Knopfler and Imperiata

[Chameleons Northwest]

When you do set up their free range it helps to have cloth or mesh "shields" hanging here and there so they can "visually" escape from one another. They will also need separate basking spots and separate feeding tubs. Although mine always argued over the same basking spots, even though I set up 3 in their free range, and adjusted them along the way hoping to make them all more appealing.

Sepioteuthis has some great free range photos.

 

[PardalisGirl]

Moving Lobes?

Thanks for the info Sandy......I'm trying not to just stare at Layla. It's really hard not to. Yesterday I fed her large crickets which she ate. Today I fed her a very juicy E. Prosticus roach. I have colonies of E. Distanti and E. Prosticus. The roach I fed her was sub-adult (before wings) but very meaty. I put it on the cage screen. She saw it right away but would not zap it until I moved away and pretended to look at something else. She would only chew if I was not looking directly at her. As she was chewing and swallowing she would deliberately move her big lobes forward towards her head. I've never seen Knopfler do that. They would move forward in time with the eating. Not just flopping or flapping, but actually moving forward through some sort of muscle control. Is that normal? Is it because of the size of the prey? It was fascinating to watch her eat.

 

[summoner12]

Thanks for the info Sandy......I'm trying not to just stare at Layla. It's really hard not to. Yesterday I fed her large crickets which she ate. Today I fed her a very juicy E. Prosticus roach. I have colonies of E. Distanti and E. Prosticus. The roach I fed her was sub-adult (before wings) but very meaty. I put it on the cage screen. She saw it right away but would not zap it until I moved away and pretended to look at something else. She would only chew if I was not looking directly at her. As she was chewing and swallowing she would deliberately move her big lobes forward towards her head. I've never seen Knopfler do that. They would move forward in time with the eating. Not just flopping or flappy, but actually moving forward through some sort of muscle control. Is that normal? Is it because of the size of the prey? It was fascinating to watch her eat.

Lenny, henry and pat do this sometimes. It seems to happen more often when the food item is a bit large.

 

[Sepioteuthis]

As she was chewing and swallowing she would deliberately move her big lobes forward towards her head. I've never seen Knopfler do that. They would move forward in time with the eating. Not just flopping or flappy, but actually moving forward through some sort of muscle control. Is that normal? Is it because of the size of the prey? It was fascinating to watch her eat.

This is very common, though not all melleri do this with equal enthousiasm It has little to do with the size of the cham or the size of the prey - The largest melleri I had did this all the time.
It's just one of those things that adds to the awesomeness of melleri

 

[toddmkeller]

welcome to the world of the Melleri, they are one of my favorite species! I love the fact that they can live communally. I wish you luck!


Here is a pic of my two CH Melleri sleeping together Moments like this make them even more special.

See Ya,

Todd

 

[PardalisGirl]

Thanks Todd

Thanks Todd! Your babes are beautiful......One is not sleeping though....he/she is giving you that "Why are you keeping me awake?" look. Very cute. This species seems to have a look of some sort of special wisdom about them. Layla looks at me with eyes that seem to have the mysteries of the world locked in them. I'm not sure if anyone will get what I mean when I say that. There just seems to be something more there than thoughts of "I want food" or "I want to breed".

 

[luevelvet]

I understand what you mean completely. They're countenance is what brought me back into chameleons after 15 years of not being involved at all. It's been a while and I have to admit, if it weren't were our Mellers, I wouldn't be so driven to work with other chameleon species now. We think of ours as our house mascot.

Luis

 

[summoner12]

I think Melleri rock! I love the looks I get and the habits. Each cham has its own personality... but Melleri.... There is something there... going on behind those eyes.

 

[PardalisGirl]

Ancient Wisdom.....

I agree Summoner12.....you look into their eyes and it feels like they have some sort of ancient wisdom thing going on in there.....By the way, what are you doing posting messages at 2:40 am? Eeeeeekkk! That's early!

 

[ColorCham427]

those guys are so sweeeet! lucky to have you!