Pondering Meller's...

[SaiyanFury]

Hi all, I was looking up on Melleris and I thought they were a fascinating species. I've seen many a resource refer to them as "giant chameleons" and I've read they can grow as large as 30" for the really big ones. I also read another piece: how prone they are to stress as opposed to other species. Are they really that prone to stress? I became interesting in maybe acquiring one, but I wanted to thoroughly research them just in case something I did or did not do might cause harm. Maybe from some inadequacy in my husbandry. I've seen Melleris that are quite calm and some that are very out there as far as stress is concerned. Can someone here answer my questions? I've also read that they need a constant 90% humidity, and will only drink water when misting takes place. Any help or questions answered would be met with great appreciation. I don't want to get one and then find that my husbandry isn't up to the task. Thanks in advance!

 

[lbesok]

Hello, I think mellers are very amazing beautiful creatures that fortunately I may have the chance to work with one day! I don't know too many specificas on them, most people I know who have them keep them outdoors in HUGE almost free roaming types of enclosures. Here is a website dedicated to them that should help you out (if you haven't already stumbled across it):
http://www.melleridiscovery.com/index.html

 

[SaiyanFury]

Hi, Ibesok thanks for pointing that out. I live in North Florida so keeping a Melleri outside wouldn't be too hard. Although down here it gets to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the sun. I don't know if that would be too hot or not. I put my veiled outside and he likes to stay near the bottom of the cage when I do. I assume he does so because he thinks it's too hot outside. Space isn't a problem as me and my wife live out in the country so that wouldn't be an issue. My big question is if their really as stress-prone as I read on the net. I read all about veileds getting really stressed out, yet when I read testimonials on various places throughout the web, as well as my own guy (who really isn't bad at all about getting peeved when human contact is near) they're not so bad at all. Who knows, I guess it depends on the animal.

 

[summoner12]

There is a Melleri subforum. There are a lot of keepers there who are from the Melleri Yahoo groups. They are very avid keepers.

Edit: Link

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Greetings. Your questions would be good questions to ask on that Melleri subforum summoner12 pointed out.

My husband and I have Meller's. We keep them in a large free range area of a chameleon room on our property. Meller's are savannah dwellers. They need moderate heat and lots of humidity. 100degrees would probably kill them pretty fast. Ours do best when the free range temp is in the mid 70's, and their 2 basking areas are in the mid 80's. I adjust their temps and basking areas continually as the weather changes. They are definitely not a set-it-up and leave it kind of cham, because if temps get too cold or too hot they can go down hill fast. And, because they are easily stressed it can be difficult to medicate them if they do have a problem. A sick one can die just from the stress of being medicated. We currently have 2 healthy adults, a male and female. Both were WC. The male was acclimated for months before we purchased him last October, the female was acclimated for just a few weeks (but was purchased from a highly skilled importer with Meller's experience- Mike from FLchams). In December we purchased 4 WC juveniles (to add to what we had and begin some breeding groups) from a different importer and lost them all over a period of 2 months. It was crushing. My husband calls them our $1000 dollar chameleons, because that's how much we had in them (They only cost $60 a piece, but we had vet bills, medications, etc.) It was crushing to lose them. They were beautiful.

You will see if you read the Melleri Discovery web site that Meller's are prone to maladies not common to other species. They are also more social, and so require more attention related to that. In my short experience it seems that a lonely Meller's is a sick Meller's. Before we got our female, we had our male for months. His feces were always chunky, watery messes. His skin was always like parchment, no matter how much moisture, mistings, and humidity he had. He wanted me to hold him frequently. Once he got his female (they haven't even mated) his feces became normal, his skin became normal, his appetite increased, etc. Loneliness is a stress factor for them, and causes illness. I seem to be rambling, so, here are a few concise thoughts:

They need A LOT of space. Free range is best for their health and well being (and happiness, really).

WC juveniles are very high risk.

They need moderate temperatures and elevated humidity levels (compared to other cham species). Temps and humidity must be regulated carefully and checked often.

They need plenty of large feeder insects. This can get very expensive, so most breed their own, which furnishes you with yet another challenging hobby and space requirement.

They can be expensive to keep because they come down with unusual illnesses that require vet care. So, you can't just consider the initial cost. You have to have money available for occasional vet bills. At the least you should get annual fecals done on them (or more often). A complete physical will run about $200-$250.

They can live about 20 years. So, you have to think about what you may be doing for the next 20 years. To me it seems cruel to adopt a social species like this, have it bond with you, and then sell if off to someone else in a couple of years. I do realize "life happens", and there are things that come up, but at least at the onset you want to consider whether you are willing to devote yourself to this animal for the next 20 years. It's a longer commitment then for most other species.

These are just a few things for you consider. Let us know how your research goes, if you have any additional questions, and what you decide.

On the plus side- they are a large, friendly species that like to interact with each other and with their keepers, and they can be part of the family for many years. They do more than just sit on a branch and bask all day. It is fun to watch them interact. They are not the prettiest chameleons, however.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Many, or most of the problems associated with melleri are due to them being wild caught animals subject to lots of stress during the process.

Look for C.B.'s. They're hard to find, expensive, but worth it.

I've been keepign chameleons for a long time, and my CB melleri was NOT significantly more difficult than my veileds. The melleri discovery is where you need to go.

 

[SaiyanFury]

Hi all, thanks for the great feedback. I've been reading up on the Melliri site and it's been quite informative. I was aware they needed a lot of space and that they're not very tolerant of higher temps. Living in Florida I wouldn't be able to give them a free roaming enclosure in the summer months anyways. In the winter, however, the temperatures around here would be perfect as daytime temps rarely get above 79 or 80 degrees. It would be very feasible to have a free roaming enclosure for the winter months, and then perhaps build a large lodging enclosure, insulated and air conditioned of course, for the summer.

Also, thank you gesang for your very insightful feedback, it was most appreciated. And no I don't buy a chameleon with the intention of selling it in a few years. When I buy a pet, I never get rid of it. To this day, other than a childhood cat dying on me, I've never sold or given away an animal. And since we rarely go on vacation, I would be able to give a Meller's the attention it would require. As for aesthetics, I think Meller's are very attractive so I'm not worried about that point. As for availability, Mike of FL Chams, with whom I have very recently been in contact, says that he will have some CB Meller's soon. I hope that fortune favours me and will allow me to get one or two of these awesome animals. Time will tell.

 

[Sepioteuthis]

To me, melleri are the coolest chameleons. They have strong personalities without being aggressive. I'm not sure that any of mine have bonded with me, but they are definitely not afraid of me and don't mind my presence in their territory.
The males really seem to need a lot of space and a mate. The females are less demanding, it seems. The also mature a lot slower then panthers or veiled - they don't start producing eggs until they are 2.5 - 3 years old. I have two adult females that are 3+ years old and neither has laid an unfertilized clutch.

Here is an article that my husband and I wrote about building the freerange that our adult melleri live in: http://www.chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=121

 

[Eric Adrignola]

There is so much to keeping melleri, due to their relativly social natures, that it's difficult to really make a black or white statement about their care.

Most people have a hard time keeping them content in anything but massive cages. My male has been perfectly calm, stress-free and nose-rub free in his relativly small, 4' wide, 3' tall, 2' deep screen cage. Only a few months ago, after the "warming up" of spring, did he become restless. his nose was rubbed a little for the first time. I moved my other melleri into a cage that was right up against his (as it was in the past couple years), and he stopped climbing the screen and rubbing his nose.

The period of nose rubbing and roamy behavior only started when I moved their cages further apart (coinciding with the rise in temps). Ardi seemed to "relax" when I reunited him with the WC male.

It's very similar to what I've seen in deremensis - males will not be contained in any cage without another member of their species within visual range. Bring in a female, or another male, and the cage climbing stops. The deremensis seem to have a comfort range - if left in a large enclosure, the animals will stay at a maximum distance from each other most of the time (usually 3 feet). When in separate cages, the males seem most content when they can be close to the females.

there's a lot to some chameleons' behavior that goes against the commonly held belief of them being solitary. It's complicated stuff, but extremely interesting.

Melleri, while being huge, having great colors, tall back "fins" and horns, also have very interesting behavior and the best personalities you'll see in a lizard.

 

[Sepioteuthis]

There is so much to keeping melleri, due to their relativly social natures, that it's difficult to really make a black or white statement about their care.

there's a lot to some chameleons' behavior that goes against the commonly held belief of them being solitary. It's complicated stuff, but extremely interesting.

Melleri, while being huge, having great colors, tall back "fins" and horns, also have very interesting behavior and the best personalities you'll see in a lizard.

This. *points up*

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

You picked a good year to get Meller's chameleon(s). There seem to be several clutches that will be available later this year. And the more experienced keepers are a wealth of info, and always willing to lend a helping hand. Their comments and articles have helped us a great deal. One note of advice- if you do go for Meller's, once you have one- if you notice a problem or a change contact these seasoned keepers right away. The sooner issues are handled, the better. But, you will probably be purchasing captive hatched animals, and have done your homework, so hopefully will have no issues to contend with at all. Best of luck on your new endeavor. Let us know when/if you acquire one of these great chameleons. And, if you do, take plenty of photos and videos. The Melleri Discovery site has been adding videos to its data.

 

[chamlover]

I have had a mellers for about 6-7 mos now and i love him. He was w/c but an adult and had been kept already for 3 mos. After deworming at the vets haven't had any problems with until lately when he stopped drinking and eating, which has been resolved. I don't think it is necessarilly is that it is w/c but how and by whom, and how it is cared for upon arrival.Out of all my chams he is the most friendly. He will sit on my arm just watchng things and when i go to put him back in his cage will actually resist and climb back up my arm. I too have thought about getting another one but have been weary because of the space needed. Considering what i have just read on this thread about them actually being more social, i might just get one.


Debby