The 2013 Study on Socialization in Juvenile Chameleons…

[kinyonga]

“To conclude, this is not to say that chameleons cannot survive or even thrive with other chameleons around. There are methods of husbandry which allow cohabitation that fall within many chameleons’ adaptive range, but they are only successful with one critical ingredient. – freedom to escape”…
https://dragonstrand.com/2013-study-socialization-juvenile-chameleons/

 

[kinyonga]

More on rearing hatchlings toge5er …
“Chameleons reared in isolation are less colourful and more submissive than those who grow up together, new research has found.”…
https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/01/22/3928600.htm

 

[GrannyK]

I have 2 very social panthers, ones 2/12 (got him at 3mos), one is 1 1/2 ( got him at 5mos). They are very unique I felt but have been together since the younger one being small. I don’t mean enclosure wise but free ranging in the same area. Climbing on someone holding the other cham comfortably. They are fine with one another. Occasionally the older one gets snotty during mating season which is normal but they are very tolerant and non stressed by each other. It’s not something I recommend at all but the oldest was handled daily by the breeder until purchase and the younger guy was most likely housed with siblings for a few months I’m sure, at least a few weeks.
I feel like research on things like this is good with proper conditions and certain species. Not sure I would of used veilds- lol
Nice read, thanks!

 

[DeremensisBlue]

More on rearing hatchlings toge5er …
“Chameleons reared in isolation are less colourful and more submissive than those who grow up together, new research has found.”…
https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/01/22/3928600.htm

This study has conclusions that are flat out stupid. It represents a failure of critical thinking and analysis of their findings.
For example, the quote above. We know the stress colors are brighter. Yes, keeping chameleons together will get you more stress colors. And before anyone gets excited about this being a precursor to adult coloration - following these individuals until they grew up was not part of the study. They have other findings and conclusions in this paper that are just as flawed. This was not a bright day for science.

 

[kinyonga]

Glad you commented on that study @DeremensisBlue!

 

[DeremensisBlue]

Glad you commented on that study @DeremensisBlue!

Another conclusion that was painful to read was that chameleon babies learned foraging behavior from being together. So they actually imply that an individually raised chameleon wouldn't figure out how to eat as well as chameleons that were forced to compete with each other for food.
There is so much more than goes into eating than hunger. Example: chameleons show dominance by preventing cage mates from eating. What is more likely - a single chameleon grows up forgetting how to eat or a group raised chameleon learns to eat whenever possible - hungry or not- because if they dont they may not get food the next time? These scientists made the mistake of holding up what we humans like to see from our chameleons - eating and bright colors - as what is best for the chameleons instead of figuring out what is healthiest for the chameleon. I suppose someone could argue that fear of hunger and stress is a good natural condition to be under to survive in the wild, but then we need to have that discussion as to the ethics of captive husbandry. We are suppose to be extracting from their natural condition that which is nurturing and leaving behind what is damaging. Yes, challenge can be nurturing or necessary. So, is fear of where their next meal is going to come from and eating whether they are hungry or not a good condition to foster in captivity where food is plentiful and obesity is one of the biggest issues in this species? The answer is no.

The real lesson for all of us here is that any of us can read these scientific papers and even peer reviewed papers can have misguided conclusions. These studies are here as stepping stones for us to learn what other people have done and build from them. And we in the community have that responsibility. Those of us who work with chameleons day in and day out and live, breathe, sleep chameleons are the ones who can push things forward. The scientists on this study were way off base with their conclusions, but they still did an experiment which has valuable data. As an experienced chameleon keeper I can look at that data and I know the evidence is actually opposite of what they concluded. It is unfortunate that their conclusions got any press time, but that aside, the data is still good.

Very few studies will be done on chameleons. There just isn't a whole lot of grant money available. And even less is available for study of captive conditions. We lucked out with Dr. Gary Ferguson. We lucked out with Dr. Chris Anderson. And now we lucky enough to have Dr. Michael Nash. But we need to be willing to do our own grassroots exploration to do our part and, above all, apply critical thinking to whatever we hear from any source.