Rudis Chameleon Keeping!

[ShaunaLynnA]

Has anyone sucessfully kept Rudis Chameleons? I hear both sides that there easy to keep and hard to keep upon research. I myself have a medium sized glass exo terra terrarium with just a screen top and this was what I was thinking about getting if I can find one anywhere. There sold out everywhere! I have researched but also want current opinions from owners on how they are to care for. I have also seen that glass is not the right cage and is also okay as th cage so again any help on right and wrong is appreciated. I thank you in advance and hope someone can help ckarify some things!

 

[eisentrauti]

The following should help you destroy your prejudices againt glass cages: https://www.chameleonforums.com/everyone-who-knows-you-cant-keep-chameleons-glass-31937/
If you want to keep the normal "rudis called" chameleons, Trioceros sternfeldi, you should fine here enough information. Real Trioceros rudis are so far unavailable. The other ones often declared as rudis are Trioceros cf. rudis aka "red rudis" or "jeweled rudis" an undescribed species. They look in my opinion quite better than normal sternfeldis but they are difficult to keep.

 

[Elizadolots]

Hi, I have a female rudis and have found her to be extremely easy to care for. I suspect every chameleon is different, but she's really easy to keep hydrated. When I mist her or drop water on her head she immediately goes over to the water drip and starts drinking (and I mean immediately, no more than 2 or 3 drops of water). She not only eats her crickets but grabs flying things out of the air.

I have her in a wire cage and she sleeps in the top corner on the wire wall. So, if you don't have wire then I think you need to make sure yours can get to very the top of the cage and stay there safely. They're tiny little things so they don't need lots of room, but mine does go up and down the complete height of her cage (3 feet).

 

[eisentrauti]

How long did you keep your "rudis" that you can say it's easy to keep

 

[vetdebbie]

I have 4 rudis at the moment. My experience so far (after about 5 months of keeping them) that they seem to be very sensitive to stress. Once in their home and settled they are ok but I have lost a couple in the first couple of weeks of moving them. Once they've decided they are going to die, not a lot changes their mind.

 

[Elizadolots]

I've had her about 6 months. I have noticed in other threads that the label "Rudis" might not always be accurate, so maybe my girl is something else (though, she came from a very reputable shop in San Diego that specializes in reptiles and matches the pictures I've seen and the descriptions of female vs. male match).

I have a male Fischer's and he's much more challenging. He seems to think that anything short of a massive rain storm doesn't qualify as a "drinking event".

 

[weezyboi94]

hi there
like any cham, provide the appropriate needs of that certain species and it will flourish...I've had a female rudis for abt 11 mnths now and i find that she is quite easy to care for as long as i dnt let the temps go above 80-85(i live in dubai summer temps can occasionally reach 120's outside. This is when i take them indoors ) in the enclosure. She also gave birth to 14 babies 4 mnths ago, 13 of which are growing extremely well.
hope you get one........

 

[ShaunaLynnA]

Thank you for all the information. I appreciate it and will think about my choice now and cage consideration a little better.