Our New Temporalis Family

[Chameleons Northwest]

We finally decided what to do with our gift certificate from the May 2008 photo contest!

Mike of flchams sent us this handsome little 1.3 Rhampholeon Temporalis (Usambara Pitted Pygmy Cham) colony. They live in a tank in our kitchen. I took some photos through the glass, as I'm trying not to disturb them too much. They are eating and pooping, and not hiding as much as I expected them to. Two of the females have done a slow walk-by in front of the male, and one female stood beneath him (he was on a branch) and turned this way and that, showing him various profiles of her fine form. He didn't look too impressed. We'll see if anything develops. Here are some photos:

TWO FEMALES FRESH OUT OF THE BOX

THE MALE ON A LOW VINE

MALE ON LOW VINE, FEMALE ON HIGHER VINE

THEIR NEW HOME

 

[Julirs]

Cute little things! Keep us posted on how they work out!

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Juli, how are your veileds doing? Are they still in a tub? How long do you keep them in a tub, and where do they go next?

 

[Julirs]

Out of 69 eggs, all are hatched except for 4, and one of those is pipping. I have them half and half in those tubs and today I think I will divide them into 3 tubs. I was planning on having them in the tubs for a month but they are growing faster than I could have imagined so maybe they will go into cages in a few weeks. With 69 of them they are still going to be many to a cage! I have started them on small crix, which are just a tad smaller that 1/4's. They are pooping all over each other and cleaning out the bins is going to be hysterical-I told my husband that he would have to hold 30 or so while I did it!

And I have 7 baby pyglets, all eating and pooping also-those guys eat alot!

 

[skeeta]

Sounds like a very busy, feeding-frenzied, poop-filled version of heaven to me. Chams as far as the eye can see! (Those pigs are magnificent.)
Makes my little zoo seem like nothing. (and I still manage to complain about the work)
Congrats and enjoy your little angels!

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Out of 69 eggs, all are hatched except for 4, and one of those is pipping. I have them half and half in those tubs and today I think I will divide them into 3 tubs. I was planning on having them in the tubs for a month but they are growing faster than I could have imagined so maybe they will go into cages in a few weeks. With 69 of them they are still going to be many to a cage! I have started them on small crix, which are just a tad smaller that 1/4's. They are pooping all over each other and cleaning out the bins is going to be hysterical-I told my husband that he would have to hold 30 or so while I did it!

And I have 7 baby pyglets, all eating and pooping also-those guys eat alot!

I was wondering about the bins because it occurred to me yesterday that my veiled guys may be ready for cages in sooner than a month. We still just have the 16 out and about. But another egg pipped and a few more are shrinking. The rest of the clutch is just taking its grand ole time about it. As for cleaning- lifting them out of there and changing their papers, removing uneaten cricks and washing their plastic plant will be even crazier when the rest of them hatch. I've got to find some more of these plastic fake plants, not the silk ones, but these good old fashioned plastic ones. They clean up so well.

Oops, I guess I pulled us off topic

Back to the Temps- they're doing great. They are pretty easy to keep up here in the Northwest because the climate stays cool enough that we don't have to worry about their tanks overheating in the summer. Very VERY few people up here use air conditioning. On the hottest days (about 85-90) we just close all the windows, shades, and shutters, and the house stays in the low to mid 70s. The Temp tank gets to 72 at its hottest.

 

[Julirs]

The plastic plants are defintiely the way to go! I like the large Zoomed Ampallo (sp?)-and Petsmart has them ringing up at $3.00-so I bought them out! Mine have been hatching since the 7th, so they do take their time. I just put another baby in the bin so that leaves me 2 eggs and 1 baby half out!

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

The plastic plants are defintiely the way to go! I like the large Zoomed Ampallo (sp?)-and Petsmart has them ringing up at $3.00-so I bought them out! Mine have been hatching since the 7th, so they do take their time. I just put another baby in the bin so that leaves me 2 eggs and 1 baby half out!

I'll check our local petsmart while we're out today for plastic plants for the baby bins. The ones I have now were given to me. I forgot that they sell these things at petstores for acquariums, etc. Duh. I thought I'd find them at Michaels or some place like that. My problem with going into a Petsmart is that I always want to check on their chams.

 

[Julirs]

The Petsmart here had an emaciated female Jacksons for $150-at least they were misting the poor thing, but it did not look good. Tail was all bones. You can find those plants in the Reptile section by the vines and wood huts and stuff.