Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

Hi all this is Albert

He's my first chameleon, a young carpet or Furcifer lateralis. Apologies for the poor photo, it's the best I can do at the moment. He wants to hide from me a lot at the mo, and it was difficult enough to get him to pose for this one...it's a bit blurry, but I'll get some better ones soon.

He's been a lovely bright green whilst hiding in his umbrella plant, and every day he's been going very dark (almost black in places) whilst he heads up to the roof of the viv. I've got a nice temp gradient at the moment (about 20-21 degrees in the viv, and 24-25 by the UV strip. He'll hang under it (presumably warming up), so I'm in the process of putting all these canes as climbing poles so he can perch better under the UV. He still seems to like the mesh at the moment though.

Still trying to get the humidity to stay high though without all day hand spraying. I am going to partially block one or two sides of the mesh with some plastic panel to see if that works, and I haven't built a dripper system yet, so that should also help. Otherwise, things are good, and Albert seems to be doing well, gorging on crickets (which is just fascinating to watch) and generally wandering about. Don't let the photo fool you, his colours are already vivid, and I could see a bit of pink/red in him earlier along the flanks which was cool.

At some point he's going to come out and free roam near my huge sash windows to get some natural UV on a ficus I bought. Perhaps then I'll get him to show his 'true colours' (Ha....sorry for that) Smile

Anyway, thanks for looking

Joe

lol93 · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:54 pm Post subject:

He looks gorgeous! Carpets are next on my wish list, too! Keep us updated with photos Joe. Very Happy

_________________

PaulG · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject:

He looks great.
what are you housing him in?
_________________
Regards, Paul.

:.Rhacodactylus.:.Eublepharis.:.Stenodactylus.:.Nephrurus.:

mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

He's in this 38g flexarium.

At the moment I've just put a small plant in there so he can feel secure in a smaller 'territory'. To be honest though I may stick my large ficus in there, as he's being very adventurous...climbing up and about to bask. I think he might benefit from the large plant in addition to this one. For feeding I'm wetting the plants and then tapping crickets onto the leaves nearby him. That way they tend to get a bit stuck in the droplets, and Albert munches them easily. So as long as he can feed OK I don;t see the problem with him being in the large space.

Besides, he's being constantly monitored (gorped at) by me at the moment, so I can check everything's going ok.

redbelly · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:13 pm Post subject:

Great chameleon!! THE absolute BEST chameleon to start with!
Great choice! i wish you all the best you will soon be hooked!!! Laughing

mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

Thanks mate. Already hooked since going round Rick's to get him. Will be getting him a girlfriend quite soon...so it starts....I've put the ficus in there now. It's going to be more difficult so I'm in the process of sorting him a 'feeding station' If it doesn't work I'll have to remove the ficus again...Hopefully that won't happen, as he is using it as a basking perch, and seems to prefer the bushy ficus for hiding. Another added bonus is it's helping to keep the humidity up, whereas the umbrella plant on it's own was having trouble.

mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

Update...with ficus...again, sorry about the poor photography...but you get the idea (spot the cham) Very Happy

Rickeezee · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:16 pm Post subject:

Once addicted there is no going back. Heed my words, the Government has issued health warnings.

The only way back is to be kidnapped and to be deprogrammed by professional experts!

Repeat the Mantra: I am not addicted to chams, I can give them up whenever I want. I can go a whole day without thinking about them, I am now going round Ricks to get some more Twisted Evil

_________________
www.rickslivefood.co.uk

kroakykaren · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:26 pm Post subject:

Joe he looks adorable, i have a tall ficus in with mine too,welcome to the addictive world of chameleons, its a wonderful path to take Very Happy

_________________

mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

Thanks guys. Like I said before, everyone's been really helpful getting this 'project' up and running. The humidity is up in the 90s at the mo!! Really pleased. The thermo/hygrometer has min/max settings so overnight I can see what the temps drop to, and also the humidity (thanks for that Rick, great little gadget). Have set up a feeding station...a.k.a. a jam jar taped onto a stick Very Happy

Will let you know how he gets on with it...methinks the crickets are doomed!!

Next step will be the drip system...a.k.a. a bottle with a little hole. Not sure is something that simple will work, but I'll try it (might get some sponge to leave in the bottom in case of too much overwatering. If a simple bottle doesn't work well I'll going to buy a wee valve and some aquarium tubing and do it that way. I'm reeeeeeallly enjoying it! And Alb is a legend!