dwarf chameleon...

[beetlebee]

Hi there!

I am a new member and a new chameleon owner. i have experience with snakes, monitors and tarantulas. I acquired this little fellow this morning from a local reptile show my fiance and I frequent to a lot. I do know that he/she is a dwarf species but I am having a difficult time finding out which species. I do not believe that it is a cape or a pygmy. He/she is only about 2 inches long but does have a longer tail then most pygmy pictures and articles I have come across.

If any one could help me determine which species this is, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Trace]

Its a Rhampholeon temporalis. Can you get a better pic of the tail and tail base so I can determine gender for you. They like a terrestrial setup, low temperatures and high humidity.

Here are a few articles on pygmy chameleons to get you started:
http://chameleonnews.com/05JunRouthouska.html
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebHildenhagen.html

Don't be shy about asking questions.

Cheers,
Trace

 

[pssh]

Those are my favorite kind of Pygmies! The ones with fat tails are boys. Sadly, one of mine passed from eggbinding recently, and another to what I am assuming old age (she was huge!)

 

[beetlebee]

Thanks so much, Trace! I will get a better picture in the AM.

 

[jr andrade]

I cant shed any light on your cause, but id like to say that your chameleon is so cute lol, i havent come across anything like it, maybe similar but nothing like it

 

[Trace]

Thanks so much, Trace! I will get a better picture in the AM.

Excellent. Initially I thought it was a male but now I believe it's a female. I'm just not seeing the large, distinctive hemipenal bulge that the temporalis males have. A clear pic taken from the side will confirm my suspicions.

 

[pssh]

Do the females have tails that thick? Mine were more petite looking and a little less thick where the hemipenal buldge would be.

 

[Trace]

Take a look at the females in Hildenhagens article - their tail bases aren't all thin and kind of look like the OP's specimen. Besides, the bulges on the males are pretty conspicuous!

 

[beetlebee]

here you go!

 

[Trace]

100% female.

Your particular specimen is wild caught so make sure she gets plenty water, high humidity and above all some peace and quiet while she settles into captive life. These girls are almost always gravid (although yours doesn't look it - she may have just laid?) so remove the bark substrate you've got and replace it with some clean soil. One of the articles I cited shows some examples of a proper pygmy enclosure. A few live non-toxic plants will help with humidity levels and give her a chance to hide.

Good luck! The temporalis are chock full of personality.

 

[eisentrauti]

Good luck! The temporalis are chock full of personality.

Oh Trace, you shock me ! Rhampholeons habe as much personality as Sarah Palin has brains ...

 

[casperpetersen]

Oh Trace, you shock me ! Rhampholeons habe as much personality as Sarah Palin has brains ...

there is no reason to trash talk chamaeleons no aniamal have deserved to be compared to sarah palin... or here brain (or lack of )

 

[eisentrauti]

there is no reason to trash talk chamaeleons no aniamal have deserved to be compared to sarah palin... or here brain (or lack of )

Of course. That's why I wrote taht they have as much personality as SP has brains

 

[beetlebee]

thanks for the info. How can you tell she is wild caught? Do you have some suggestions on non-toxic plants? I do have to wait a couple day until i get some more money in but i have already spotted the nice enclosure i would like for her to live in. I did read through the articles you provided me with and it is very helpful. I have been spraying her enclosure about 3 times a day making it seem like there was a nice rainfall in there and she seems to enjoy it throughly.

And I do believe she will be named Midge. Hooray!

 

[eisentrauti]

Nearly all temporalis are WC. If somebody managed it to breed them he will tell you this for sure But as I said the chances are very low. People aren't really interested in breeding species which could be imported for less than 5$s as adults.
You can use nearly all plants, for example Ficus pumila or Asparagus species, cause Rhampholeons don't eat plants.
The bigger thread are pesticids which came with the typical DIY market plants. You should put the plants into the shower for some hours or outside in the rain to get most of them away. I cultivate those plants some months outside before I put them into my enclosures. That's really save.