Kinyongia Boehmei - Breeding Project Log

[Sticktongue]

Hey all

As some of you are aware, I’m a long term big Kinyongia fan. Right now, the only available Kinyongia in the states is Boehmei. Small species that historically has not had a lot done with it here in the states. Hopefully this can help others enjoy the species and work with them a little bit.

This is the first breeding project I’ve ever done, so I plan to document everything for yall. Might do some YouTube videos for documenting purposes only.

I am starting with 1.1. Family of 5, and lots of other things going on so I don’t have room for a large project. I’m starting out small to get my feet under me for a few clutches and we will see where it goes. I have a WC male lined up coming on Thursday. I found another larger breeder of other species that is also starting a breeding project of Boehmei. He is kind enough to send me an already acclimated and treated male so I’m excited about that. My female, is a CB that hatched last year. Luckily, this person has been kind enough to work with me for like 6 months as I get prepared. I’ll bring her in next month.

Tomorrow, I’ll post some pictures of the enclosure, and the parameters I am going to start with. I hope you all will follow along and enjoy the ride with me.

Take care

Carson Fillin

 

[MzLaurie]

I just want to wish you the best of luck with your venture. I will enjoy the journey you share with us. Sending good vibes your way!

 

[MzLaurie]

Btw I was just reading about that species which is classified as near threatened. This puts your breeding attempts way up on the ladder of necessary to help save the species.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Great thread!

I am looking forward to reading updates. I am glad you found a CB male Kinyongia boehmei. Your pair is going to a great new large custom enclosure. I have got my digits crossed that means clutches and baby Kinyongia boehmei.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Sticktongue]

Well ran into a snag. Communication randomly had stopped about that treated WC male… I went a head and changed directions and ordered a farmed / WC male and female pair. They are getting me pictures so I can pick the animals.

Weather is cold this week, so we are planning to ship Monday for Tuesday delivery. Gotta go get another UVB and heat lamp tonight to get the second bay fulling running. Wasn’t planning on the female for another 3 weeks, but decided to push the CB female to late summer maybe. I’ll start the project with two WC so that I don’t risk infecting the CB with the WC parasites. From there, If im lucky enough to get a male to hatch out, I’ll breed my CB male with the CB female. The current owner has confirmed he’s going to hold her indefinitely until I’m ready!

Anyhow.. pics maybe late next week once I receive them and get them acclimated for a few days.

 

[Sticktongue]

Few things here. The parameters that I’m starting with are as follows.

Lights on at 6:30 AM. This will turn the jungledawn and UVB on.. for now. I plan to get some smart dimmers soon and adjust this. Lights turn off at 6:30 PM

When lights come on, it looks like this picture. 85-90% humidity.

Wind fans (80MM fans) turn on at 8 AM and off at 6 PM. This is to keep air circulation and fresh air moving.

Basking comes on from 9-10 and hits 82 degrees. Comes on again at 2-3.

Misting system mists for 1 minute at 5PM. This gives them time to drink from the mist if needed, raise humidity, drop the temps and get everything wet for the fogger.

Fog comes on at 8PM-midnight, then 3 AM-6:30AM. This right now gets. I humidity around 85-90%


Daytime, ambient temps are hovering around 70 all day.

Nighttime, if I don’t open a window it gets to 59-60. If I crack a window, it gets down to 50-55 degrees depending how much I crack it.

Ambient humidity slowly drops all day of course form 90% down to around 30 %. I need to make an adjustment to the wind fans or something. I’d like to be around 45-50 during the day at the lowest. I’ll play around this weekend to dial that in.

UVB, max exposure is 6.2 on one branch, while the basking branches hover between 2 and 3.

Anyhow. This is how I plan to start. I’ll make adjustments as I go.

Long term plan once I get everything stabilized for several months, is to get dimmers to simulate different weather patterns, heat, etc. I’m going to do dry and wet seasons as well. Keeps things interesting

I’ll post pics next week when they arrive. Good bad and the ugly will be documented.

 

[Sticktongue]

This can only mean one thing!

 

[GrannyK]

How exciting!!!

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Woww. That is a great momment. When a chameleon arrives to a new home. Plus the chameleon/chameleons are from the genus Kinyongia.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Sticktongue]

Working on a video to showcase them better.. but here is a sneak peek at the female, and a link to my Instagram to show the unpacking. Interesting behaviors so far, I’ll post tomorrow my first three days of observance.

Link won’t work?? Anyone know what the deal? Fillini_chameleon is the channel if you want to look it up and check it out.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Congratulations!

She looks skinny. Your female Kinyongia boehmei requires aclaimation to her new home and to gain healthy body size.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Sticktongue]

Congratulations!

She looks skinny. Your female Kinyongia boehmei requires aclaimation to her new home and to gain healthy body size.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

Thank you!

Yes I agree. I’ll be feeding a lot and keeping track of weights.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Thank you!

Yes I agree. I’ll be feeding a lot and keeping track of weights.

Looks as though Kinyongia Chameleon Keepers is starting up again. I may have to pick up a pair of Kinyongia boehmei sometime in the soon future. I am definately considering having a go with Kinyongia in the greenhouse. I have got the space and enclosures for them.

Sticktongue you custom DIY Kinyongia enclosure is looking great.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Sticktongue]

Looks as though Kinyongia Chameleon Keepers is starting up again. I may have to pick up a pair of Kinyongia boehmei sometime in the soon future. I am definately considering having a go with Kinyongia in the greenhouse. I have got the space and enclosures for them.

Sticktongue you custom DIY Kinyongia enclosure is looking great.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

Man it would be awesome to have you jump onboard with a pair or two! I hope we can get some KCK traction like we did before. They are simply incredible.

Thank you about the enclosure. Theirs a few things I’d do differently in the future, but overall it’s working great. It resides in my office, and I work from home so it’s been fun!

 

[Sticktongue]

Ok I’m getting behind on updates..

Day one, 2/18

Female came in in great shape. Maybe a little skinny, but good other than that. She immediately started to drink when she got into the enclosure, looking desperate for water. She didn’t appear dehydrated, but she was definitely in need. I have a few several minute mist sessions during the day to allow her to catch up. I fed her bean Beatles day one, as I didn’t have small enough crickets for them. She ended up climbing in the cup to eat. I didn’t see her eat, but they were gone so I know she did.

Male. He also was in great shape. He drank a bit, but not nearly as much as the female. Feeding was interesting.. I found a few of the smallest crickets I had which seemed plenty small. He shot one right quick, chomped it up and spat it out and wouldn’t touch the others. I had hear, male Boehmei are picky, so this was interesting to see. I have him bean Beatles and he ate them up right quick. Great tongue projection, no issues!

I need to go buy a scale.. forgot to do that before I got them. I’ll weigh them today (2/20)

Day one was overall, a great success. Be back later with day 2 and 3 updates, which are particularly interesting.

 

[Sticktongue]

Day 2

Grabbed some small crickets, not quite pinhead but probably 2 week or so. My local reptile shop carries good feeders and I purchase there. Nice to not have to deal with shipping!

The female ate 8-9 crickets while I was gone for a few hours. This was positive to see. Still drinking and roaming around a lot.

The male, again shot a cricket quickly, chomped him up and spat it out.. gave him some more bean Beatles and he ate those well.

Day 3, today 2/20. Then I’ll go to weekly updates or so…

Female ignored her feeder dish most of the day. I relocated it mid day and she quickly zapped a cricket up and a couple bean Beatles. I weighed her before she ate anything, and she clocked in at 5 grams.

Male took awhile to eat today.. ignored his feeder cup of crickets until I put some bean Beatles in there. Again, he B lined and started zapping Beatles. While eating those, he also purposely shot and ate 3 crickets. I was hoping to induce his feeding instinct with the bean Beatles and it appeared to work.

I have a bloom of Beatles right now, so I’ll likely keep feeding those off this week with crickets as options. I started some FF cultures this week, so hopefully in a month or so I’ll have those as an option. But for now, it’s looking like small, dark colored feeders are the preference.

Both animals are highly active. They use their tails more than any other chameleon I’ve owned.

I’ll get a weight on the male tomorrow, then I’ll weigh once a week on Saturday or Sundays.