Question about chameleon coloring

[bendecki]

Wasn't exactly sure where else to put this so I threw it in here.

I am looking at getting a chameleon because my girlfriend got a veiled and I think it is really cool. I was thinking about getting a Sambava because I really like the color orange and they seem to have yellow and orange fire ups more than another species. However when they are not fired up they look green with maroon stripes. I was wondering if this was also the case with the ambilobes or if they were more red or yellow or whatever color they come out to be since they really are a rainbow species it appears lol. Or if that is just their fired up coloring.

I have looked through dozens of photos of both and to me it appears that the ambilobes are more colorful when not fired up. I say this because you can find normal colors of a samabava but haven't really seen a standard green coloring ambilobe. However not being able to see one in person kind of makes it difficult to verify one way or the other.

Was just hoping one of y'all could answer this quick question for me. Been creeping on the forums for a couple weeks now but haven't had a reason to post lol.

 

[Olimpia]

Let me show you an example of an ambilobe I used to have:

Here he is relaxed

While here he is fired up

So you can see, hopefully, that he wasn't dull at all at rest, but he wasn't as intense as when fired up. From my experience and observations, this seems to be pretty normal for Ambilobes and Sambavas. All chameleons are going to look better out in sunshine or fired up, but I don't think they look ugly at rest either. I don't know if that answers your question though, ask me again if you think I missed the point.

 

[bendecki]

actually you sort of answered it through the photo.

At rest he is still showing a lot of red/white which I haven't seen a sambava do. The photos I see of them they are green with maroon bars. Which isn't boring by any means but isn't exactly what I want either. I am trying to find a chameleon that has a lot of orange (or yellow/red) at rest if possible just because orange is my favorite color and I think it would be EPIC to have an oranged colored chameleon when he is relaxed.

Now I may be having unrealistic expectations, which if that is the case let me know so I can readjust, but this definitely helps me out in my future chameleon purchase

thanks a lot for your help, it is greatly appreciated

 

[carol5208]

my sambava at rest will have red bars, but not too often. The Sambavas are great when fired up but their resting colors are kinds drab. And the trick is to get them fired up. I just took in a nother Sambava this week and my other Sambava gaped at him but still didn't fire his colors! The only thing that works in the lawn mower. it is the strangest thing.....

 

[pssh]

Orange relaxed is not going to be something you should aim for. You might be able to find a tamatave or other east coast locale (not species, as they are all panther chameleons from different parts of the island) that is a mucky orange/tan. Sambavas are also an east coast locale. Females of all locales can be a pretty peach color at rest. Tamataves are also more likely to have white than a sambava.

 

[bendecki]

thanks for the input folks.

I think i am going to see if i can find an ambilobe with some nice reds/yellows now. Sambavas look great fired up but i was hoping for something with a little more color when relaxed. Obviously not going to find something perfectly red/yellow just a general direction for myself to head in.

if anyone else has input it will gladly be accepted since as mentioned earlier i am knew to the whole chameleon scene and still learning the ins and outs