Layla:
Layla is my female wild caught Melleri. I purchased her from Outback Reptiles over a month ago. I have two other wild caught Melleri, Knopfler and Imperiata, but have had to refrain from handling them much because of their age and disposition. Layla is an adult or close to being adult. She has been much more open to being handled and, as a direct consequence of this interaction, spurs me to think and write about her.
I think that Layla is a female. Until she actually lays eggs I probably won't know that for sure. We live in the Pacific Northwest. We have had what I would call a pretty crappy Spring season. Inconsistant sun and temperatures have prevented me from taking any of my chameleons out much so far this year. This week was pretty nice so I started taking Layla out.
I take her out on a piece of sand blasted grapevine that is about 2 1/2 feet long, 1 1/2 inches or so in diameter and has multiple knobs and branches on it. I take her out to the patio and sit on a patio chair next to a table with her on the branch across my lap. One end is balanced on the table or chair arm. She walks back and forth on the branch. I put the branch vertical so she can walk up and down as well. We have gone out three days in a row during the late afternoon/early evening hours.
I love watching her. She is just inches from me and I can see the detail of all her scales and her rich and changing coloration. The first day she stayed mostly in her bumble bee outfit (stress colors of black and yellow). The next day she was more calm and green. This evening she was very settled and mostly a vivid green.
I take treats out with us. A Corona beer for me and a cup of insects for her. It was a cup of big juicy roaches the first two days and jumbo crickets today. I'm actually doing her main feeding outside now. I didn't think she would even eat outside being so close to me on that first day. She has always been shy about eating in her cage. I have had to walk away from her cage before she will chew and swallow. I was surprised that she would cup feed and eagerly chew the insects while perched on the grapevine over my lap. Today she ate a dozen big crickets. I love to watch her chew and flap her lobes while so close to me. Periodically rotating her eyes to look at me while she is chewing.
Something about this time with her is very special to me. Something other than the Corona beer I am drinking while we are outside together. Ha, ha, ha.....the first time she saw the bottle of beer she puffed up at it and opened her mouth. Now she is used to it. I have lots of beautiful chameleons that I enjoy interacting with. There is something special about Layla though. Maybe the sheer size of her body compared to my other chameleon species. I just enjoy my time with her so much that I feel compelled to write about it.
Layla is my female wild caught Melleri. I purchased her from Outback Reptiles over a month ago. I have two other wild caught Melleri, Knopfler and Imperiata, but have had to refrain from handling them much because of their age and disposition. Layla is an adult or close to being adult. She has been much more open to being handled and, as a direct consequence of this interaction, spurs me to think and write about her.
I think that Layla is a female. Until she actually lays eggs I probably won't know that for sure. We live in the Pacific Northwest. We have had what I would call a pretty crappy Spring season. Inconsistant sun and temperatures have prevented me from taking any of my chameleons out much so far this year. This week was pretty nice so I started taking Layla out.
I take her out on a piece of sand blasted grapevine that is about 2 1/2 feet long, 1 1/2 inches or so in diameter and has multiple knobs and branches on it. I take her out to the patio and sit on a patio chair next to a table with her on the branch across my lap. One end is balanced on the table or chair arm. She walks back and forth on the branch. I put the branch vertical so she can walk up and down as well. We have gone out three days in a row during the late afternoon/early evening hours.
I love watching her. She is just inches from me and I can see the detail of all her scales and her rich and changing coloration. The first day she stayed mostly in her bumble bee outfit (stress colors of black and yellow). The next day she was more calm and green. This evening she was very settled and mostly a vivid green.
I take treats out with us. A Corona beer for me and a cup of insects for her. It was a cup of big juicy roaches the first two days and jumbo crickets today. I'm actually doing her main feeding outside now. I didn't think she would even eat outside being so close to me on that first day. She has always been shy about eating in her cage. I have had to walk away from her cage before she will chew and swallow. I was surprised that she would cup feed and eagerly chew the insects while perched on the grapevine over my lap. Today she ate a dozen big crickets. I love to watch her chew and flap her lobes while so close to me. Periodically rotating her eyes to look at me while she is chewing.
Something about this time with her is very special to me. Something other than the Corona beer I am drinking while we are outside together. Ha, ha, ha.....the first time she saw the bottle of beer she puffed up at it and opened her mouth. Now she is used to it. I have lots of beautiful chameleons that I enjoy interacting with. There is something special about Layla though. Maybe the sheer size of her body compared to my other chameleon species. I just enjoy my time with her so much that I feel compelled to write about it.
