The new Melleri (s)

[Pure]

Hmm is Melleri plural and singular?

OK after a loooOOOooong drive Tuesday and into the early morning Wed I came home from Miami with the 2 new Melleri.

I chose unisex Tanzanian names for them. There are many languages spoken in Tanzania. The ones I chose are Swahili.

This is Feruzi (feh ROO zee) Swahili for Turquoise. "Female" She's sleeping so her colors aren't as bright as usual. She is a very pretty blue green during the day.

And this is Lumbwi (LUM bwee) Swahili for Chameleon. "Male"

This is their new home.

I ended up making it a little bigger than originally planned. It's 8'/6'11"/4'/8'tall. There is a DIY Misting system made out of a powerful aquarium water pump I had laying around and a couple of misting nozzles. Total cost for the whole setup including plants was only about 300 bucks. I still have 2 huge Pothos to put in there and some more branches in the freezer. I had to kind of rush building this. I am in the middle of redecorating and reflooring my bedroom and den and the guy in Miami didn't want to wait for me to finish. Needless to say I've been busy.

If this enclosure becomes too small it can be easily converted to a much larger cage. I can go as big as 6'/17' if need be, without encroaching too much on my den. It's a pretty big room, just for me and the Chams.

They took the move rather well. This is day 2 and Feruzi spots up a little if you look at her but settles after a wile. Lumbwi is the outgoing of the 2 and doesn't mind being handled. Feruzi was shy for the original owner too, but she let him pick her up without spotting when I was at his house, so I'm hoping she settles down. Neither seem to be bothered by the dogs, but I am trying to keep them out of here as much as possible....good luck! lol

I will X-ray them to determine sex as soon as they settle down. For now I am just classifying them as male and female by what they were sold to the Original Owner as. Besides typing him/her, he/she gets old.

Thanks to all who have helped me! And a special thanks Kristina And Catherine. You guys are a credit to this hobby.

Edit: Yes I plan to paint the Waterproof backing. This stuff is silver (yuck) but was on sale for 5 bucks a sheet. But like I said I had to rush putting this together.

 

[ChamNovice]

Just wondering what you are using for the screen material. I may go to something this large at some point and a couple ideas can't hurt.

 

[Pure]

The screen is a sturdy plastic hardware cloth. I wanted vinyl coated but this was all they had and I actually think it's softer.

Crickets my be able to chew through it but the Chams can't. Sides the cricket thing wont matter as they can easily fit through it. They are fed out of a deep dish, too deep for crickets to jump out of...I hope

I bought all of my supplies at Lowes.

 

[ChamNovice]

The screen is a sturdy plastic hardware cloth. I wanted vinyl coated but this was all they had and I actually think it's softer.

Crickets my be able to chew through it but the Chams can't. Sides the cricket thing wont matter as they can easily fit through it. They are fed out of a deep dish, too deep for crickets to jump out of...I hope

I bought all of my supplies at Lowes.

Thanks, the vinyl coated hardware cloth I used on my cage only comes in 3' widths, it looks like the plastic that you used comes wider than that, or you did a very good job of matching the seams. I cup feed also, knowing that cricket escapes and such can happen to easily on the 1/2" spacing.

 

[Pure]

I wish it was wider. It comes in 3'/15' rolls. I just used black plastic zip ties to connect the 1 seam. Putting the zip part on the outside of the cage...of course.

Tomorrow I plan on cutting some more of the backing board to make a splash guard for the front to keep water off of my floor. I'll update pics when done.

 

[Myerz77]

I live for the posts that say Melleri and even more for the ones that say Melleri/ general photography. They are beautiful, and the cage looks great I went to home depot and asked for 1 inch nylon screen and the guys inside said they didnt have it that big, so i went walking into the lumber yard part and in the middle of the back they had a large, metal screen selection, and in that selection they had round rolls of green plastic "garden screen" or netting with one inch holes. I ended up building my whole cage with 1 and a 1/2 rolls at 8.99$ per roll. My cage is 4'x4'x7' As i was pushing my cart back inside to pay, i met the employee that said they don't carry large nylon screen, and i told him they do, he said i didn't know that. I was really glad i went a lookin' instead of listening to him and just leaving. Awesome chams, and we love the pictures
Chris & Cindy

 

[reptimom]

Congrats on the new Melleri! Cool Tanzanian names too! And the cage ain't bad either!

 

[chrisw]

looks good. kind of a caged/free range hybrid set-up. hope to join you as a melleri owner this year. current owner of 2 panthers but have been a hobbyist for 15+ years. how big are each - snout to vent? male looks very nice. did you get them from a wholesaler or a previous owner. recent imports? in regards to the long drive to pick them up - i know that feeling - had it many times over the years when 'new cham fever' hits and you stay up all night and you're willing to drive 100 hours one way just to get started with your new animal. then one day you find a forum like this where there are hundreds of other fanatics - good times!

 

[chrisw]

would like to hear how well the acclimation process goes

 

[Syn]

Swahili names always sound nice. The cage looks great, I hope you enjoy your Mellers.

 

[Pure]

how big are each - snout to vent? male looks very nice. did you get them from a wholesaler or a previous owner. recent imports? in regards to the long drive to pick them up

The female is about 7 inches S-V and the male is about 9 inches S-V. They still have some growing to do.

I bought them from a guy who bought them at a reptile show back in January. He bought them then realized they were too much work after reading this forum. He did take proper care of them just didn't want to continue. They were sold then as CBs but after looking at them I'm almost certain they are WC. They acclimated well for him and are doing even better for me. Very little stress reactions to what's going on in the room, and no stress reactions to their new home. LOL there isn't much I wouldn't do for my animals.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I'm ecstatic to have them in my home.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Don't have time to read the whole thread now. Have to leave in minutes. But wanted to congratulate you and say how much I love their names.

Beautiful animals. You will be SO happy with them.

 

[DJnSoCal]

The female is about 7 inches S-V and the male is about 9 inches S-V. They still have some growing to do.

I bought them from a guy who bought them at a reptile show back in January. He bought them then realized they were too much work after reading this forum. He did take proper care of them just didn't want to continue. They were sold then as CBs but after looking at them I'm almost certain they are WC. They acclimated well for him and are doing even better for me. Very little stress reactions to what's going on in the room, and no stress reactions to their new home. LOL there isn't much I wouldn't do for my animals.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I'm ecstatic to have them in my home.

Beautiful animals! I like the fact the habitat is L A R G E! Do Melleri like a more sparsely decorated habitat or do they prefer thick folage? Will you be testing their fecals for parasites since you suspect they are WC?

How about some more pictures?

 

[Pure]

Beautiful animals! I like the fact the habitat is L A R G E! Do Melleri like a more sparsely decorated habitat or do they prefer thick folage? Will you be testing their fecals for parasites since you suspect they are WC?

How about some more pictures?

I've seen them both ways, full of foliage and sparse. Personally I like more foliage (background in planted tanks) and can't imagine them having issues with it as long as they can get adequate lighting. There will be many more plants in the near future. The 2 Pothos I have are large enough to fill the empty corner and still run vines all over the enclosure.

More pics tomorrow as I don't want to wake them. I took those just as they were starting to settle down for the night. And I only did so to have something to show you all.

Yes they will def be going to the vet ASAP. I'm pretty sure the original owner never had them checked as they were sold to him as CBs. On the plus side I can't see any visible signs of parasites with my naked eye. And looking at some pics of WC Melleri feces it isn't uncommon to see visible worms. The dealer could have very well treated them. I dunno, and have no way of finding out. So yeah a vet visit is in the plans.

 

[chrisw]

question

Reading the melleri discovery website it mentions that melleri are basically clumsy and that it is not unusual for them to fall. There is even a folk tale that explains why melleri fall from trees so often. Just wondering if this seems to hold true for melleri owners out there? The site mentions planning for this and trying to cushion the enclosure floor.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Looks nice! Do you have any kind of misting system or drainage? I like the tile... I assume that was a time consuming step. Are you planning on filling it in with more plants? I'm no Melleri expert but I am sure more plants would only be a good thing. Nice work!

~Joe

 

[Pure]

Looks nice! Do you have any kind of misting system or drainage? I like the tile... I assume that was a time consuming step. Are you planning on filling it in with more plants? I'm no Melleri expert but I am sure more plants would only be a good thing. Nice work!

Thanks Joe. Yes there is a dual head misting system I built out of a very powerful aquarium pump I had laying around. It was used to attach to a 100 ft hose that I would use to backfill tanks that needed RO water. They were all over my house hence the length of the hose needed. I could just walk from tank to tank. I got rid of most of my RO needed tanks so this pump was free for use else where. I have all of 10 bucks invest in the system.

Drainage is handled by a drain installed in the back corner. You can barely see it in the pic. It's the white circle in the corner on the floor. The whole floor slopes to that corner and it drains nicely. The drain was just glued to the underside of the bottom (to prevent pooling) then sealed with silicone caulk. Sadly this is an inside wall with no plumbing so I have to use tubs. And using 20 gal tubs, my pump empties it in 35 minutes so it's "just" good enough. But yeah I have to fill it twice a day. A mist king is in the future as that is a tad ridiculous.

LOL I wish that was tile. It is a water proof fiber board. The kind used in restaurant kitchens to keep food stains off the walls. I chose this because it works, is cheap, looks nice, and is somewhat flexible. Like the next poster after mentioned about them falling. The floor gives a little to help cushion the blow. Yet is strong enough that my 200 pound butt can stand on it (there are 3 1/2 supports under it). I figure this is the next best thing to laying down wrestling mats.

edit: yes many many more plants are in the future as well. Starting with some huge pothos, and I'm thinking Boston fern for the bottom.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Thanks Joe. Yes there is a dual head misting system I built out of a very powerful aquarium pump I had laying around. It was used to attach to a 100 ft hose that I would use to backfill tanks that needed RO water. They were all over my house hence the length of the hose needed. I could just walk from tank to tank. I got rid of most of my RO needed tanks so this pump was free for use else where. I have all of 10 bucks invest in the system.

Drainage is handled by a drain installed in the back corner. You can barely see it in the pic. It's the white circle in the corner on the floor. The whole floor slopes to that corner and it drains nicely. The drain was just glued to the underside of the bottom (to prevent pooling) then sealed with silicone caulk. Sadly this is an inside wall with no plumbing so I have to use tubs. And using 20 gal tubs, my pump empties it in 35 minutes so it's "just" good enough. But yeah I have to fill it twice a day. A mist king is in the future as that is a tad ridiculous.

LOL I wish that was tile. It is a water proof fiber board. The kind used in restaurant kitchens to keep food stains off the walls. I chose this because it works, is cheap, looks nice, and is somewhat flexible. Like the next poster after mentioned about them falling. The floor gives a little to help cushion the blow. Yet is strong enough that my 200 pound butt can stand on it (there are 3 1/2 supports under it). I figure this is the next best thing to laying down wrestling mats.

edit: yes many many more plants are in the future as well. Starting with some huge pothos, and I'm thinking Boston fern for the bottom.

Awesome! Man I want to say sorry for making you repeat yourself..lol... I totally missed that whole section under the pics. Fun project! Looks great so far!

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Reading the melleri discovery website it mentions that melleri are basically clumsy and that it is not unusual for them to fall. There is even a folk tale that explains why melleri fall from trees so often. Just wondering if this seems to hold true for melleri owners out there? The site mentions planning for this and trying to cushion the enclosure floor.

Our Melleri free range has many different sized plants and vines in it, layered right down to the bottom, so they have plenty of things to grab on the way down. They appear to be very clumsy climbers, but we haven't really seen them have a problem with falling. Their grip is AMAZING, and I have the scars to prove it. I do recommend a very fully furnished enclosure or free range, bushy with plants of differing heights and density. It helps with humidity, too. Our female sits out in the open. But our male often likes to "hide".

 

[Pure]

Our Melleri free range has many different sized plants and vines in it, layered right down to the bottom, so they have plenty of things to grab on the way down. They appear to be very clumsy climbers, but we haven't really seen them have a problem with falling. Their grip is AMAZING, and I have the scars to prove it. I do recommend a very fully furnished enclosure or free range, bushy with plants of differing heights and density. It helps with humidity, too. Our female sits out in the open. But our male often likes to "hide".

Just curious, what do you do about feces? I imagine it's going to be hard to find it all when it's densely planted. I'm already having trouble finding it in my veiled enclosure. Which reminds me I need to update some pics of that too.

LOL No worries Joe. I don't blame people for not having time or what ever to read a long thread.