I haven't been around that long, but I've noticed that most of the pygmy species that have been offered in the classifieds or mentioned in other threads are the result of WC imports. I was wondering how many people are working to produce CB offspring and if there were any active breeding projects going to maximize genetic diversity of the specimens we currently have. It seems people are working to do this with many of the larger, often more flashy species, but the more cryptic genera seem to be neglected a bit. I could be totally wrong, but that's the initial impression I get.
I come from a background in dart frogs where CB is the standard for most species because the majority of the native countries are now closed to WC imports. In the 90s, when countries like Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia were actively exporting, it was common to see Oophaga species on price lists for way less than $100. Now, many of those species are totally lost to the captive hobby or cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
It seems to me like these are the "cheap pet" chameleons right now, but what happens when the WC imports dry up? I'd love to work with species like Rh. acuminatus or spinosus once I gain some experience, but will there be enough around to maintain a captive population?
I don't want this to come off as ranting or anything like that. I just wanted to try to start a discussion on the captive management of these species. They seem to be a very interesting group, and I'd like to see them around in captivity for many years to come.
I come from a background in dart frogs where CB is the standard for most species because the majority of the native countries are now closed to WC imports. In the 90s, when countries like Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia were actively exporting, it was common to see Oophaga species on price lists for way less than $100. Now, many of those species are totally lost to the captive hobby or cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
It seems to me like these are the "cheap pet" chameleons right now, but what happens when the WC imports dry up? I'd love to work with species like Rh. acuminatus or spinosus once I gain some experience, but will there be enough around to maintain a captive population?
I don't want this to come off as ranting or anything like that. I just wanted to try to start a discussion on the captive management of these species. They seem to be a very interesting group, and I'd like to see them around in captivity for many years to come.
