The best incentive to give up smoking? A pair of mellors!

[Carlton]

There is nothing so rewarding as keeping a pair of melleri in a free range setup! Their activity and use of the space will be so much more interesting and natural than in a cage. Been there done that! I will never cage a melleri again. Besides, the challenge to create the free range was much more fun.

 

[LovitaVelvet]

Nick - Great looking draft for your Melleri set up! You should have some pleased Meller's when you are finished.

And best of luck on the smoking bit. I wish I was at that point. Not sure how many Meller's it would take to get me to quit smoking. Not sure that the Meller's I have would be interested in any friends either

 

[draetish]

Instead of starting a new thread I thought I would just ask a simple question here. BTW, that set up is a great idea Nick. At what age should you free range a Melleri? When they are adults or still juvi?

 

[LovitaVelvet]

Donna,

You're Mellers will let you know when it is time to start free ranging because they will start to get very agitated being caged up. My Mellers was about 6 months when I got him and within a month of being in the cage he (or she?) was just not having it.

-Nicole

 

[geordiematt31]

Congrats on finding them! I'm also in the UK and I know how hard it is to find anything other than Veileds or Panthers. In fact, where I live I have only ever seen Veileds, Pygmys and a baby Jacksons. Try searching posts by 'Karen' on here - she has a Melleri.

"karen" will have great advice for you, she has helped me no end with my baby Dilepis which came from her originally.

Now I'm going to hide away in envy!


Matt

 

[NICK GILCHRIST]

Thanks for all the encouragement guys...well a few days have past..and since then .I have done the deal.. paid the money...and now...i have to build the unit..however...im building it even bigger now!!

Basically i have today already ordered all the materials..ready to construct the framework and will spend the next 12 weeks constructing it.. the new dedicated size will be..wait for it.... 9 ft long x 30" deep x 7ft high..this is to be constructed with an additional 10" high lighting and uvb area above the 7ft high roofed area..a different design to the one i showed you earlier..but the actual internal area for the pair will be 5ft high on a 2ft riser (underneath which will be the drainage area) the depth stays at 30" and the entire length internally remains at 9ft.. They will have a fully planted unit..and i even have invented a new way of providing flexible yet sturdy climbing branches..more to be revealed!!

I will do a blow by blow account of the full build as it progresses. with lots of pics..no doubt a few of me hitting my thumb with hammers or drilling through my shoe etcetc..

Oh and i can now confirm that the 2 chams are definately an unrelated adult pair. they were purchased in 2007 as babies (still trying to confirm if they were CH or CB, They were purchased originally from Holland and brought into the UK by the original buyer. at great expense at the time..(He has a very valuable collection of other species of reptiles most being either rare or sought after)
As his interest now is predominantly rare pythons, that is the only reason they became available..They are totally happy in each others company. and have never in 3 years had a problem in regards any issues..in addition, they are amazingly totally unbothered in regards traffic..or strangers..and show no signs of stress at all. to the extent of even approaching a stranger that has food to hand feed!
The male has made advances previously to the female but to no avail...personally i am not suprised. as the unit they have been kept in is in my opinion wayyyyyy too small..at 6ft wide and 4ft high x 2ftdeep..and they have been caged since babies..so i figure that by releasing them into a huge freeranged area (At first i will retain a mesh frontage..ie fully caged until they settle...but will then remove the frontage to give them full visibility and freedom to explore visually as well as have access to the window area in the room..which catches the sun every morning into the afternoon.(well if there is a sun!)

Hopefully the new evironment. and the definately quieter surroundings will have the right results! Also they have never been offered any type of vegetation or anything other than locusts to eat..so i think its time for some variety in their lives.. they are used to a misting system. so that will be incorporated as well..but you will see that as the unit progresses through its construction..

I have at the moment only 2 pics of them, as im awaiting a load of new ones, but in the meantime..here they are...

ps also had full fecal reports done on them...just in case and they are both 100% clear..fit. healthy and tame as a puppy..

Here is the female "MISSY"


and not forgetting of course " SNOOP MELLE MEL" the male..
currently shedding and sulking.. whilst chillin in his crib.

The pics were not taken by me, and they are taken in the unit they reside in now..however im going down to take more soon and will post up better ones..

CANT WAIT TO GET THEM HOME AND IN THEIR NEW LUXURY CONDO!

 

[draetish]

I'm drooling, can't wait for my baby melleri. I too plan on a free range set up, can't wait to see yours.

 

[jpm995]

Congrats to you for dumping the fags. It's not just cancer but maybe even more dangerous to the heart as it shrinks the blood vessels. Sounds like you have a busy time ahead of you, hope it keeps your mind off you know what. The mellors must look really impressive roaming around a big cage.

 

[NICK GILCHRIST]

Congrats to you for dumping the fags. It's not just cancer but maybe even more dangerous to the heart as it shrinks the blood vessels. Sounds like you have a busy time ahead of you, hope it keeps your mind off you know what. The mellors must look really impressive roaming around a big cage.

Thanks JPM..But hey!! you know what! its great!!! i thought i would be climbing the walls..but amazingly i didnt! its been days now and im fine! OK..the first 48hrs were hard. but now...i really do not feel the need..which im amazed at!! i smoked over 20 a day for 35 years!!!! ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH

Thats errrrr. errrrr well about...A LOT!! i FEEL GREAT!!

Just think..if i had done this sooner,could have spent the thousands i would of saved on my own personal island in the Caribbean surrounded by Chameleons and Ferraris

Im off to put a deposit now on my first Island and buy a pair of shorts and sunglasses.. if any members have the address of a good Ferrari dealer please PM me.....

 

[NICK GILCHRIST]

Well spent yesterday clearing out the room that the new Mellers area will be in..and now it just a big empty space!!! On Friday all the timber gets delivered, and i have the day off work to make a start. I will post up pics and do a blow by blow for you all...you can watch as i swear and cuss. hammer my thumb, and generally cause mayhem carring 10ft lengths of wood into my house and attempt to build the framework single handedly!
This is the bit i love...watching my design come together...then realise i forgot something. or built it so big i cannot open the door..

the fun starts here....look out for a new thread starting soon....

ps..just worked out the feeding costs of 2 large adults.....my son isnt happy...i told him that im going to sell him to the moroccan slave trade as it should cover the food bill for a year..mind you i said i would buy him a new portable solar powered playstation that he can use on the back of the camel....

 

[draetish]

That is too funny, I'm sure your son understands. I too love the creating and building part and only wish I had a whole room to devote to Melleris. Definetely looking forward to your new post.

 

[NICK GILCHRIST]

That is too funny, I'm sure your son understands. I too love the creating and building part and only wish I had a whole room to devote to Melleris. Definetely looking forward to your new post.

Thanks..anyway...its too late now....deal done..

 

[laurie]

Hey what did you get for your son? I have a daughter & she has 2 sons. I can keep her boys and we can sell her!!!!

 

[NICK GILCHRIST]

Hey what did you get for your son? I have a daughter & she has 2 sons. I can keep her boys and we can sell her!!!!

not as much as i wanted..but he promised that the next plague of locusts they get he will direct to my house!

(ps//may i apologise at this point for posting up the first "not serious but hey it made me smile post on CF) I wouldnt want to make the "serious" breeders upset- blame it on us English..and our unusual sense of humour)