Should I, should I not... Furcifer campani

[MissLissa]

I was recently offered a newly imported 1:1 pair of Furcifer campani. I guess they were a special order but the purchaser messed about and messed about and the importer ended up cancelling their agreement (returned the money, etc). He knows I'm really into chameleons, and offered me the pair for a very good price ($400). I've never seen any for sale in Canada in the last few years. I haven't got any pictures yet, but apparently they are in relatively rough shape, though he is working to get them up to snuff. He suspects the female is gravid. Both have eaten blue bottle flies and waxmoths but not much else.

Do I? Don't I? Do I? Don't I?

I have limited space, but enough for two 24x18x30 screen enclosures, which should be adequate. I have an extra couple mister ends, a 48" light fixture I could put over both... so it's doable. I've never dealt with anything but CB or LTC chameleons, though. I have experience acclimatizing some other sensitive species (Tribolonotus, Shinisaurus, etc) but this would be a whole new kettle of fish.

Finding info on this species has been hard, though, and he's only reserving them for me until the end of the week, and then they go up for general sale.

Ahhhhh I can't make up my mind! Help!

 

[Blang]

From a well known friend in the USA who's working with them, advised me when I was thinking about getting some claimed one day there fine & the next day drop over dead! So I didn't get any! And he's not your average chameleon guy!

 

[Andee]

They require a lot of work from what I understand, and very specific conditions. There is someone on the forum who has successfully raised a baby from an egg. They need aphids as babies to eat, and prefer them to most other things. As babies they die really really easily and can starve quickly. Do your research hard core. These guys aren't easy. But it is possible.

 

[MissLissa]

I've cared for some pretty intense critters before- it's part of my job- but I'm not super sure that I want to go to work and have to worry about a thousand things going wrong with those critters, then come home and have to worry about a thousand things going wrong here, too!

I've worked with WC critters, too, and it's just heartbreaking trying to get them healthy and watching them fail. I was considering adding a F. lateralis at some point since I'm confident that would not be a problem, but these were offered. I'm having trouble sourcing accurate information on their captive care, as well. Most info directly quotes lateralis care sheets, which isn't much help.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

I love this species. That said, I'd pass on them

 

[MissLissa]

Yeah, you guys are likely right. I don't like the condition they're in, either. I'm not sure I want to deal with the heartbreak of dead chams and, likely, dead babies if that female is gravid. I just feel so bad for them, which I know is not a good reason to buy any animal.

It's just so gosh darned tempting. Stupid friend offering me stupid deals with the stupid devil. I'll just go back to looking for my lateralis lol

 

[Carlton]

Its so tough fighting off the urge to get them into YOUR caring hands hoping to give them a fighting chance. I hope someone knowledgeable takes them on.

 

[absolutbill]

I listened to the Chameleon Breeder's Podcast on Carpet Chameleons with Kevin Stamford - Dooley on here, and while he's most known for his work with carpets he has also had Campani. According to him they are harder than carpets, but he would be a good source of info if you do decide to go through with this. He is located in PA, so his environment would be more similar to yours than to me (Florida). Good luck either way you decide to go.

 

[MissLissa]

I listened to the Chameleon Breeder's Podcast on Carpet Chameleons with Kevin Stamford - Dooley on here, and while he's most known for his work with carpets he has also had Campani. According to him they are harder than carpets, but he would be a good source of info if you do decide to go through with this. He is located in PA, so his environment would be more similar to yours than to me (Florida). Good luck either way you decide to go.

Thank you! What a good resource.

 

[JGuinan007]

Hey I'm in PA too!