Does anyone "stud" chameleons?

[Fretfreak13]

Just a thought I had. I think it would be really neat to attempt breeding someday, but I don't think I ever want to own a female due to the constant infertile egg thing. I plan on having a freerange greenhouse, and I think the gravid thing would just be annoying. Another thing too, I think having to find homes for and feeding 30+ babies would be rough for just a hobbiest who really doesn't want her house overrun with cham enclosures and multiple cultures of creepy-crawlies. I was wondering if anyone has ever done this, or if anyone may be interested in doing this someday:

-One owner has male
-One owner has female
-Bring together to breed (ship if across country?)
-When female lays, they split the eggs (or babies, whichever is easier to ship) between the two owners

Of course costs would be calculated depending on who was doing it. For example, a deposit could be put down by one party who was receiving the shipped cham, and once he/she was returned safely home again the deposit could be returned? Keep in mind that this is strictly hobby-based without the idea that a serious profit would be made from the little ones. Also, if there is already something around like this and I'm being a noob, point me in the right direction!

 

[pssh]

Yeah, some people do stud out their chameleons. What species do you have? I know with snake breeders, there is often a contract written up so that no one can go back on their word, or have it turn into a he-said-she-said type thing if one person feels that they didn't get what they agreed upon. Most of the people I have heard of doing it on here, do it locally. I know there are a few threads on here about it, so you might find them in you do a search.

 

[robmd1]

stud service is done but the prob is ya cant ship eggs or really move em much after laid or they will go bad an also shipping babies isnt advised till they are past the fragile stage which is usually 2-3 months. so if you plan on doin this ita be best to find someone near you to avoid those probs..

 

[PantherEnvy]

Try to find someone locally. It is done by us chameleon enthusiasts. Put everything in writing and have fun!

 

[pssh]

I've shipped a few eggs successfully. A friend from the forums and I wanted to try it out and see if it could be done. I did it for free (he paid shipping costs) because I wasn't sure if it would work out and I didn't want him to spend money on something that might not work. It was only 3 eggs because he wanted the experience of raising a baby or two from an egg (not a whole clutch,) and we didn't want to waste too many eggs if it didn't work out. Two made it to hatching. One of the eggs was infertile, one died as it was coming out of the egg, and one little female made it out just fine and grew up nice and healthy.

I shipped them within a day of being laid, put them in moist vermiculite (or perlite? I can't remember) in a deli cup so that the eggs were completely surrounded and wouldn't break unless the tub was somehow directly smashed. There was enough in there that they couldn't move around, but not so much that any kind of impact to the box would cause problems (basically enough to cushion them while keeping them from moving out of place.) The lid had a small pinhole or two in it so that some air could get in. Then the tub was very well cushioned with newspaper/packing peanuts on all sides, and the box was lined with 3/4" thick Styrofoam. I don't think I used a heat pack because it was early spring and the temps were just right for it on my end. I also marked the eggs (with a non-toxic marker) so that the receiver would know which side of the egg went up.

We just used plain old priority USPS shipping because express wouldn't get it there overnight, and I am confident in my shipping methods enough that I was fairly certain, if eggs could be hatched after shipping, it would work out. It got there in two days, so they officially began incubating three days after being laid. We think the shipping might have broken the diapause as his eggs began hatching two months before mine even though our incubation methods (and temps) were pretty much the same.

 

[ataraxia]

Shipping your chameleon to stud. Shipping mishaps happen, you have to trust the other ends care and practices, stress on the animal, etc...Really think it would be worth it? Doing something local is a whole nother story.

 

[robmd1]

I've shipped a few eggs successfully. A friend from the forums and I wanted to try it out and see if it could be done. I did it for free (he paid shipping costs) because I wasn't sure if it would work out and I didn't want him to spend money on something that might not work. It was only 3 eggs because he wanted the experience of raising a baby or two from an egg (not a whole clutch,) and we didn't want to waste too many eggs if it didn't work out. Two made it to hatching. One of the eggs was infertile, one died as it was coming out of the egg, and one little female made it out just fine and grew up nice and healthy.

I shipped them within a day of being laid, put them in moist vermiculite (or perlite? I can't remember) in a deli cup so that the eggs were completely surrounded and wouldn't break unless the tub was somehow directly smashed. There was enough in there that they couldn't move around, but not so much that any kind of impact to the box would cause problems (basically enough to cushion them while keeping them from moving out of place.) The lid had a small pinhole or two in it so that some air could get in. Then the tub was very well cushioned with newspaper/packing peanuts on all sides, and the box was lined with 3/4" thick Styrofoam. I don't think I used a heat pack because it was early spring and the temps were just right for it on my end. I also marked the eggs (with a non-toxic marker) so that the receiver would know which side of the egg went up.

We just used plain old priority USPS shipping because express wouldn't get it there overnight, and I am confident in my shipping methods enough that I was fairly certain, if eggs could be hatched after shipping, it would work out. It got there in two days, so they officially began incubating three days after being laid. We think the shipping might have broken the diapause as his eggs began hatching two months before mine even though our incubation methods (and temps) were pretty much the same.

I wouldnt call 1 out of 3 good odds... shipping eggs isnt a good idea...i would find someone local if you wanna do somethng like splitting eggs or babies once they hatch..

 

[pssh]

Well, two were able to slit the egg. It's just that one didn't make it out of the egg all the way before it died. It happens sometimes, some just aren't strong enough. Not to mention that there are a ton of other reasons for it to not hatch that could have had nothing to do with shipping them. I would imagine that if shipping were to have an effect on the eggs, it would be an extreme temperature problem that killed them, they were crushed during shipping some how, or that development has started and shipping would have caused a drowning/crushing problem. And one was infertile anyways. I can't help that. There were more infertiles in the rest of the clutch, so it wasn't the only one.

My three are only a very small number. Just because only one ended up growing up doesn't mean it's not possible if done correctly. It's not without its risks of course, but it's possible.

I'm not the only one to do it and have them hatch. It's very possible. Take a look at this thread:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/possible-ship-calyptratus-eggs-32959/

 

[Fretfreak13]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone!

I don't have a cham yet and wont for a few years, but I will be getting a male panther. After these years of study that I'll be putting in before taking the plunge, I'll feel a lot more comfortable getting one of those insane colored, pretty expensive males who hopefully people will want babies from. He still will mainly be just a pet, but I'd definitely like the experience with the little ones at least one time.

Just like the person you sent a few eggs to, pssh, I would only like around five tops to raise. I've haven't been paying attention to locations on here, do you guys know of anyone with chams in the Cleveland/NE Ohio area?

I work at a saltwater fish store and see the ways that critters are shipped to us. Coolers, heat/cool packs, insulation, etc. I would also have no problem paying 40+ shipping for priority overnight for the eggs, but keep in mind this is all still theoretical. I feel like with all the fragile SPS coral colonies we get shipped to us that don't break and thrive, eggs shouldn't be too hard either..

I will definitely read that thread you linked to.

 

[vcwulf]

my handsome boy

I have a one year old handsome panther chameleon who is looking for a fling with a pretty gal. No strings attached. He just wants to have the experience once in his life. He is friendly, incredibly tame, as in comes right out onto my hand when I open the cage.

 

[Dez]

Be sure both party's have had a clean fecal before studding. Parasites can be passed to charms during mating (cham STD )

Eggs can be moved or turned shortly after being laid so it is possible to ship them. Later in development when the embryo developes, an air pocket forms in the egg. At this point the egg can not be turned without risk of moving the air pocket and suffocating the embryo.

Due to the uncertainty of how viable a clutch is it is risky because you never know if they will hatch or not...or if they where exposed to really rough handling or extreme temps.