Just an intro....

[justagirl]

Just wanted to pop in and say hello. I've been reading your post for months now trying to research chams. I often find you get the best answers in forums such as this.

Anyway, I'm getting *crossing my fingers* a pymy at the herp expo this weeknd as an early b-day present. I've really enjoyed reading your posts and seeing pics of your chams and enclosures. I can't wait!!! I've already requested Visa gift certificates for my b-day this year.

I am new to chameleons, but not to high maintanance creatures. I decided to start with a pygmy because they seem to be the easiest to care for. And I know if I see that I'm not being a good "mom" I have someone that will.

I've had fish all of my life (both fresh and brakish water). I currently have a red eye tree frog, a tropical fish tank, and a ball python. After I get the cham settled in, I thinking about starting a dwarf seahorse tank. (I can't stand to see an empty tank sitting around..lol)

Also, I was wondering if any of you are in the B'ham, Al. area. Would be nice to have someone local to talk to.

 

[Pure]

Welcome to the site!

If you can try to get a captive bred or captive hatched (CB/CH). This may be hard to do at a show. So ordering one online would be easier.

I can't speak for the ease of keeping Pygmy Chams. But as for the Pygmy seahorses, they are very delicate and require a lot of attention. More than a Cham I would say. They ain't usually recommended for first time seahorse owners. If you haven't checked the site out, go here http://www.seahorse.org/ for the best info available on the net.

Feeding is one of the biggest issues. Seahorses in general don't have what we know of as a stomach so there isn't a place to store food eaten. This means they have to be fed several times a day. The Pygmies more so. And just missing a couple of feedings can result in the animal starving to death.

And just like with Chams CB seahorses are better. Wilds almost always are full of parasites and have issues excepting captive foods. CBs usually take misis shrimp with vigor.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

 

[justagirl]

Thanks for your reply. I've been researching the seahorses for over a year now (love that site you posted) and I'm confident that I can meet their needs. I'm going to start out with 1 breeding pair in a 10 gallon tank and let them populate it. I always try to buy CB and usually do the rescue thing. My Ball python was a rescue who was extremely timid and underfed. Within 2 weeks she was out exploring and eating out of my hand.

This will be the first herp show I've been to, but I'm going with experienced owners. I will of course be asking questions. And now that I've been reading a lot of the posts here, I have a lot. lol

 

[Pure]

Kudos on doing your research. Seahorses are one of those animals that people buy thinking "oh they are so cool" only to find out their animal dies within the first week of owning them because they didn't do their home work.

They are great animals. Time restraints made me get rid of mine (there ain't many species of fish, fresh and sat water I haven't owned). This was also back when I was running a 40 tank breeding project out of my home. So ya I may have to get some more.

Good luck on both your endeavors.

 

[justagirl]

Thank you. I firmly believe in researching an species before I commit to it. I spent months researching Blizzard Geckos, then decided that I wanted a cham first. A friend of mine is working on some gecko morphs, so I'm going to wait till she gets one that I love.

I've always wanted seahorses, but it wasn't until I started doing research last year that I realized that I could actually have some. I think my experience with Brakish tanks also gave me a little more confidence. I had a GSP that was very demanding as far as commitment goes.

It seems I always end up with pets that do what everyone says they can't. I have a male beta in with tetras (which are supposed to be nippy at long fins, but they stay out of the way mostly). I bought feeder ghost shrimp as treats for my GSP and they ended up living in there for months. I also had a Knight Goby in with him and they got along great.

Dang....now I want another GSP. lol

 

[Pure]

Gotta love the puffers! Water dogs.

 

[justagirl]

Oh yeah!!! lol

 

[sandrachameleon]

Just wanted to pop in and say hello. I've been reading your post for months now trying to research chams. I often find you get the best answers in forums such as this.

Welcome and Hello back at you!
I'm glad you've found the forum useful - I do too. Please be sure to post a picture once you've got your chameleon.
S

 

[justagirl]

Thanks!

I certainly will post pics. More than likely lots of them. I tend to get a little snap happy with my creatures. Sadly, my camera was stolen a few months back. But my roomie has one I can use