Finally--Dark, dark red claws!

[jajeanpierre]

I finally have at least two graciliors with those really dark red claws. This girl was imported a few weeks ago and is gravid.

I also have a big mature male who also has very dark nails--second picture.

I don't think either picture shows how dark red they are because the picture is over exposed in the bright sunlight. Plus both were somewhat stressed and their nails had blanched a bit. It is VERY difficult to photograph newly imported wild caughts out in the sun on the balcony surrounded by trees and more trees. You can't see what your camera is taking because of the glare and you have to keep a really close eye on the chameleon who is looking to escape.

I wish I could get a picture that does justice to them. I'll keep trying!

 

[Fiona's Mom]

Beautiful. Finally a girl that doesn't have to go to a salon for a manicure.

 

[MeruJack]

Stop teasing! I want to see the whole animal!

Very nice nails however.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Stop teasing! I want to see the whole animal! --t
Very nice nails however.

These guys are in pretty rough shape so don't judge them by how they look now. They were imported only two weeks ago. The male has a thick ugly yellow shed that won't shed. He's an ugly color. He has bones sticking out of his back. He's not what he will look like in six or eight months. The whole group except maybe two out of the seventeen are doing really well. This boy is doing well, but he isn't the magnificent animal he was a month ago in the wild. Import is really hard on them. Here's the male I refer to as Red Claw. I really really have to name or at least number them. They have the most ridiculous names in my notes, things like Broken-leg Girl or Faceless #1 or Faceless #2.

The second picture is really blurry and out of focus but I think it gives you an idea of what the nails are like. You have to see them to realize how beautiful they are. When the sun catches them, they just sparkle.

 

[MeruJack]

Here's the male I refer to as Red Claw. I really really have to name or at least number them. They have the most ridiculous names in my notes, things like Broken-leg Girl or Faceless #1 or Faceless #2.

Oh, dear! Yes, you must name them.

Just looking at him in the top pic, I would not have known the rough shape he is in...My, what a long tail you have!! Magnificent.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[jajeanpierre]

And here is the Gravid Girl. She also has really dark dark red nails. Not all graciliors do and Chris Anderson has said the darkest he's seen were in the wild. I've seen a lot of newly imported wild caughts and few of them have such really deep red nails like these two. I think I have four or five with really dark nails. Don't get me wrong, the lighter reds are stunning as well but the really dark ones just sparkle when the sun hits them. And of course, by the time it goes from my phone to my computer to CF, a lot of the deep red color seems to just not show up.

This gravid girl is doing really really well. She's a good weight and eating well. She's also a pretty laid back little girl. You would never guess from these pictures she was imported June 2, two weeks ago.

 

[jajeanpierre]

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Oh, dear! Yes, you must name them.

Just looking at him in the top pic, I would not have known the rough shape he is in...My, what a long tail you have!! Magnificent.

Thanks for sharing.

I know I need to name them. I have one I've had since December I haven't named yet and now I have 21 new ones since April. of which only five are named. They wouldn't let me take my newborn son out of the hospital before he was named and it took me a full five days to give him a name.

Actually, he's in great shape but he will be sooooooo much more beautiful in six months. He's eating and came in carrying a lot of weight, fat even. I have some that are emaciated.

 

[cyberlocc]

Beautiful chams you got that there .

 

[JGuinan007]

What does it mean to have dark dark red nails? Is this a special trait?

 

[maryanne27]

love love love these!!!!

I know I need to name them. I have one I've had since December I haven't named yet and now I have 21 new ones since April. of which only five are named. They wouldn't let me take my newborn son out of the hospital before he was named and it took me a full five days to give him a name. QUOTE]

That's too funny! What did you end up naming your son?

 

[jajeanpierre]

/

love love love these!!!! That's too funny! What did you end up naming your son?

Devin Alexander. It is really hard to find a name to go with Jeanpierre. I love the name Peter, but naming him Peter John Peter (Jeanpierre in English) would be a really dumb name. I liked having an X in Alexander but regretted it every time I filled out forms. Devin is a Gaelic boy's name meaning poet. I had no idea that there was a soap opera character, a woman no less, named Devin and it became a very popular girls' name. It took me FOREVER to name him and I'm still not happy with it.

 

[jajeanpierre]

What does it mean to have dark dark red nails? Is this a special trait?

Yes, it is a trait of the Trioceros quadricornis gracilior. The nominate species (quad quad) does not have the red claws. When they get to be about six months old, their nails start turning first pink and then red. Some have really dark ruby red nails (I have a few from this last import that have really dark claws). I'll pair up the darkest clawed pair and see if I can breed for it.

I feel joy when I see a flash of their bright red claws, especially in the sun. It is like a little present they've given me.

 

[JGuinan007]

Oh so the darker the red nails the better?

 

[maryanne27]

/


Devin Alexander. It is really hard to find a name to go with Jeanpierre. I love the name Peter, but naming him Peter John Peter (Jeanpierre in English) would be a really dumb name. I liked having an X in Alexander but regretted it every time I filled out forms. Devin is a Gaelic boy's name meaning poet. I had no idea that there was a soap opera character, a woman no less, named Devin and it became a very popular girls' name. It took me FOREVER to name him and I'm still not happy with it.

hahahahaha you are cracking me up! I can definitely see that being a difficult surname to fit with. I think his full name sounds very poetic and heroic!

 

[jajeanpierre]

Oh so the darker the red nails the better?

Darker isn't better, it is just a variation in the species.

I have some wild-caught graciliors that have a very blue base color, others that have a chartreuse base color. Some have blue cheeks some have yellows and gold cheeks. Some have both. None is better than the other. I think if people are drawn to a trait--in this case fabulous red nails--the more dramatic the trait the more desirable so I'm going to try to breed for it. I don't know if it is a trait that has a genetic basis. After all, I believe it is just blood in the nails not pigment. There is a difference between many of them and it seems to stay with them. I have a gracilior male from the December 2014 import that also has very dark nails. It might be a local variation.