Two male together

[Mawtyplant]

Hello,
Somebody know if its possible to keep two melleri together in a huge free range and two other female?
Thank you

 

[jpowell86]

It doesn't matter how large the free range is, don't do it. The males are going to naturally gravitate to the females. So it doesn't matter if there is ample room because they will most definitely cross paths a lot.

 

[Mawtyplant]

so one male and two female is ok?

 

[jpowell86]

Honestly, I am not a fan. Here is why. Female melleri are territorial as well. If you have one female that feels the other female is threating her chance at mating, she will defend the territory. I personally keep females together in a group. I have even seen successful keeping of one male and one female together. But two females and one male is just asking for trouble in my opinion. There may be some disagreement with that by others, but that is what I have found to be true from studies, shared information from other keepers and my own experience with this species. Not saying that there won't be moments of peace within the group, but it's not the majority of the time that should be worrying, it is that split second of territorial behavior where one of your chameleons could get injured. It is also my experience that males tend to use their bodies in disputes. Ramming their heads into one another's body.....but females tend to bite. Their bites are incredibly nasty and are filled with bacteria that can be very dangerous for the one inflicted.

 

[Carlton]

Spot on. Even if no one physically attacks another the constant attempts to hold a defense or compete for favored perches, for water, light, or food will eventually tell on the most submissive cham. And, the pecking order can change before you realize it.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

I do not disagree with the above advice.
I am going to state what my experience was with keeping melleri in groups, 10 years ago.
Again, before I describe my experience with them, in the past, I more closely enforce the above recomendations, though I have no negative experience to justify the change, only a better understanding of better approaches, today.

I kept 1 male and several unsexed juveniles and 3 females. There were never any territorial disputes, fights, glaring at each other, only courting. They got along well in cages as large as 21' long, 6' wide, and 6' tall. They got outdoor 7'x7x7' cages, outdoors, all during warm months, and were split into 2 groups, each in there own cube. I think keeping a male and 2 females is fine, in a large, planted enclosure, with ample basking areas, UVB and hand feeding.

I don't think 2 males belong together.

 

[Carlton]

And of course this is that much harder with setting up melleri as they are difficult to sex visually!

 

[Mawtyplant]

aw.. it confirm what im thinking :/

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Consider that with multiple males and females in an enclosure, if you were to successfully breed them, you wouldn't know the sire and even possible the dam. It is best to know which bloodlines you are working with, so you can continue to achieve successively hardier, CBB offspring.

 

[Mawtyplant]

humm i think its a looooonnng way road to breed meleri im looking for a compatible male for my other meleri female but i think i dont have any choice to keep my trio like this or to split my free range if i want to bring another little guy here.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

After you locate, quarantine, and verify another male, split your group and house them in 1:1 pairs or 1:2 groups, if your cages support it and the chameleons exhibit no disagreements with the arrangement.