Mike's Last Melleri...Do I get to join the club now? :)

[luevelvet]

Well, according to the folks at FLChams, I acquired the last of Mike's Melleri yesterday. He was kind enough to bring him/her to the show in Orlando so I could avoid the hassles and stresses of shipping.

ok, some stats...

He is 6 months old (from what I was told) roughly 8" head to tail and weighs in at 26.3 grams. He still had a few pieces of shed on him at the show, but nothing too bad looking.

The cage is 18x18x36, by recommendation from Mike at FLChams. I asked for the larger 24x24x48 but he recommended the smaller one. I'm thinking i should've stuck with my gut but at least I have time to build a bit more aesthetically pleasing habitat...

The plant is a strawberry guava tree that I purchased at a reputable local nursery. I've rinsed it more than a half dozen times and even sprayed soapy water in the tub while giving it a good luke warm shower for about 15-20 minutes. There is still a little residue on the leaves, but based on how much i rinsed the thing, I'm thinking it's from the local water here. Hence the reason I use RO water with the mister....

Temps are in the normal range for melleri, 75 ambient room temp with a hotspot in low 80's. A 40 watt bulb is approx 6" away from the nearest perch with a reptiSun 5.0 (of course) just as close....

So far I've witness him drink but no eating yet. He did show some interest in a few mealworms i placed in the feeding cup but he's still a bit shy around us and tends to sit still when we're around. I do have some silkworms on order but they were out of dubia roaches so I'll have to wait until next or so for those. How much should I be placing in the feeding cup every day? Since we haven't witnessed him eat I'm want to make sure he's actually getting something....

I've noticed he's very shy and doesn't like to be watched all that much. I have to admit, this is a totally different animal than when I kept Vields and Jackson's. Much more nervous and stresses very easily. I like to observe, but even that tends to stress him some so I settle for observing from afar. I'm almost near the point where I can hook up a webcam so I can see how he behaves during the day when we're not home. It should be interesting.

now can I be in the club and post in the Melleri Group?

I will be documenting as much as I can and would like to share it with the group that would be most appropriate.

Thanks!

Luis

 

[Vegas Chad]

Look'n good!

 

[Kat77]

Congratulations! I got one of Mike's in October. It did take him (or her) a couple of weeks to really start eating.
Yours is a cute little guy! Have you chosen a name? I'm getting a second one from a friend in the next week or so. I believe Melleri are my new obsession!

 

[luevelvet]

Congratulations! I got one of Mike's in October. It did take him (or her) a couple of weeks to really start eating.
Yours is a cute little guy! I'm getting a second one from a friend in the next week or so. I believe Melleri are my new obsession!

If there was a way to sex them I would have prepared for a trio. I am very serious about this species. Having kept many reptiles, including breeding vields, these are by far my new favorites species. Although, those pygmy's are starting to look mighty cute...

Thanks for the replies..

Luis

 

[OntarioLizardman]

00ooo00 nice cham!

 

[Titan]

Hey welcome, to the world of Mellers, If you get into that group. See if you can get me in also. I have 2 Mellers I have also purchased from Fl Chams. So I have some info you might be able to use.
Originally I purchased 2 from him sometime soon after they were available for sale. And they all seemed well, abit skiddish, but that is to be expected in most all young Chams,(that is there natural defence mecanism.) several months into owning them. I went as usual to do the morning watering and found one dead on the floor, absolutely perfect and healthy up to that piont with nothing unusual. So my guess had to be a stroke or somthing sudden. It almost appeared as if it had a smile (kind of a peaceful death) I guess. So I purchased another, and it came in as you speek, very shy and acting odd. Not to mention less that half the size of the one I had still, and they are to have been the same age of six months! Well now Ive had the first one since, June 2008. and the other for several months now. The 1st Mellers is now over 8 to 10 months old and is Id say 15" long from nose to tail tip, while the second is only 8 " altogather.?
Sorry to get off the point but I think your new Cham is from the same era, as my second one and with the same initial attitude. With that Cham I had to watch it closely and could tell when It was not happy. So I changed cages and situations till he/she? became quite happy and is now almost freindly and loveable. Eats roaches, silks, hornworms, and crickets like a savage. Awsome!
Now I hope it will start showing signs of substantial growth. As did my other one.

I think your Mellers, just like mine has had little to none personal handing and feeding. Mine seemed as if it had no visual memories of seeing the environment prior to arriving here. If you know what I mean. Not a bad thing I'm sure big breeders are so busy that some Chams, dont get the usual daily association, you will give, & in time It should warm up to you. But take it slow and let that develop. Getting Chams, to eat out of you hands at times helps with that trust and bonding. Make sure no fast moving children and pets are in visual of the Mellers setup, as this will keep him afraid and stressed.

 

[Julirs]

Awww-welcome to the club! I was lucky enough to get to see how excited you were about him when you picked him up!

They are very different and do have little "stress-attacks". Mine still does not eat with the gusto of the Veileds or Panthers. Your cage looks great and I agree with the smaller one for now really more for the feeding issues than anything. They also grow pretty slowly! He will settle in soon enough!

 

[luevelvet]

Awww-welcome to the club! I was lucky enough to get to see how excited you were about him when you picked him up!

They are very different and do have little "stress-attacks". Mine still does not eat with the gusto of the Veileds or Panthers. Your cage looks great and I agree with the smaller one for now really more for the feeding issues than anything. They also grow pretty slowly! He will settle in soon enough!

I'm sure he will. I think it's been so long since I've had any that I'm a little nervous. I'm sure my nerves will settle. I have to be in WPB tonight through tomorrow so I'm sure he'll appreciate that lack of someone watching from afar. It's a bit of an adjustment from the more active species, time really seems to stand still for them.

right now he's sleeping at the bottom of the tree. Do they normally take naps during the day?

Thanks again for all of the comments. It does help the nerves of a new parent.

Luis

 

[Julirs]

He is probably a little off schedule due to the show and transportation to it. I am sure in a few days he will get back to normal.

 

[luevelvet]

He is probably a little off schedule due to the show and transportation to it. I am sure in a few days he will get back to normal.

Fair enough. I'll keep everyone posted as things progress....

thanks everyone,

Luis

 

[ciafardo 4]

i think once he or she gets use to you being around the shyness will turn to greediness atleast thats how it worked with all mine. i have three i find they are a very hardy cham that really enjoys to eat once they are comfortable with their surroundings good luck with it i think you'll find they are fascinating beasts to say the least.

 

[ciafardo 4]

Awww-welcome to the club! I was lucky enough to get to see how excited you were about him when you picked him up!

They are very different and do have little "stress-attacks". Mine still does not eat with the gusto of the Veileds or Panthers. Your cage looks great and I agree with the smaller one for now really more for the feeding issues than anything. They also grow pretty slowly! He will settle in soon enough!

juli you think they grow slow i thought they grew kinda fast not like a veiled or male oustalets but faster than most but maybe thats just my guy the other two were nearly adults when i got them so i didn't get to see them come up.

 

[luevelvet]

hmmm...maybe someoen can interpret this behaviour...

he hasn't moved at all since adding the new tree in his cage. I guess he likes it a bit less cluttered? His eyes were open during lunch today, but still hasn't moved, curled tail and all...I didn't bother him other than walking into the room and gave him a minute or so of observation, but I though I would post it and see what everyone thought...

Thanks,

Luis

 

[luevelvet]

update

Phew what a day. So I arrive home from working in WPB all day, and I noticed that Melle Mel was still sitting in the same spot. Well, my gut was telling me he doesn't dig the Guave tree we put in there for him so I reverted back to my backup plants, a schefflera and a begonia, the parents of which have been in the family for almost 30 years. Actually, this is this same schefflera I used for my Veileds 15 years ago. go figure.

I know, I know...I digress...

Well, as soon as I coaxed the little guy off of the guava tree, he lunged for the schefflera. I have to hand it to him, he sure does know what he likes.

on with the pictures....