Housing different species

[SliK JiM]

This is an easy question, but are there any problems about housing a panther cham next to a veiled cham? Obviously they'll be in separate enclosures and won't be able to see each other, but will the difference in conditions make it hard to suit each ones individual needs? Temps aren't so hard to maintain (and they're roughly the same) but it's the humidity that I think might be a problem. I'm sure I've seen it done, but I wanted to check! Better safe than sorry!

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[Malicious]

A good cool base room temp would be the key for maintaining steady basking temps. As for humidity 65% would be fine for both. Yemens don't have the humidity requirement that panthers do, but I cant see it hurting them in any way. I have my room set at 65% for 2 panthers and a 1 yemen. The rooms ambient humidity is controled by an ultrasonic humidifier and set to 45%. The plants in the cages hold it steady at 65%.

 

[jojackson]

I know the drill on mixing species (for most herps..DONT) but im curious, does anyone keep room mates with their cham? (Apart from pygmys and microfauna) Be honest, its valuable Data!

I was wondering about a tree frog or two of comparative size? (NOT planning it, just curious)

 

[Titan]

Ok I have to add this for those that are not sure of this. My Son lives in Texas most the year (winters) and He has a Jacksons I sent him. & (without my imediate knowlage) added in some sort of large tree frog which is living in the same Reptarium I sent him for almost a year now. He sends me pics of both and I have to say I'M impressed at their looks and health! He did this without me knowing at first but he says they are good friends and appear to enjoy each other?

 

[viaje]

I know the drill on mixing species (for most herps..DONT) but im curious, does anyone keep room mates with their cham? (Apart from pygmys and microfauna) Be honest, its valuable Data!

I was wondering about a tree frog or two of comparative size? (NOT planning it, just curious)

I was about to tell you about a thread I posted in a while back... but it looks like you were there, so you know about my plans for Uros and Brevs...

I'd be interested to hear if anyone else is successfully doing something like this

 

[jojackson]

Thanks for info Titan, any idea what species the frog is? I assume they have very similar enviromental needs, plus the frog is probably nocturnal. I wonder if it disturbs the cham at night or avoids it? Do you know how he provides a water souce for frogs? Any issues with that?
Could you ask?

 

[SliK JiM]

Cheers malicious, that was the response I was hoping for. I use plenty of natural plants anyway so that shouldn't be a problem! I imagine with a different misting schedule I should be able to get some difference in humidity and the temps will be fine.

Um, I see the frog becoming lunch...

 

[Titan]

Thanks for info Titan, any idea what species the frog is? I assume they have very similar enviromental needs, plus the frog is probably nocturnal. I wonder if it disturbs the cham at night or avoids it? Do you know how he provides a water souce for frogs? Any issues with that?
Could you ask?

Well the frog is about as large as a kids hand, and as big as the full grown Jacksons Cham in mass. And looks just like the smaller green/brown tree frogs.
He sprays/mists the cage so I think the frog moves about through the moist leaves and I think absorbes water through its skin
He says they get right near each other quite allot and seem to enjoy each others company. thats abit confusing to me? but they dont show signs of stress or aggression & have been living like this for the year just fine?

Edit: I'll add this to for anyone that cares, I also myself have night active gekos in some of my Chameleon cages, They hide all day when the Cham is awake and When the Cham sleeps come out and gobble up any loose food items left in the cage. I put a small nightlight on the side of the cage (away and down from where the Chams sleep) so that the lost crickets and such go to the light and the geko hangs out there all night dining on leftovers.

 

[Kent67]

Although I've never tried it, I'm starting to suspect that chameleons have an aversion to eating frogs. There was another thread where someone (I think Sepioteuthis?) was showing photos of a tree frog living free-range with some adult Meller's with no problems. Any lizard of comparable size to the melleri surely would have become lunch.

As for mixing species, I've known of a good number of people with very large sized enclosures who've mixed individuals of various chameleon species together without problem. If the animals have enough space to have their own, perhaps slightly overlapping territories (with their own feeding, basking, etc sites), and don't identify the others as either competitors or potential mates they'll go about their lives just as they would in the wild; communicating without coming into physical contact with one another. Their sizes must be similar enough that none would ever consider feeding on the other. Now, I would not recommend just anyone do this. However, for the owner who has the time to monitor frequently, the experience (and intuition) to recognize when there's a problem, and the ability to change caging situations around, I think it provides a unique opportunity to witness more behaviors that singly-kept chameleons don't express very often, without undue harm to the participants. Again, not sayin' everyone should go out and do this. But, if you build a giant enclosure....

 

[SliK JiM]

It's not my intention to keep 2 different species in the same enclosure, just next to each other in their own enclosures (where they can't see each other!)

Although, as you say, it would be fascinating to see the interaction between two species that are geographically quite close, like Nosy Be and Ambanja chameleons as there must be the odd occasions when these chameleons interact in the wild.

 

[warpdrive]

Although, as you say, it would be fascinating to see the interaction between two species that are geographically quite close, like Nosy Be and Ambanja chameleons as there must be the odd occasions when these chameleons interact in the wild.

while I do believe that there is a bit of water between the two listed above for them to even meet...in genaral, I'm sure quite alot of different panthers not only see each other, but posably breed too.
would explain all the different color paterns amonst the same type of panther.

Harry

 

[SliK JiM]

Ok, so maybe I shouldn't have gone with a species separated on an island, but the idea was there! I'll go with sirama and ambilobe then!