We all want to succeed Jurgen.
It kind of sounds a bit negative. Maybe give me and my experience the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I'll surprise you...
Don't forget we're from different countries with different cultures and languages so inflection can sometimes be misunderstood via reading text alone. I think Jurgen was just getting frustrated at the fact that he's experienced what he's explaining while everyone else is making assumptions based on "similarities" between species. If this method were accurate, we would assume that F.antimena to only live a year since they resemble F.lambordi, or vice versa!
We're currently working with small 1.2 group of F.willsii and we also have 1.3 F.petteri that we've been housing for a few months now. I can attest to the petteri enjoying warmer conditions since we actually have them outdoors currently enjoying the Florida weather but I almost always find the F.willsii basking under their heat lamps for a substantial amount of time during the day. If I were more bold I would attempt to house them outside as well, but they're just so rare that I really don't want to take the risk on that right now (since the willsii have been housed indoors since the day we received them).
I truly hope you have success with your male bifidus. I've seen those for sale for a few months and there's no saying how they were housed (or if they were treated etc) before they shipped to you. At the very least you have eggs, so there is still hope this can work out.
Good luck!
Luis
Thanks for the post Luis. It is very much appreciated. Also, no disrespect was meant to Jurgen. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him and his experience, but from what I gather he has not kept bifidus. What is confusing me is that he stated that balteatus have quite long life spans but that bifidus would not. My information is coming from this excerpt from adcham,
"A medium-sized chameleon from the coastal rainforests of eastern and northeastern Madagascar, F. bifidus reaches total lengths of as much as 15-17 inches. It is one of the larger species of the bifidus group which includes F. minor, F. balteatus, F. wilsii, and F. petteri. Female bifidus lack the paired, pointed, spatulate rostral processes of the male. These processes are extensions of the canthi rostralis. The casque is flattened and lacks occipital lobes. Basic body coloration is green but may vary to browns and grays. A white line is often apparent on the ventral surface of the tail. Females tend to be a lighter green and may also exhibit an orange or even a red coloration with blue scales scattered over the head. There is a low dorsal crest but gular and ventral crests are absent. This is an oviparous species but little else is known concerning its reproduction and captive husbandry. "
This is why I am under the impression that if balteatus can live that long, why not bifidus. Basically it comes down to the simple fact that no body knows, but I am guessing bifidus is longer lived than say F. willsii, and F. petteri due to being up there in size with balteatus. but that is my opinion and I certainly do not have the experience that some of you have when it comes to some of these chams. I am just grateful everyone is willing to share their information.
Thanks for the post Luis. It is very much appreciated. Also, no disrespect was meant to Jurgen. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him and his experience, but from what I gather he has not kept bifidus. What is confusing me is that he stated that balteatus have quite long life spans but that bifidus would not. My information is coming from this excerpt from adcham,
"A medium-sized chameleon from the coastal rainforests of eastern and northeastern Madagascar, F. bifidus reaches total lengths of as much as 15-17 inches. It is one of the larger species of the bifidus group which includes F. minor, F. balteatus, F. wilsii, and F. petteri. Female bifidus lack the paired, pointed, spatulate rostral processes of the male. These processes are extensions of the canthi rostralis. The casque is flattened and lacks occipital lobes. Basic body coloration is green but may vary to browns and grays. A white line is often apparent on the ventral surface of the tail. Females tend to be a lighter green and may also exhibit an orange or even a red coloration with blue scales scattered over the head. There is a low dorsal crest but gular and ventral crests are absent. This is an oviparous species but little else is known concerning its reproduction and captive husbandry. "
This is why I am under the impression that if balteatus can live that long, why not bifidus. Basically it comes down to the simple fact that no body knows, but I am guessing bifidus is longer lived than say F. willsii, and F. petteri due to being up there in size with balteatus. but that is my opinion and I certainly do not have the experience that some of you have when it comes to some of these chams. I am just grateful everyone is willing to share their information.
I completely understand, we're all trying to put the pieces together on these newer quota species.
Either way, take very good care of those eggs! They're priceless right now.
Luis
It also wouldn't hurt to have a fecal done on the male, just in case. It's better to be safe than sorry with such expensive animals.
Luis
no stress is really needed for a fecal, you just collet new lay poop and send it in to the vet
