My Meller likes to sleep!
- Thread starter adam1v
- Start date
Just because you are "not sure the cage is too small yet" does not mean it isn't. You are here because you need help and don't know what is necessary for your chams, so this decision shouldn't be left to your judgment. Take the advice others have given you and separate them, rather than having them pay the price later. Melleri are notorious for needing a lot of space, especially if housed together (which yours should not be).
thanks for the comments klemins. Are you saying they shouldnt be housed together because the male seems to have problems or just shouldnt be housed together in general?
I've came accross alot of people here who have housed mellers together which i found unusual, but they both seems to get on well together.
Do you think This cage would be more suitable?
I've came accross alot of people here who have housed mellers together which i found unusual, but they both seems to get on well together.
Do you think This cage would be more suitable?
I've never kept Mellers, but from everyone I've spoken with who has, and as with most species, you should house them separately. I think this is especially important if you think something might be wrong with your male. The 32 x 32 x 72 inch cage you posted could potentially suitable for ONE adult Mellers, with the enclosure on its side, but I definitely wouldn't recommend a pair in it.
OldChamKeeper
Chameleon Enthusiast
I'd say give them a reasonable shower every other day on top of your mistings. Maybe daily considering they may be a bit dehydrated.
summoner12
Avid Member
Klemins, keeping Melleri together isn't bad... depending. From the reading and research I have done the gist is that you shouldn't put two incompatible Melleri together. Melleri like interaction in general. The health of the two Melleri in discussion might do better separated because they have health issues. Once healthy again they could be reintroduced in a proper size enclosure. This doesn't mean ALL like to have a fellow Melleri lurking about BUT most Montane species do better when they know there is another like them close by. This would be a good example of successful cohabitation:
"cohabiting melleri will often sleep close together, though not always this close"
"Chameleo melleri does seem to be an exception to this rule and the five successful matings that I know of all occurred in situation where a pair or small group of Meller’s chameleons had been kept together for a year or more. Regardless of the evidence supporting grouping Ch. melleri, I feel this should never be taken lightly. Keeping chameleons in groups always has some risk of adding extra stress.
Based on conversations with other melleri keepers I think it is likely that frequent interaction with both males and females is a natural part of a Meller’s chameleon’s life, however we know too little about how and how often these animals interact in the wild to know how much interaction occurs.
All four of my adult Ch. melleri have been in captivity for more than 2 years and I know their personalities. I think this puts me in a better position to recognize problems. I wouldn’t house unfamiliar or un-acclimated Ch. melleri in pairs or groups. Even if these animals are somewhat gregarious in the wild, I doubt they have to be kept in groups to thrive or that keeping them together is always the best solution. You should take the time to get to know the animals, and to let the animals get to know each other, before deciding if a group situation is appropriate."
I borrowed the photo and text from the Chameleon E-Zine article about free range Melleri. Written by Suzanne Boom & Jim Nieberding.
"cohabiting melleri will often sleep close together, though not always this close"
"Chameleo melleri does seem to be an exception to this rule and the five successful matings that I know of all occurred in situation where a pair or small group of Meller’s chameleons had been kept together for a year or more. Regardless of the evidence supporting grouping Ch. melleri, I feel this should never be taken lightly. Keeping chameleons in groups always has some risk of adding extra stress.
Based on conversations with other melleri keepers I think it is likely that frequent interaction with both males and females is a natural part of a Meller’s chameleon’s life, however we know too little about how and how often these animals interact in the wild to know how much interaction occurs.
All four of my adult Ch. melleri have been in captivity for more than 2 years and I know their personalities. I think this puts me in a better position to recognize problems. I wouldn’t house unfamiliar or un-acclimated Ch. melleri in pairs or groups. Even if these animals are somewhat gregarious in the wild, I doubt they have to be kept in groups to thrive or that keeping them together is always the best solution. You should take the time to get to know the animals, and to let the animals get to know each other, before deciding if a group situation is appropriate."
I borrowed the photo and text from the Chameleon E-Zine article about free range Melleri. Written by Suzanne Boom & Jim Nieberding.
Kat77
New Member
It is alright to house Melleri together, as long as the enclosure is the appropriate size and there are visual barriers to give them the opportunity to not be "seen" if they feel like they need some space. Towels can be hung to acheive this.
Most of the time that Melleri are sucessfully housed together, it is in a freerange situation.
You do need a larger enclosure, as that one is too small for one. Even at the size they are now. They are probably uncomfortably cramped, even if it doesn't look like it to you. It simply isn't healthy. Not to mention the male is clearly ill, and if he hasn't already set about passing it on to the seemingly "healthy" female (although they both should be taken to a vet for a checkup and parasite treatments) he will sooner than later, and you will have two with the same issues. You'll save money in the longrun, not letting your animals pass bugs to one another.
Also, do you know how to shower a chameleon? They are in desperate need of a daily shower for a while. Probably an hour long, in a dimly lit or completely dark bathroom, with you there, of course to be sure they are ok.
Did you check out www.melleridiscovery.com yet? Those that run that site have Melleri care down to an science, and are improving things all the time. You should really check it out for the health of your animals.
Oh and be SURE to wash you hands after you handle your animals, preferably each time you handle one before you handle the other, too.
Most of the time that Melleri are sucessfully housed together, it is in a freerange situation.
You do need a larger enclosure, as that one is too small for one. Even at the size they are now. They are probably uncomfortably cramped, even if it doesn't look like it to you. It simply isn't healthy. Not to mention the male is clearly ill, and if he hasn't already set about passing it on to the seemingly "healthy" female (although they both should be taken to a vet for a checkup and parasite treatments) he will sooner than later, and you will have two with the same issues. You'll save money in the longrun, not letting your animals pass bugs to one another.
Also, do you know how to shower a chameleon? They are in desperate need of a daily shower for a while. Probably an hour long, in a dimly lit or completely dark bathroom, with you there, of course to be sure they are ok.
Did you check out www.melleridiscovery.com yet? Those that run that site have Melleri care down to an science, and are improving things all the time. You should really check it out for the health of your animals.
Oh and be SURE to wash you hands after you handle your animals, preferably each time you handle one before you handle the other, too.
studiocham
New Member
The pic on the right, hanging on the screen, is the male? If he is very difficult to wake, it is worrisome because it means he is past the point of being alert to daytime predators (also the undue "tameness"). If he is just going to sleep a little earlier than the other, that is borderline. He may just be a small, elderly specimen. Also, hanging asleep on screen is something adult melleri do when they are emotionally stressed, have GI discomfort, or are otherwise compromised. Babies may crawl on and off screen in their curious ramblings by day, or be stuck there for the night at lights out, but adults prefer the comfort of big, solid perches to roost. Just an observation that sort of clicks with him going to roost early... something is "off".
If he's hanging on the screen because of close quarters with a dominant melleri, you can find your answer by separating them. I'm also a proponent of responsible and carefully observed pairing and grouping of melleri, but you really can't expect two random animals paired by a dealer to bond automatically. It sounds like they were "paired" as a sales pitch, not based on any long-term observed behavior or clinical gender determination. I'd give the "male" a cage that is across the room from the other; on lazy afternoons, you can open both mesh doors and allow them to display and call to each other for gender clues. Your "male" may be ill and need to be kept apart, anyways.
As examples of how delicate pairing can be: I had one pair bond only after many weeks of long-distance views and displays. Another pair resulted after the female saw three males. These animals, like many, can be picky. Also, if these were truly subadults just out of the black-and-white phase, they would have no yellow stripes. Yellow comes to stay at 18-24 months of age, puberty. I think you have two small adults, age unknown.
Melleri have many displays, all along the Intense-O-Meter. A little breathing room for them, and quiet observation time, will tell you a great deal.
thanks for your comments studio cham.
Yes, the cham on the right is "male'".
I've not observed any of them sleeping on the side.
Obviously if I cannot verify the supplier, than I cannot trust his comments on gender, and you are quite right that I will need to make observation and planning.
They do appear to have accepted each other for the moment.
Yes, the cham on the right is "male'".
I've not observed any of them sleeping on the side.
Obviously if I cannot verify the supplier, than I cannot trust his comments on gender, and you are quite right that I will need to make observation and planning.
They do appear to have accepted each other for the moment.
