Hooked on Melleri.....

PardalisGirl

PardalisGirl

Avid Member
I visited the wonderful Gesangs late this afternoon. They have a wonderful operation going on with Chameleons Northwest. I've seen pictures of Melleri in books and on this forum. This was the first time I've seen them in person. I can NOT stop thinking about them. The Gesangs have a beautiful pair of Melleri. I told myself I just can't get into those. But I keep figuring out how I can fit them into my house.

I've been researching the various sites on the internet so I know they need a lot of space. I already have a very large cage on rollers that is 5'x5'x6'. It came from Cages by Design and is made to house large iguanas or even large birds. I have the same cage for my two adult iguanas. It has 1"x1" stainless steel mesh panels on four sides and the top. The whole thing is totally rust proof. I've read that adults need larger mesh sized screen to climb on. My iguanas climb up and down the sides of their cage all day. You mount the lighting and heating over the top. The bottom is a black, easy to clean, PVC solid panel that slides over a stainless steel mesh bottom. So you can use it outside and inside. I used to use it as an outdoor cage for my Hydrosaurus lizard in the summer. It is a very strong and sturdy cage that I can put full size potted plants in. So...Melleri keepers...does this type of cage sound suitable for one Melleri? Would it be possible to keep a pair in it if they started out together as juvies?

I can't free range because I have cats that roam the house. I can't rely on keeping them closed out of the Melleri room. The have actually opened doors before. And they try harder if they think something of interest is on the other side. I'm hoping for some serious input....I think I can care for the food/health needs and will get good support here for questions. The caging is the my main concern. Thanks for your input....
 
Last edited:
Catherine-can you post a picture of the cage? Sounds nice and workable!
They are pretty fascinating creatures. I am lucky enough to have one of Megana's babies-recieved "him" the day after he hatched 5/28/08 so I have had the pleasure of watching him grow up from his black and white tuxedo to his new greens and yellows. I think most people will say go CH if you possibly can.
 
I've got a pair in a cage significantly smaller than that. It should be fine. Check the melleridiscovery.com

Kristina's put so much work into melleri, it shows on the website. Lots of info.

Melleri are simply put the best chameleons. Huge, cool looking, great colors and ornaments (have to love the high backs on them), the best social behavior in order squamata, long lived...

the females are JUST as interesting as the males (100% of the clutch is "pet" material vs. 50% for most species).

and, the best reason - they actually seem to LIKE us. It varies, sure, but melleri can be weirdly friendly for lizards. Like, set them up in a tree across the room, and they will get on the floor, cross the room, and get near you. They do that crap. It's weird, and a little unerving for a reptile, but it's great.
 
The cage....

The cage is out in the garage surrounded by other cages stored out there. Here is a link to Cages by Design that shows the basics:

http://www.cagesbydesign.com/Hybrid...abid/77/p-166-b2-package-72h-x-96l-x-48d.aspx

My cage has the stainless steel mesh on the back side and the front sliding doors are also the stainless steel mesh. And of course my cage is not furnished like that. The solid PVB bottom tray fits over the mesh shown in the link. It's also not as long as the one pictured. It would be great to use it. It was expensive and is gathering dust and spiders.

I spent over an hour on Melleridiscovery.com. It is a fabulous site and it only fueled my interest. Is there any merit in getting WC? First Choice just got some WC juvies/subadults in from Tanzania. I got my Uthmoelleri and Laterispinis from First Choice. I've acclimated WC chams, tree monitors, Hydrosaurus lizards, etc. so I think I'm up to the task. What do you think?
 
Eric Adrignola said:
and, the best reason - they actually seem to LIKE us. It varies, sure, but melleri can be weirdly friendly for lizards. Like, set them up in a tree across the room, and they will get on the floor, cross the room, and get near you. They do that crap. It's weird, and a little unerving for a reptile, but it's great.
Click to expand...

We got Hercules first. And before he bonded with Megana he wanted a lot of my attention. As soon as I entered the room he would climb down from a perch and literally reach out for me. He just wanted to be held and carried around. It was fun. Now he does that only rarely.
 
Don't know what you did, Catherine. Perhaps it was the fur collar on your jacket? Something got Hercules going! What an exciting afternoon! Especially for Hercules.

Megana is definitely WC, from FLChams. We believe Hercules is WC too, because he was so tore up looking when we got him. No doubt CB make better pets, but we have had few problems with our 2. Both have had small, limited area, fungus issues, and Herc had an eye-rubbing issue.. Megana's color was off for a while and she seemed to put on a lot of weight and had some edema issues, but we were never able to determine if that was related to an unsuccessful reproductive issue or because I was overfeeding her. For the most part they have both been very robust. We did, however, get baby/juvenile WC Meller's last year and in a short time lost them to undiagnosed health problems. They all went to the vets, too, more than once in the short time we had them. But the adults do well.
 
Last edited:
Eric....

Hey Eric....what size cage do you have your pair in out of curiousity. I'm still thinking this morning and trying my hardest not to be impulsive.....
 
Well, it is a simple cage made of cheap1/2 or 3/4" pvc, the screen ins plastic hardware cloth rom lowes, also cheap. Only cost $50 or so, I think. It's 6' high, 6' wide and 3' deep. Two big ficus in it plus some wood from outside.

I could pull it apart and move it, but oit's nothign like the one above - that bird cage is really nice.
 
Thanks for info....

I wish I could do what you did Eric. I would love to have something that is simple and easy to move. Anything I have has to be cat proof. They can rip things open and open sliding doors. The iguana cage and this cage that would be for the Melleri have keyed locks on them to keep the cats from sliding the doors open. I used to come home and find iguanas and tree monitors loose in the house before I added the locks. The cats did not hurt the lizards. I worried more about the lizards hurting the cats. So far the cats have not figured out how to operate the latches on the chameleon cages. I would love to free range. My dream is to move some day and get a house with separate shop for chams like the Gesang's have. We can't put a portable storage shed on our property without permission from the homeowner's group. Building a shop could never happen here :(

I did buy a pair of juvie/subadults from Nick at First Choice. I asked him to measure them STV. After I get that measurement I will post again and ask for cage size advice. I want advice as to whether or not they will need to go into the big cage right away. I'm hoping that you can tell by the STV length about the caging size for now. I'm not sure the age and size I'm getting. I just asked for the best looking pair healthwise, etc. So they may be small enough that they need to go into a smaller cage for awhile. After cage size is determined I'll set it up and post it for critique :) Not sure when I will get them. Fortunately, I should be able to run out and get the plants I need. I've got my own pet supply place in my closets and garages for everything else needed.
 
Catherine,

As I read your first post on this thread, I predicted you would buy some Mellerii. Heck, you did before the post even ended!!
If you let your Mellerii roam the house, you won't have to worry about the cats, small dogs, or small children.:p I bought my juvinile from Florida Chams, and "it" is doing great. My auto mister was spasing out and spraying through the side of my screen, so I went to move some leaves around that the water was (I thought) hitting, and found Biora, my Mellers, right in front of the sprayer, eyes closed, just enjoying the mist. So I obediently just put a bucket down and let Biora enjoy.
Mellers seem to be quite mellow, and really might take over your heart as well as your pocketbook!
When you get the little buggers, email me, I would like to come see them!!:D
 
Cage size for my Melleri?

The pair of Melleri that I bought is about six inches STV. So.....what size cage would be appropriate for them at this size? What size screen/mesh opening? I've got that huge cage in my garage for their final adult habitat. Can they go in something else until they get a bit older? I'm thinking of putting that big cage outside so when it is warm enough the pair can go outside in it during the day. And then after this year's season is over moving the big cage into the house permanently for them. How does that sound? I'll do something else for them next year for the outdoors. And Nick, Sandy and Elliot what months of the year do you let your Melleri spend the days outside? I would appreciate any input I can get today on cage size for them at 6 inches STV. I want to start preparing for them tomorrow. Thanks everyone :)
 
Picture perfect?

LOL Summoner12....I guess if you like cages everywhere and stray crickets wandering around it is perfect :) Non reptile people tend to freak out a bit. I wish I could free-range. We have lots of cats though and I think it would be very stressful having a herd of cats standing under them for hours at a time trying to figure out a way to get to them. My pair are WC imports too and I want to confine their area into the smallest caging necessary until I get any parasite issues taken care of. It would be a lot harder to get rid of parasite eggs from a free-range area I think. If I don't free-range Summoner12 what size cage would you say for that size pair? Thanks, Catherine
 
Hey guys, I am also from seeing Gesangs pictures have becom hooked on Mellers and I hope to have them as my next chameleons.
And I just want to know what is the minimum size enclosure for a mellers full grown.
Is a 260g flexarium cool for a pair of mellers?

Thanks
 
My mellers is just about the size of yours, and I have him in a 2x2x3 foot high LLL cage. My plan is to move him into one of my 2x2x4 foot cages when he/she outsizes my other Chams. The2x2x3 is a bit big, but the beast is doing fine in it.:D
PardalisGirl said:
LOL Summoner12....I guess if you like cages everywhere and stray crickets wandering around it is perfect :) Non reptile people tend to freak out a bit. I wish I could free-range. We have lots of cats though and I think it would be very stressful having a herd of cats standing under them for hours at a time trying to figure out a way to get to them. My pair are WC imports too and I want to confine their area into the smallest caging necessary until I get any parasite issues taken care of. It would be a lot harder to get rid of parasite eggs from a free-range area I think. If I don't free-range Summoner12 what size cage would you say for that size pair? Thanks, Catherine
Click to expand...
 
And just to add - my CB male was perfectly content and happy in a 4'wide, 3' tall 2' deep cage for 3.5 years. He never climbed the sides, nor tried to escape when the door was open. I moved him because I wanted him in a cage I coudl put more than one in.

Others need much bigger cages, it just varies with the animal.
 
I would recommend separate cages for the acclimation period. (I wouldn't go smaller 2x2x3 ft).
During the acclimation period you will get a feel for your chams' needs. Like Eric said, it really varied per animal. Of the four adults that I've had three did fine in a 2x3x4 cage, while the other one just didn't like to be caged at all.
However all of them were at their most calm and confident in the free range.

BTW I also have a cat who needs to know what's in every room. My cham room has a screen door on a spring so it automatically closes. Also, it seems to be good enough for Tesla to be able to look into the room. Works for us, anyway.

Good luck with your melleri!
 
PardalisGirl said:
LOL Summoner12....I guess if you like cages everywhere and stray crickets wandering around it is perfect :) Non reptile people tend to freak out a bit. I wish I could free-range. We have lots of cats though and I think it would be very stressful having a herd of cats standing under them for hours at a time trying to figure out a way to get to them. My pair are WC imports too and I want to confine their area into the smallest caging necessary until I get any parasite issues taken care of. It would be a lot harder to get rid of parasite eggs from a free-range area I think. If I don't free-range Summoner12 what size cage would you say for that size pair? Thanks, Catherine
Click to expand...

Isn't it stressful for your chams in cages to have a herd of cats sitting below looking for a chance to score a mid day snack?

Sorry I am just not a fan of cats and chams in the same house. My GF wants a cat, and I wouldn't mind one.... but that will never happen as long as we have chams.

As for the cages... Melleri like to have horizontal space to roost and wander. I would get a cage made that is say.... 2.5-3' deep and 3.5-4' wide and maybe 3.5-4' tall. My LARGE 600+ gram Melleri, Henry, is in a 2'x3.5'x5' open space 'cage'. Two sides are open and he has a Mulberry tree that is outside the 'cage' arae that he mostl uses as his roosting spot because it brings him out into the room more so he can see everything well. Ill post a pic later.

back to work..........
 
Catherine's chams are the most pampered, well cared for chams I've ever seen. The cats are far from an issue. I think it honestly depends on the cat and it's interest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
How many cages will one Mist King set up do?
Replies
10
Views
446
Beman
Beman
A
How to maintain humidity in a 2x4 mesh screen?
Replies
4
Views
459
AmazingYocool
A
Luca
Cage advice
Replies
11
Views
954
Beman
Beman
A
Mold Concerns with Screen Cages for Chameleons - Advice Needed
Replies
14
Views
1K
chemeleonboi1
chemeleonboi1
Eileen
Question from newbie - crickets roaming the cage
Replies
16
Views
975
Eileen
Eileen
Back
Top Bottom