worth the effort. The $ being asked for them is more than fare. He's cutting me a deal for driving down to get them. The guy really just wants them to go to a good home. He bought them without knowing anything about them, and has now decided that they are just too much work.
He's taken proper care of them since he purchased them. He found this site and got the help he needed, and the animals are very healthy looking. Even still they will be going to the vet for a checkup and a fecal as soon as they settle in.

The work factor for me isn't an issue. I'm on disability and have nothing but time.

 

[PardalisGirl]

They look great....

Pure showed me pictures of the two a few days ago. They look REALLY good. I think the captive hatched scenario sounds likely. They look too "settled" to be wild caught themselves. I was wishing I was the one driving to get them

I'd keep them together too. I would think it would give them the feeling that at least something was familiar in their new home. I've got the same situation with free ranging. My cats can actually open doors. I don't have an extra room to do it anyway though so I guess the cats aren't really the issue for me.

Can't wait to see your future pictures of them. Can't wait to see x-rays if you get them. If it works out that you are able to sex them that way, I am going to take mine in and have it done.

 

[Pure]

I would keep them together but have a back up cage ready in case one of them is having a harder time acclimating than the other.

Done. Spare 260g reptarium is on order. Did that today.

How big is the free range that they are in now? If it's a lot bigger than this cage than the cage might be too small because they are used to having more space.

I'm not sure, I'll have to ask. Is this really that big of a deal? I realize the enclosure isn't as large as a typical rectangle cage that is 8'/4' But at the front it's still 8 feet wide and in the center it would be 6 feet wide. This is still a huge cage. I'm going with 8 feet tall because the style of cage can only be screen on the front and I want maximum ventalation. The 2 back sides have to be some sort water proof wall.

I guess my thinking on this (might be wrong so do tell me if I am) is that wild caughts acclimate to enclosures much smaller. So I would think they may not like it as much as their free range but then again they probably will need adjusting to cage life, just as long as it isn’t too small.

I wouldn't think this way if I was talking about putting them both 260G reptarium.

I don't think taking them in for a vet check the same day would be a problem.

The more I think about this the more I think it would be in their best interest to come home and calm down first. This would be done at a regular MDs office so I wouldn't have the benefit of them getting a check up at the same time.

Thank you, your post helped me allot.

 

[Pure]

Thanks Catherine, oh you know I'm gonna have some picks.

If I can get the digi cam to take pictures of the X-ray, And if I have male and female. I will see if MD.com would like to post them for reference on the site.