Suggestions for small species of chameleon

[RyU]

I'm looking to add Dwarf or Pygmy chameleons to my collection. What would you guys suggest? I'm not looking to get any until next year, but I would like as much info as possible before I do get them. Also, there's an expo on the 26th that I plan to attend, so who knows.

I am COMPLETELY new to these types of chameleons, and any good practice for husbandry will be welcomed. Please try to be factual, although personal experiences and opinions are welcomed, just let me know when it is so.

I would love to see pictures of your small species of chameleons and setups!

Lastly, I'm in Toronto, Canada and would appreciate where I could aquire these animals locally, either imported or CB.

Thanks alot.

 

[Cait0420]

Try menagerie pets or the critter shop, they can get many different types of chams.

 

[laurie]

I have a couple types of pygmy's. I keep fruit flys, small phoenix worms, very small silk worms, bean beetles, rice flower beetles, and house fly's. But these fly's I get from a scientific place, and they are cheaper and smaller than regular house flys.

let me know if you need any more help, I have all the books, but am still learning.

 

[RyU]

Try menagerie pets or the critter shop, they can get many different types of chams.

I am familiar with Menagerie. A trio of our Montiums went to them -=) Thanks for the info.

 

[RyU]

I have a couple types of pygmy's. I keep fruit flys, small phoenix worms, very small silk worms, bean beetles, rice flower beetles, and house fly's. But these fly's I get from a scientific place, and they are cheaper and smaller than regular house flys.

let me know if you need any more help, I have all the books, but am still learning.

Got any pictures of your guys? Can any species tolerate living in groups?

 

[Viv]

Got any pictures of your guys? Can any species tolerate living in groups?

Most pygmies do afaik. Obviously you want to research the specific species befgore you get it but if you're just thinking of getting Brevicaudatus or similar pygmy species you can house them as a single male with multiple females without issue. Multiple males I believe is a no-go but I'm no expert on them

 

[RyU]

I'm leaning towards a Bradypodion. I think that's how its spelled. Nothing is set in stone yet so let me know what you guys think.

 

[RyU]

Most pygmies do afaik. Obviously you want to research the specific species befgore you get it but if you're just thinking of getting Brevicaudatus or similar pygmy species you can house them as a single male with multiple females without issue. Multiple males I believe is a no-go but I'm no expert on them

I did see these guys at a local reptile store this past summer but I didn't have much interest in them then. Thanks for the info though! Any other suggestions?

 

[laurie]

Iam so hopeless it is awful. I can't post pictures!!!
But I have a friend who has the same pygmy's I have, here is the link.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/rhampholeon-acuminatus-pictures-canvas-chameleons-135393/

 

[Trace]

I doubt you will find any Bradypodion species, particularly in Canada. They are native to South Africa and they have very stringent laws about the exportation of their flora and fauna so ones in captivity are few and far between and their origins may be dubious.

Since pygmies seem to be off the table what about things like Trioceros bitaeniatus, Trioceros sternfeldi, Trioceros werneri, Furcifer lateralis or Furcifer campani? While not always readily available in shops or at expos, they won’t be too hard to track down.

 

[RyU]

Trioceros werneri, Furcifer lateralis I have pairs of already. The others I wasn't really interested in. I have seen dwarfs for sale at previous expos but I didn't get their names because I wasn't intending to keep them at the time. Are they that hard to find here? Like impossible?

 

[Trace]

I'd be quite surprised that what you saw were Bradypodion and not some mislabeled or misidentified Trioceros, particularly from some of the smaller dealers. If I had a dime for every time I saw a Rhampholeon brevicaudatus labelled as Brookesia minima at an expo...

There have been a few Bradypodion shipments from Europe to the US in recent years but there are precious few left and I don't think anyone managed to establish them stateside. Perhaps those people can speak up about their experience. I have not kept Brady's.

 

[RyU]

They were very small and looked like juveniles. They could have been selling something totally different, and if you say they are that rare I will take your word for it. I have absolutely no experience with these small species. Any other tiny chams you could suggest for me?

 

[RyU]

I've seen some pictures of T. Peretti and they looked pretty small. I'll try some research on them.