ilovechams
New Member
we bought our chams together they are about one month old . is it ok to keep them together as they grow ,they are always together .or not far from each other/
housing two chams
- Thread starter ilovechams
- Start date
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
You can house them together until they are about 2 or 3 months old, OR until one is significantly outgrowing or being agressive or dominant.
WHICHEVER COMES FIRST
WHICHEVER COMES FIRST
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IMHO they should be separated by the time they are 3 or 4 months old.
Two males left together will stress each other out and maybe fight.
Two females could be together a little bit longer, but they will stress each other after that...even if they appear to be getting along.
A male and female if left together once they are sexually mature will mate and IMHO that's too soon for the female to mate. I like them to be done growing their own bodies/bones before I put (fertile) egglaying demands on them.
Two males left together will stress each other out and maybe fight.
Two females could be together a little bit longer, but they will stress each other after that...even if they appear to be getting along.
A male and female if left together once they are sexually mature will mate and IMHO that's too soon for the female to mate. I like them to be done growing their own bodies/bones before I put (fertile) egglaying demands on them.
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
Jonie
New Member
Oops, fair enough, in the UK people sell females from the same batch as trio's or pairs, for keeping together, cheers for letting me know
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
I am aware of breeders and other keepers that practice this.
A great amount of experience needs to come into play (in my opinion):
The size of the enclosure
# of basking and roosting areas provided
Monitoring feedings and watering
An ability to "read" the animals to determine stress etc.
As a general rule in the hobby, each animal should be provided with it's own enclosure to ensure it's well being.
The advice given on these forums comes (for the most part) from practices of success and is intended to give keepers, at all levels, good basic advice.
-Brad
Jonie
New Member
Fair enough, Do you keep any chameleons like this? being as experienced as you are with chameleons, and probably reptiles in general, i would say you would be able to do this with ease?
John
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
My preference is to keep them all separated.
There is enough stress trying to determine when females are cycling eggs and getting their environment situated so that they can accomplish the task successfully.
Additionally, there are lots of times in my life when I can't be here watching what happens all day long
.Knowing that everyone is safely in their own space allows me to relax ... at least in regard to territorial disputes and unnecessary stress.
It also forces control ... I only have so much space!
If I felt it was okay to house two or three females per enclosure, I would have way too many girls to manage properly.
There are some species that are considered communal (ie: pygs, rudis) but I keep veileds and I really do believe they are much better off solo in their spaces.
-Brad
hi i had the same idea an it went really wrong i brought them together when they were 3 weeks old they were together for ages an the male out grew the female then the problems started lol he used to bully her alot and one day he attacked her that bad her eye was bleeding an it puffed out like a big black eye i nearly lost her i now have them in the same viv but i meshed the middle so they cant attack each other its better than havin 2 seperate viv's as it saves electric i only have to put them together when i want them to breed they can still see each other but seemed to have calmed down alot so my advice is to seperate them as soon as possible just incase the same happens to you it was really scary there was blood every were
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
My suggestion, to make your chameleon's situation even better, would be to make the barrier solid.
Seeing him is probably still causing her stress.
If you want her to truly be comfortable and not constantly "looking over her shoulder" you should give her the feeling that she is alone in her space.
-Brad
OntarioLizardman
New Member
hey ilovechams, what species do you keep?
OntarioLizardman
New Member
and welcome!
