Cainschams
New Member
I agree completely with your post, Chad!!
There is a ton more information out there on panthers and veileds. As was said, some correct some not but if you google husbandry for any of those species you will find way much more than any other species out there and jacksonii xanth come in third. One reason for this is that those three species are probably the most common in pet stores. My first cham was a captive born jacksonii xanth from a pet store. Luckily they gave me OK advice on husbandry.
Another reason for this, and it was proven in the "Prices" thread with this statement, "People just don't want chameleons with weird rostral projections and blotchy colors that aren't super cool." Personally I think was an ignorant statement because you can see many chameleons out there with just as cool, if not cooler colorations and patterns as panthers. But obviously this is what the majority of chameleon keepers think.
Also, some people see that price tag on panthers and think they can make it big by breeding them. They eventually get shot down like the instance of VibrantChameleons who was an active member when I first came to the forums. A post from him that said something like, people need to stop selling panthers in Canada for cheaper than the regular price because it is becoming harder to sell them at the higher prices I want to. In a nut shell. I am guessing he got discouraged and is no longer keeping chameleons because of his motivations. This boils down to what Trace said about finding out they are hard to sell or too expensive to keep breeding them. Since they are a "beginner" species and what a lot start with that ends any knowledge they might obtain with going to a less common species.
All in all, I think these are some of the bigger reasons there isnt enough information shared on less common species. Because most are not interested for one reason or another. Dont get me wrong, people, I find panthers a fascinating species. What I dont find fascinating about them is the smugness a lot of those keepers and breeders have. Enough with that rant
Another reason for the lack of information is the shape WC chameleons come in. This can be discouraging, to buy an animal just for it to die on you because you got a sub par specimen that does not acclimate well. Along with not being prepared.
As for focusing on one or a few species at a time, I agree. Yes, you guys can call me a hypocrite. Why? Because at the moment I have 6 chameleons and only two are of the same species. One reason for this is I have had hellish problems getting true pairs of animals. The species I do want to work with are much rarer than the WCs that are commonly imported, besides K. tavetana. I dont want to work with them because they are rarer, its because I find these species the most fascinating out of the ones I have kept. I have kept quite a few different species. Some I acclimated and then sold them off. Some I have had no success with and they died on me. I am the type of person who likes to taste all the candy in the store and then decide what I like the best Because of this, as Juli mentioned, I think its made me somewhat of a more rounded keeper being able to see the needs of other species and be able to accommodate for those needs. Its also helped me provide, what I hope to be decent general care, on montane chameleons. As for now, I am going to see what I can pair up this year and sell what I cant because I do want to work with only a few species.
As for people who do have knowledge on particular less common species but do not share it, I think Trace covered that.
Id like to think that I share what I can. Good and bad experiences to those who need it. I dont have a ton to share but all of us who do have a little more experience than the norm with certain species need to share. This is how we all advance.
I would love to see all of us, newer and seasoned, keepers of such species collaborate and share our information. Adcham.com was a great site that is no longer being updated. Something like that site would benefit the whole community and a good start I think. chameleonnews.com is a great site and dont get me wrong, Chris!! Its filled with tons of great articles and information but I think something with a well rounded aspect such as adcham is needed also. I have typed up LONG replies suggesting things to keepers just for it to be ignored. This is discouraging. Something we can link each keeper to that has questions on these less common species would be great. This way we dont have to write 2000 word replies to be ignored. We link them up and let them decide if they want to take in what one has to offer.
Maybe its time we get this species database rolling!! Try to find other keepers around the world who want to participate in helping us have a large database and that have knowledge none of us do on certain species.
Hopefully my post isnt just filled with personal babble and there is something to take from it.
There is a ton more information out there on panthers and veileds. As was said, some correct some not but if you google husbandry for any of those species you will find way much more than any other species out there and jacksonii xanth come in third. One reason for this is that those three species are probably the most common in pet stores. My first cham was a captive born jacksonii xanth from a pet store. Luckily they gave me OK advice on husbandry.
Another reason for this, and it was proven in the "Prices" thread with this statement, "People just don't want chameleons with weird rostral projections and blotchy colors that aren't super cool." Personally I think was an ignorant statement because you can see many chameleons out there with just as cool, if not cooler colorations and patterns as panthers. But obviously this is what the majority of chameleon keepers think.
Also, some people see that price tag on panthers and think they can make it big by breeding them. They eventually get shot down like the instance of VibrantChameleons who was an active member when I first came to the forums. A post from him that said something like, people need to stop selling panthers in Canada for cheaper than the regular price because it is becoming harder to sell them at the higher prices I want to. In a nut shell. I am guessing he got discouraged and is no longer keeping chameleons because of his motivations. This boils down to what Trace said about finding out they are hard to sell or too expensive to keep breeding them. Since they are a "beginner" species and what a lot start with that ends any knowledge they might obtain with going to a less common species.
All in all, I think these are some of the bigger reasons there isnt enough information shared on less common species. Because most are not interested for one reason or another. Dont get me wrong, people, I find panthers a fascinating species. What I dont find fascinating about them is the smugness a lot of those keepers and breeders have. Enough with that rant
Another reason for the lack of information is the shape WC chameleons come in. This can be discouraging, to buy an animal just for it to die on you because you got a sub par specimen that does not acclimate well. Along with not being prepared.
As for focusing on one or a few species at a time, I agree. Yes, you guys can call me a hypocrite. Why? Because at the moment I have 6 chameleons and only two are of the same species. One reason for this is I have had hellish problems getting true pairs of animals. The species I do want to work with are much rarer than the WCs that are commonly imported, besides K. tavetana. I dont want to work with them because they are rarer, its because I find these species the most fascinating out of the ones I have kept. I have kept quite a few different species. Some I acclimated and then sold them off. Some I have had no success with and they died on me. I am the type of person who likes to taste all the candy in the store and then decide what I like the best
Because of this, as Juli mentioned, I think its made me somewhat of a more rounded keeper being able to see the needs of other species and be able to accommodate for those needs. Its also helped me provide, what I hope to be decent general care, on montane chameleons. As for now, I am going to see what I can pair up this year and sell what I cant because I do want to work with only a few species.As for people who do have knowledge on particular less common species but do not share it, I think Trace covered that.
Id like to think that I share what I can. Good and bad experiences to those who need it. I dont have a ton to share but all of us who do have a little more experience than the norm with certain species need to share. This is how we all advance.
I would love to see all of us, newer and seasoned, keepers of such species collaborate and share our information. Adcham.com was a great site that is no longer being updated. Something like that site would benefit the whole community and a good start I think. chameleonnews.com is a great site and dont get me wrong, Chris!! Its filled with tons of great articles and information but I think something with a well rounded aspect such as adcham is needed also. I have typed up LONG replies suggesting things to keepers just for it to be ignored. This is discouraging. Something we can link each keeper to that has questions on these less common species would be great. This way we dont have to write 2000 word replies to be ignored. We link them up and let them decide if they want to take in what one has to offer.
Maybe its time we get this species database rolling!! Try to find other keepers around the world who want to participate in helping us have a large database and that have knowledge none of us do on certain species.
Hopefully my post isnt just filled with personal babble and there is something to take from it.
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