Meller's stare-down!

Julirs

Julirs

New Member
This is a stare-down. These two creeps refuse to live together, but do this! :rolleyes:

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Minor Meller's also moved into his big boy cage! Thanks Todd M Keller for moving to California and leaving me with great cages! :):):)

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Oh-and here is a baby Panther just for cuteness! :eek:
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Too cute! But frustrating I'm sure.....maybe, with any luck some time like that and they might accept living together......eventually?? One can hope :)
 
Looks like its normal behaviour. Why would you want them to live together? save space?
cohabitation is more unnatural than captivity itself. Do they always see other?
Im really intrested to learn more about the mechanics of captive introduction/natural behaviours.
Most folk seem to 'keep it short' for fear of violent reactions, yet many complain of unsuccessful introductions. Im beginning to think space constraints is a major drawback.
In a very large greenhouse type enclosure, I would think longer introductions might be more successful (more room for them to avoid each other betwixt approaches), coupled with the use of more than one pair, or more than one female atleast, might prove advantageous? Any thoughts?
 
You keep Melleri together in hopes that they will mate. It also helps in identifying sex. But for mating purposes, better results have been reported with long term cohabitation. Melleri mating rituals are painstakingly slow.

The problem Dan, is that sometimes you will get one that just refuses to get along with anyone.

LOL Juli, looks like a love hate relationship.
 
jojackson said:
cohabitation is more unnatural than captivity itself. /QUOTE]

Actually, that may not be the case with melleri. Though there isn't a lot of data from the wild, there are indications that they congregate in groups for at least part of the year. In addition to that, melleri don't seem to mate in captivity unless they have been cohabiting for at least a year.

This doesn't mean that all will get along of course and I personally will never again keep 2 males (or 2 maybe's) in the same free range, no matter how large.
On the other hand females are very tolerant of each other and mating pairs often stay close together for months even in large enclosures.
During mating season males have been seen to refuse food when the female is nearby as part of their courtship rituals.

There is still a lot we don't know because of the lack of data from the wild, but I haven't heard of a successful mating where the pair wasn't cohabiting.
Click to expand...
 
The problem Dan, is that sometimes you will get one that just refuses to get along with anyone.
Click to expand...

Thats of interest too mate, do such examples tend to be one sex or the other?

btw, whats your first name mate?

Though there isn't a lot of data from the wild, there are indications that they congregate in groups for at least part of the year. In addition to that, melleri don't seem to mate in captivity unless they have been cohabiting for at least a year.
Click to expand...

Wow thats an intresting deviation from the apparent norm for chameleons! Any theorys on the purpous of these aggregations been put forward? what time of year/climate has this been observed? what kind of numbers? any idea of sex ratios? presumed? Have this species ever proved 'monogamous' or with long term pairing in the wild? none have been radio tracked? I must learn more, this really throws me.
Can you point me to any interesting data about the species?

These discoveries lead to more questions than can be answered Lol The more I find out, the more I want to know! I love this site. :)
 
jojackson said:
Wow thats an intresting deviation from the apparent norm for chameleons! Any theorys on the purpous of these aggregations been put forward? what time of year/climate has this been observed? what kind of numbers? any idea of sex ratios? presumed? Have this species ever proved 'monogamous' or with long term pairing in the wild? none have been radio tracked? I must learn more, this really throws me.
Can you point me to any interesting data about the species?

These discoveries lead to more questions than can be answered Lol The more I find out, the more I want to know! I love this site. :)
Click to expand...

I don't have it in front of me but I think it's mentioned in Petr Necas' book. Again recalling from memory, the congregations were in mating season (Jan - Feb). I haven't heard of any more specific data.

I have all those same questions as you about how and how much melleri interact in the wild. Unfortunately, for now were stuck with our observations in captivity.

The best database of information is www.melleridiscovery.com.
 
Just to add to my previous post. Cohabitation isn't "just" done for breeding. Wile yes that pretty much is, and should be every Melleri keepers dream (we need CBBs). Keeping them in a group is a fascinating study in this species behavior. You really don't get to see all the behavioral quirks associated with this species unless you keep them together.

The name is Shannen Mr D. :D

Juli..when these guys do this, do you notice any lobe flashing or any other possible threatening displays?
 
That is an awesome video. One thing I find really interesting..Major is showing all kinds of threat behavior but the colors are not what I would consider threatening. Have you contacted Kristina for her opinion of this?

Thats of interest too mate, do such examples tend to be one sex or the other?
Click to expand...

To the best of my knowledge this seems to happen with males and females alike. But a vast majority of my knowledge is just based on what I read.
 
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