Mel

[Nursemaia]

Mel is approaching his 1 year hatch day. He was 125 gm yesterday. I had him outside for the beginning part of the summer and he was packing on 10 gm a week but now that it's 90+ degrees every day he's back inside, however, I will take him back out once the heat breaks. His attitude was dramatically different outside. When I got him out of his summer condo once a week to weigh him, he had such attitude. He'd gape at me, hiss, lunge, try to bite, and flap his flappy flaps. When he's inside, I can handle him without any issues. So I think he likes it outside and I'm looking forward to taking him back out again, plus he was growing so fast out there. I included his baby pic, look how much he's grown, 3 gm in that photo.

 

[Sloppysponge]

Wow! What a great looking Chameleon. Happy early hatch day!!!!

 

[jajeanpierre]

Happy Hatch Day! I am one of the few that knew his mother--she and Joel stayed at my house a couple of day after import.

@Nursemaia have a look at his gums. Maybe it is nothing, but you might want to take a moistened Q-tip and wipe the two discolored areas on either side of his lower jaw. I think feeders can often introduce pathogens to the gums around the teeth through little injuries such as a barb on an insect leg. I do believe our captive insects have a higher pathogen load on their bodies due to overcrowding than any wild caught insect has. Sometimes by wiping away debris, stomatitis (inflammation in the mouth) can be nipped in the bud before it develops into a full blown infection.

 

[Nursemaia]

@jajeanpierre good eye, I will do. I subscribe to the same school of thought as you, chams are not poodles, I don't handle mine, and I only get Mel out once a week to weigh him and didn't even notice that because I was too busy taking photos. That's part of the reason why this forum is so wonderful, extra eyes and resources if you're willing to take advantage of it.

I don't even handle my other chams at all unless it's absolutely necessary.

I heard all about his mother's story. Quite tragic but if she had any chance it would have been with you and Joel. Thankfully Joel was able to save her eggs because now I'm able to experience this wonderful species. I personally can't support the WC trade just for my own selfish desire to own a cham but I think it's great that you and Joel buy directly from the importer and save countless chams and breed to try to reduce the need for import. Since you knew his mother, does that mean you're his Aunt Janet?

He mostly eats dubia that I breed but he does get some WC goodies right now. I love the summer. My feeder budget is so much less when I can catch bugs for them.