tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86673327688340595682024-03-19T02:33:38.522-04:00Much Ado About ChameleonsOn the care and breeding of chameleons and other lizards in captivity according to biologist, Olimpia MartinottiOlimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-7347797155963379442018-03-20T11:22:00.003-04:002018-03-20T11:22:56.307-04:00Respect for Female Herpers<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>I thank the dozens of women that provided me with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/456415131192495/permalink/902553663245304/">first-hand accounts</a> and anecdotes of any sexism, discrimination, or harassment they have experienced in the hobby, and for the even more that shared stories with me privately, for fear of ridicule or retribution.</i></div>
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Discrimination is a delicate, nuanced subject. Sometimes it's overt and aggressive, of course, but in most cases it is subtle. A tone, a gesture, a glance avoided, or a comment made in passing. Blink and you may miss it entirely. But discrimination builds over time, each new incident layering over the last until the discriminated feels the frustration build with each new insult. The Descriminator in turn may not even be conscious of how their actions are being perceived, or even that they are being received as slights at all. And when frustration meets the oblivious, tempers flare and miscommunication abounds.</div>
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What I wish to communicate today, riding on the coattails of the current state of affairs in the world, is to present that frustration calmly and clearly through the voices of several female keepers in a way can shed light on this issue and perhaps make people, both men and women, reconsider how they treat female keepers in this hobby. Yes, I said men <i>and</i> women because discrimination is not an exclusively male offense; all humans have a tendency to disregard women and/or hold them to different standards than they do for men, often totally unconsciously.</div>
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Women Judged More Harshly, Considered Less Competent</h2>
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There are plenty of studies that show the disparity between how males are viewed versus women, in a variety of contexts. For the sake of brevity, I will only mention a small handful of them here. One study, for example, conducted on college students looked at email communication between students and their professors (sometimes professor genders were manipulated) and then those emails were rated on various parameters. The results showed that (perceived) female professors<span style="background-color: white;"> were judged more harshly for the same mistakes and were addressed by their professional titles less often than male professors. </span><span style="background-color: white;">(Knutsen 2014)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Another paper found that in a group of men and women together, such as a jury group (the setting for the study), when men expressed anger they found that they gained influence over the group, but that when women did so, even when making identical arguments, they lost influence </span><span style="background-color: white;">and even credibility </span><span style="background-color: white;">over their peers. </span><span style="background-color: white;">(Salermo 2015) Men are continuously found to be more influential in a group of people (Carli 2001) but it's curious to see that men are particularly more resistant to letting themselves be influenced by women and girls; while women will typically be more open to influence from a fellow woman, men are not so easily persuaded <i>unless</i> "women temper their competence with displays of communality and warmth." </span><span style="background-color: white;">(Carli 2001) That is, men are going to resist taking the directions of a woman unless she camouflages her authority and proficiency with traditionally female qualities, like speaking softly, warmly, and gently. In positions of leadership this can be an extremely tricky obstacle for a woman, who is generally regarded as less credible and less socially skilled as an influential agent than a man of the same background and qualifications (Carly 2001)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is all to say, we are comfortable listening to women as long as they don't seem sound <i>too</i> qualified, matter-of-fact, or assertive. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">A General Lack of Respect</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">So how does this all affect us in the herp hobby? The unfortunate fact is that the same problems of discrimination that many women feel in other professional or personal circles are the same problems that many female herpers and hobbyists experience daily. Women with years of experience are not taken seriously oftentimes by other keepers, especially if these can defer to a male keeper instead. Essentially; between a male keeper and a female keeper of the same level of experience, aptitude, and competence, individuals will usually assume the male has more credibility and authority on a subject. </span></div>
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"I have sat in my own groups and watched as members converse with men and take their advice over mine, even though my comment came first saying virtually the exact same thing. There is an issue in this hobby." - Elise</blockquote>
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"When I am with my husband and I mention we have snakes, they turn to him to ask questions initially (until I start answering them). If he mentions them first, I get basically ignored or even asked how I feel about it- but I'm the one who got my husband into snakes!" - Lauren </blockquote>
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"I have been teaching my nephew some of the stuff I have learned about raising reptiles. He and I have a great love for it. He is 16 and I am in my thirties. People will defer to him about reptiles before even considering asking me. Even though I am the more experienced I am disregarded most of the time." - Amber</blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I've experienced this often enough myself, especially on Facebook groups where your full name and profile photo are in plain view, instead of the anonymity the forum provided. When people can easily identify you as a woman they, both men and women, tend to treat you as less of an authority than they would a keeper with a male name, or a gender-neutral name. </span></div>
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"<span style="background-color: white;">I literally make any and all attempts to leave my name off of any faceless transactions. I 'type' with a masculine tone and leave out anything that can be construed as female so that I get equal treatment. Otherwise they get really ignorant, don't take you seriously etc..." - Sarah</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;">And what is perhaps even more offensive is that many keepers seem to be less inclined to help a women keeper with questions, which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy if that female keeper fails or makes a mistake thanks to the lack of help and support. </span><br />
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"I bought a Caiman lizard from a gentleman and even though I paid for it completely and for all her supplies, the breeders still only really responds to my ex's texts about the lizard. I could message him with questions and he won't get back to me but will call my ex right away to explain and help." - Jennifer</blockquote>
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"<span style="background-color: white;">I have experienced a decent group of men who are not willing to share breeding information or even being references for female breeders. In my case, I am starting a business that's kind of herp related and every time I try to talk to breeders or people</span><span style="background-color: white;"> in that "group" they always shut me down and say I could never do it or I'm not capable of doing it when they have male friends the same age as me who have done something similar." - Lexi</span></blockquote>
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Even highly-skilled or educated women keepers are victims of this prejudice. As a biologist myself I have often contemplated leaving work in labs altogether thanks to the lack of respect from male peers and clients and the contempt from other women coworkers. We work hard for our educations and our careers and fail to reap the benefits that men inherit so easily in the same position or circumstance. In my personal experience, I have often given advice that was unpopular until a man agrees and starts to echo the same advice; then it is readily accepted, even though I am a biologist and the man usually has no professional background in the subject.<br />
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"<span style="background-color: white;">I am a herpetologist who works at a zoo and people will ask questions to people I'm with when I'm in a group if they are male instead of me. If it is brought up that I rehabilitate reptiles and do a lot of field work, I'm automatically assumed to be so</span><span style="background-color: white;">me sort of assistant instead of the main researcher...</span><span style="background-color: white;">It's really frustrating to be a professional and be looked at as like a child who's really excited instead of someone that strives to put huge effort out scientifically. I've noticed though that females always seem to just directly ask me.</span><span style="background-color: white;">" - Courtney</span></blockquote>
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"I’ve also been told “I’m not taking advice from a little girl” ...I was the elected chair woman for my local reptile society and have qualifications in the Animal sector and my specialty subject is animal behaviour. So I have plenty of experience! It’s not like I don’t know what I’m talking about" - Hammie</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unwanted Sexualization</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The other undesirable consequence of being a woman in a </span>predominantly<span style="font-family: inherit;"> masculine hobby (although more on this later) is the unwanted sexual attention it seems to attract. Whether this is simply a symptom of life as a whole for women or because the ownership of exotic animals carries </span>perceived<span style="font-family: inherit;"> implications that attract it, I cannot comment with any certainty. But I suspect that like in so many industries, women are constantly bombarded with unwanted sexual attention and enjoy diminished credibility based on their appearance/attractiveness. </span>This section will be more heavily male-centered, although indeed, I've also watched women say plenty of lewd things to men online.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSe_Mq8RvaKg6_yY6a0W58gbzYgG0bb8kYqCIPvYcsa2G5jqW030LdOEfS5Dk6D9pq0fo2CpJrIvPleqZ8kRefbWmp4qSsJQGvN_Ht1boRceDXF82FQGWxbya85_p1BDZRkZovXTlBLDw/s1600/Sexy+Instagram+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSe_Mq8RvaKg6_yY6a0W58gbzYgG0bb8kYqCIPvYcsa2G5jqW030LdOEfS5Dk6D9pq0fo2CpJrIvPleqZ8kRefbWmp4qSsJQGvN_Ht1boRceDXF82FQGWxbya85_p1BDZRkZovXTlBLDw/s400/Sexy+Instagram+photo.jpg" width="266" /></span></a>"<span style="background-color: white;">I posted a video when I first got my baby chameleon and I had a comment saying that he would be dead in a week, because a girly girl like myself will end up killing him due to painting my nails and spraying perfume!! Needless to say, my chameleon is thriving. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Something I see a lot, it's fine for men to have other hobbies. Ex: cars, guns whatever. But as soon as I have a "girly" hobby such as makeup and fashion, I'm somehow incapable of caring for my exotic animals" - Emma</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I once posted a photo of myself with some Parson's chameleons </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">in situ</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in Madagascar, with the dorkiest happy-kid smile of my life, and totally covered up thanks to the pouring rain. This photo was picked up by a hot-women-herpers Instagram account and received almost 9 times more likes than any other photo I have ever posted. I was a little </span>appealed<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that I was picked up by such an account when there was nothing sexy about the photo, and </span>moreover<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that my trip to Madagascar to see chameleons in the wild was getting recognition only thanks to my </span>perceived<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "hotness." I am not alone in this complaint.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukj2WF80Qq4yBHKyVXugOEewZtjZXGrdzKrPgXWuaLqNH3JN-N1lyRt3iIB78OUf3LC5npHiNJDNO8Q0MUWOdcxbQbd_UgZAf4Op0XmFxSwQO3Rz1odOe1ZNWuDtP1kY9wWX3eQLXEXMr/s1600/Smaller+IMG_0166+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukj2WF80Qq4yBHKyVXugOEewZtjZXGrdzKrPgXWuaLqNH3JN-N1lyRt3iIB78OUf3LC5npHiNJDNO8Q0MUWOdcxbQbd_UgZAf4Op0XmFxSwQO3Rz1odOe1ZNWuDtP1kY9wWX3eQLXEXMr/s640/Smaller+IMG_0166+edited.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original photo in question</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes relatively harmless sexual comments turn into unwanted advances or photos. I received many complaints about "dick pics" and men wanting to trade sex for animals during my call for experiences and </span>anecdotes from women<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Some of these were directed at minors! It should go without saying that no woman wants to receive an unsolicited photo of genitalia, regardless of how wonderful or attractive a person thinks they are. While everyone loves receiving compliments, there is a really obvious line between a harmless, polite compliment and a lewd remark about a woman's rack or butt. This is common sense, and anyone that claims to be unsure that it's "safe to say anything anymore" really needs to reevaluate their manners. </span><br />
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Women should be free to share photos of themselves and their animals on public forums without receiving uncomfortable or creepy attention. I've seen plenty of photos like mine, where nothing particularly sexy is taking place, that get bombarded with uncomfortable messages as if these photos were an open invitation for something more. Below are just a few of the comments women wrote in with:<br />
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We are also quite often sexualized. When we post photos of ourselves with our reptiles, the comments by men are usually focusing on our physical appearance before the animal is even mentioned. This happened to me...since I entered the hobby." - Elise</blockquote>
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"<span style="background-color: white;">I had to leave a chameleon group on FB because one of the admins kept commenting on my boobs and the boobs of my dear friend. So sick how men think they can just say whatever to us." - Dani</span> </blockquote>
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"<span style="background-color: white;">I had a guy who said he could get me the reptile I wanted but instead of paying him in cash he wanted me to pay him in sexual favors [and outlined what he wanted me to do to him]" - Logan</span> </blockquote>
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Even well known chameleon/Facebook personalities that people would usually consider to be highly respectable and reputable have the seediest reputation among women when asked in private. When I asked for stories I received many of these accusations, but this article was not meant to persecute any one person so I will not delve into this deeper. I say this only to illustrate that it's the people we least expect that might be the same kind of offenders we are discussing now. The breeder or keeper you respect might be the one sending disgusting messages to women in private. It is not too much, in my humble opinion, to request that people treat other people with dignity, respect, and manners. On the other hand, such offenders should be weary of continuing their behavior, as it only takes one brave woman with proof in this digital age to come forward for things to get <i>very </i>difficult.<br />
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Going Forward As a Community</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWwl-Krj4i0bNoPJ_EIMsxE14GtuZ9rTLjLxXqREi_dWsmhyxG-8-xSElP2-WlDirIoAbfps_7il-chyphenhyphenDnNkE62KyothY0pswTz4vaHMODjkxICtRZxBZoibE-JgwcAeIuO3JHUvJN43Y/s1600/Much+ado+about+chameleons+women+herpers+young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="713" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWwl-Krj4i0bNoPJ_EIMsxE14GtuZ9rTLjLxXqREi_dWsmhyxG-8-xSElP2-WlDirIoAbfps_7il-chyphenhyphenDnNkE62KyothY0pswTz4vaHMODjkxICtRZxBZoibE-JgwcAeIuO3JHUvJN43Y/s400/Much+ado+about+chameleons+women+herpers+young.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Born a herper!</td></tr>
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Women are not a minority in this hobby. As much as it might seem that women are a small part of this predominantly-male community of herpers and hobbyists, women make up about 44%* of reptile groups I inquired. This is no small percentage! So to feel as though we do not belong in this hobby or have enough of a presence in it to make meaningful contributions is absolutely false. We are diverse, with different levels of education, experience, ability, and skill set to offer the hobby. All of us need to recognize our own prejudices when it comes to communicating with each other and strive to be better and more open-minded about who we listen to. To take care not to disregard one person while praising another for the same information. To not celebrate one keeper but minimize the contributions of another because subconsciously He is seen to be the better authority than She. To not treat women as sexual objects that can be harassed. </div>
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We need to be careful, all of us, that we do not frustrate women keepers so much that they choose to leave the hobby, as this will hurt <i>all of us</i>. Because every time there is a discriminatory incident that frustration builds and builds, and the woman either actively fights to make things better or chooses to leave. I've seen plenty of highly experienced female colleagues become so disenfranchised with how they are treated that they leave the community and take all their experience with them. It is a tragedy to lose what could be decades of herp experience and outreach because a woman feels excluded and marginalized by other keepers. </div>
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This is a task for both men and women, together.<br />
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<i>All of us have to be careful that our biases don't cost the community its female keepers</i>. That those gestures, slights, missed eye contact, or dismissive remarks of subtle discrimination don't keep piling on that frustration and cost the community experienced women and enthusiastic newcomers that the hobby needs and thrives thanks to. </div>
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References</h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="titleAuthorETC small" style="box-sizing: border-box; word-wrap: break-word;">Knutson, Roger E. (2014, June) </span><span class="titleAuthorETC small" style="box-sizing: border-box; word-wrap: break-word;">Student Assessments of Professor Effectiveness. Retrieved February 5, 2018 from </span><span class="titleAuthorETC small" style="box-sizing: border-box; word-wrap: break-word;">Minnesota State University, Mankato, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, https://search.proquest.com/openview/1daa9a3e4e04a59b411e81ec30fad1c7/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y 2014.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -22px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -22px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Salerno, J. M., & Peter-Hagene, L. C. (2015, December). One angry woman: Anger expression increases influence for men, but decreases influence for women, during group deliberation. Retrieved February 5, 2018, from http://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2015-39675-001</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carli, L. L. and Eagly, A. H. (2001), Gender, Hierarchy, and Leadership: An Introduction. Journal of Social Issues, 57: 629–636. doi: 10.1111/0022-4537.00232</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carli, L. L. (2001), Gender and Social Influence. Journal of Social Issues, 57: 725–741. doi: 10.1111/0022-4537.00238</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">*Averaged from various results. All 7 large reptile groups inquired reported numbers between 42 and 46% of female membership. </span>Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-18294396081559920602018-01-02T08:37:00.000-05:002018-01-28T15:05:26.397-05:00New Arrivals to Much Ado About Chameleons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1R1L4T5KdfotU93m-FIHxNOGjoriQ4AGmlYFnEOs4L3tWfIsglIKgV3czSwNh9wW5rGLbHOpJo34uFTulVNNkRrKVzJFFnoP3DEsHT634g33HSyp2i0uQ5gtweK8Fc54moJFG73mPl7p/s1600/IMG_2125+COPY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1R1L4T5KdfotU93m-FIHxNOGjoriQ4AGmlYFnEOs4L3tWfIsglIKgV3czSwNh9wW5rGLbHOpJo34uFTulVNNkRrKVzJFFnoP3DEsHT634g33HSyp2i0uQ5gtweK8Fc54moJFG73mPl7p/s1600/IMG_2125+COPY.jpg" /></a></div>
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New year, new arrivals, and new goals for the blog</h2>
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Last year I changed jobs four times. Four! I went from a lab where I was happy but had no room to grow, to a lab where I was a manager but worked in an utterly socially toxic environment, to an office that had issues of client fraud, to the managerial position I currently hold (where, thankfully, there are so such issues!) Mixed in somewhere among all this, I went to Madagascar for almost two weeks, I started developing an app, and I've been doing consultation work on the side. You could definitely say that 2017 was a year with a lot of change for me, and that unfortunately translated into not a lot of activity for the blog. I sincerely hope that everyone else had a better year!<br />
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But thanks to the incredible generosity and enthusiastic support from several friends I have been able to ring in the new year with a beautiful little troop of chameleons so that I can not only keep them again for the joy of chameleons, but also bring renewed energy and new posts to the blog. Below I will introduce each new member of the family as well as extend my deepest gratitude to these friends.<br />
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Additionally, as the Executive Editor of <a href="http://reptileapartment.com/">Reptile Apartment</a> I am excited to tease you guys with a return of <b>Reptile Livingroom</b>, a podcast and vlog show coming soon! So stay tuned for the launch of new episodes, as I am already working on producing some chameleon content to send to John, the Boss Man.<br />
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<b>Cilantro</b></h3>
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<b>Male, wild-caught Florida veiled chameleon (<i>C. calyptratus</i>)</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WIbSXEivQ-ymA2gAl1wGwOQj80Z99gRwqQ6x8vi7ad60qdKAWBZ8EwhiM0WHfIN2XQQWEwj8-XyIFmW5GM8fKsCK_Cv3gG2kal8owydgMzb3qUIFo4XbtI8JskRiF_2HWkNh1d4TQbrA/s1600/A+new+veiled+chameleon+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WIbSXEivQ-ymA2gAl1wGwOQj80Z99gRwqQ6x8vi7ad60qdKAWBZ8EwhiM0WHfIN2XQQWEwj8-XyIFmW5GM8fKsCK_Cv3gG2kal8owydgMzb3qUIFo4XbtI8JskRiF_2HWkNh1d4TQbrA/s400/A+new+veiled+chameleon+%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a>I had only recently met Zac of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/punchythechameleon/">Greenhouse Chameleons</a> online as a fellow Miami local, but we chatted for a few weeks and realized we definitely had chameleons as a joint interest. He breeds several species of chameleons on his property here in South Florida and also goes herping to catch wild Florida invasive species like veileds and Oustalet's. He would mock the fact that I had a blog about chameleons but no chameleons! He rectified that when he went herping one night and found, among others, a beautiful little male veiled that was particularly bright. He asked me if I wanted him and after a little deliberating, I accepted.<br />
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I was excited to take on Cilantro for a couple reasons. First, because I think it's phenomenal that since we have these animals wild in Florida, who shouldn't be here and are probably causing some harm to our native ecosystem, that we should take advantage of this and give captured specimens a good home. The alternative is that these animals are euthanized when captured.<br />
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Second, I wanted to show people that veileds don't have the terrible personalities that they seem to be so infamous for. All chameleons can be skiddish and defensive, this is a fact, but veileds have the reputation for being the most aggressive and the most indomitable. And what happens is that new keepers are nervous about taking on this species. I want to show people how easy it really is to form a good relationship with a veiled, even a wild-caught veiled, with time, patience, and some consistent work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokYfQI4FZjDd_YafKzXgUKH1Ck6cHU0nUDwce-jmCxyEWII7uPsg3zzW8QT8PfVQUHEsPaxK3muG-RSfGnis-ffTBPVA3niuQsixjch8YxxDrBbZNHDynIX9zId1Yff7kUcOr_qBib-_T/s1600/A+new+veiled+chameleon+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokYfQI4FZjDd_YafKzXgUKH1Ck6cHU0nUDwce-jmCxyEWII7uPsg3zzW8QT8PfVQUHEsPaxK3muG-RSfGnis-ffTBPVA3niuQsixjch8YxxDrBbZNHDynIX9zId1Yff7kUcOr_qBib-_T/s1600/A+new+veiled+chameleon+2.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_SIRtAdnRrXSQ57JfAPMwJmxWRI54d9cVsPEF2w7O4Y2EWqOTk8iDRZQsvHoMak7sbXkh-X-22VUzW-9gLtiv623BuZDSW7Grpp1w1sux4pfF3D51yaWIn-9OirpDt8HOWvHYYlawLBP/s1600/IMG_1744+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_SIRtAdnRrXSQ57JfAPMwJmxWRI54d9cVsPEF2w7O4Y2EWqOTk8iDRZQsvHoMak7sbXkh-X-22VUzW-9gLtiv623BuZDSW7Grpp1w1sux4pfF3D51yaWIn-9OirpDt8HOWvHYYlawLBP/s400/IMG_1744+%25282%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b>Albus / "Bacon"</b></h3>
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<b>Male, captive-hatched Masoala locality panther chameleon (<i>F. pardalis</i>)</b></div>
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Albus was a completely unplanned addition to the household, but local Miami herper and breeder, Rey Naranjo (who used to run Red Island Chameleons) reached out regarding some Masoala panther hatchlings that he had hatched from some of the Olaf Pronk imports that arrived last year. He offered me one of the little males and I jumped at the chance, so grateful that he wanted to help me jump back into chameleons just as he was leaving them to pursue other species. I picked him up the very next day, at only 3 months of age, as a tiny little brown thing with some red barring.<br />
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Little Albus, or "Bacon" (as we've quickly nicknamed him!) should grow up to be mainly white and red barring. He has shed twice already since I have had him and I expect him to keep growing like the week in the next several months. His personality is a little skiddish, like nearly all chameleons, but he is already acting braver with me now than he was just two weeks ago. I expect him to grow up to be an excellent ambassador for the blog as well.<br />
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<b>Little O</b></h3>
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<b>Male, captive-hatched Oustalet's chameleon (<i>F. oustaleti</i>)</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZj8QbwHVyTrAs8eMSSyTbnPkA9DUz6Ju7IzJwgxyXlI42lra4nhHgkP_Mz5o5qbBFxJNTlpHxqFhiJvFKFJy1BPhfa7ct34U3zy40XmHeoYUwm17j7kjF425NRAG-FIQMmTMA87aVS3B/s1600/IMG_2135+COPY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZj8QbwHVyTrAs8eMSSyTbnPkA9DUz6Ju7IzJwgxyXlI42lra4nhHgkP_Mz5o5qbBFxJNTlpHxqFhiJvFKFJy1BPhfa7ct34U3zy40XmHeoYUwm17j7kjF425NRAG-FIQMmTMA87aVS3B/s400/IMG_2135+COPY.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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This is the chameleon I think I have waited for the longest in my entire life! At about this time last year, a man named Mark approached me through the blog. This man was in Michigan and I had never heard of him before, but he was coming back into the chameleon hobby with species like Oustalet's and giant spiny chameleons and he told me that because he loved Much Ado so much, that he wanted to make sure I received an Oustalet's baby (or two) when they hatched in the Fall. We ended up becoming friends, and Mark and Sue of <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreyPhoenixReptiles/">Grey Phoenix Reptiles</a></b> are two of the nicest, most straight-forward people in chameleon-keeping. Mark kept me updated with the hatchlings' progress the entire time and reserved one for me from the get-go, and would refer to him as "Little O."</div>
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I have never kept Oustalet's chameleons, but I definitely wanted to try my hand at them at some point. When I was in Madagascar I saw many of them, both males and females, and I had watched my friend Karen keep some when she ran The Chameleon Farm on Facebook. They are an incredibly underrated species that is hardy, impressively huge, and is very similar in care to both panthers or veileds. Like with Cilantro, I wanted to show the public that these chameleons should be included in the top 3-4 species of chameleons to keep in captivity as we start to get more and more captive bred clutches.</div>
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<b>Lito</b></h3>
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<b>Male, captive-bred Argentinian r<span style="font-family: inherit;">ed tegu (<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>T. rufescens</i>)</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1CzSMmF4z4yU1qm36nzy3Ze5wZihFRFvuVjR441Nync6kim_Z0xWz6Kei7jNTfPB4zzh1CoEIgpfjImdrqIIDWT9cmNVz5-QH-h_mGNj2B338MtakkxJJcT9cegces6XZRzAAzh9VD5J/s1600/IMG_1394+2+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1CzSMmF4z4yU1qm36nzy3Ze5wZihFRFvuVjR441Nync6kim_Z0xWz6Kei7jNTfPB4zzh1CoEIgpfjImdrqIIDWT9cmNVz5-QH-h_mGNj2B338MtakkxJJcT9cegces6XZRzAAzh9VD5J/s400/IMG_1394+2+%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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And then finally, Lito, my little red tegu. Lito is not new, necessarily, as I have had him since this Summer, but this is the first time I mention him on the blog so I will take the time to properly introduce him. He was born in Argentina and imported into Miami at the beginning of last year, and by the time I purchased him he was already about 4 months old. He will be turning a year old next month, in mid-February. Although he is in full brumation mode currently (which means he is asleep most of the time) he is still such a pleasure to own after having kept chameleons so many years.</div>
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This highly intelligent lizard is happy to curl up under my shirt to sleep while I watch movies, he eats ever so gently from tongs, and is smart as a whip. I hope that as we continue to do taming work that he grows up to keep his gentle temperament and becomes a fixture in my household.</div>
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With all these new arrivals I am still organizing my little reptile space! I will post photos of my set-ups as soon as I feel everything is presentable! I have ordered T5 HO lights for the first time to finally try out, along with Arcadia 12% UVB lights (which I still believe to be excessive for most chameleons, but I want to try it out first-hand), and have commissioned a new cage for my tegu, Lito.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz49IVw7Jr4KhPDPFrDmA7bcW69jmUIOYBbszJL_pR516NcxMnJWakly5WLNi1W-To0RwMIWLt_or3H1NLC1_Sbt8Tuz-M7UY92HPJTaarH0TtrCYqDIuRhzgYDVNlivImQQyndFHYAs_/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz49IVw7Jr4KhPDPFrDmA7bcW69jmUIOYBbszJL_pR516NcxMnJWakly5WLNi1W-To0RwMIWLt_or3H1NLC1_Sbt8Tuz-M7UY92HPJTaarH0TtrCYqDIuRhzgYDVNlivImQQyndFHYAs_/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-84147410260058643542017-03-20T14:24:00.000-04:002018-01-12T11:20:14.385-05:00ChamEO Madagascar Expedition 2017 | Part V<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX00-ZRlr6Wl1UTQQD_rNmrCOebtwpC7ThdlWPDredur18JDKoBpk1kbU4iPe89xQ9ARWNBA4jbLBJ0wPBJkqmhEcsHjD8JyMow0Er3pdIIzm8-fttUgWusKnVRKysgoMNZj4ch18fdXPC/s1600/Maddy+2017+205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX00-ZRlr6Wl1UTQQD_rNmrCOebtwpC7ThdlWPDredur18JDKoBpk1kbU4iPe89xQ9ARWNBA4jbLBJ0wPBJkqmhEcsHjD8JyMow0Er3pdIIzm8-fttUgWusKnVRKysgoMNZj4ch18fdXPC/s1600/Maddy+2017+205.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Day 6-7: Exploring Andasibe and Vakona Lodge</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">By the time we arrived in Andasibe it was utterly dark outside but early enough for a pre-dinner herping walk with our flashlights in hand. Our bus left us on a stretch of road where we met up with our three tour guides for the evening, two men and one woman, who scanned the trees and bushes for chameleons as we walked through the rain. Soaked completely through and sans my camera (I wasn't going to risk getting my equipment wet for mediocre nighttime photos), I walked briskly the length of the road just trying not to step and kill all the little frogs on the asphalt, who were emboldened by the rain and were busy socializing underfoot. </span></div>
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Dinner and bedtime followed, but the next morning we were able to appreciate the area's natural beauty. Much more misty rainforest than any of the areas we'd seen so far, it truly felt like being in the tropics now. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZaPMOdtWawAFqIJbCHZ8V7SYjrKJXwNHXlLgE6moaTXj5JQhgRzaamUS9YHhAzhECnUU5BfhcuiFoyQ6645Hfi8HaN6eMS-NETbPP6Ir0BkPeEHOP1SqeaK-ULBJA0IfG6_MtMezuyJu/s1600/Maddy+2017+183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZaPMOdtWawAFqIJbCHZ8V7SYjrKJXwNHXlLgE6moaTXj5JQhgRzaamUS9YHhAzhECnUU5BfhcuiFoyQ6645Hfi8HaN6eMS-NETbPP6Ir0BkPeEHOP1SqeaK-ULBJA0IfG6_MtMezuyJu/s1600/Maddy+2017+183.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my cabana.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi990w82HxjReXcWzaH3iZ090CVUk3Ni90KNTGlL2WJxOrFIY9WlDogme0sDHWqrx3yUgQlpNb_qH6XPeNA0gTsoB_U_5fWdDmmQJeKhLxgqWHI361ymu630Z02Ooz7pmMiBei8-DjealEY/s1600/Maddy+2017+184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi990w82HxjReXcWzaH3iZ090CVUk3Ni90KNTGlL2WJxOrFIY9WlDogme0sDHWqrx3yUgQlpNb_qH6XPeNA0gTsoB_U_5fWdDmmQJeKhLxgqWHI361ymu630Z02Ooz7pmMiBei8-DjealEY/s1600/Maddy+2017+184.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my cabana. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKK_7wnKFe74xsEVuhxS8jM4R0eEmw4y9vvV1iuZEW0tVJ8cuNrU_wcQZ_bNEF0d1th632k7ypOjjvhLpIJcyZEbtF1oFA89nqvLaHxYb2sgiWSq1P-UAd3qI1qJEx4Z0-cmstgNOZ0r7E/s1600/Maddy+2017+185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKK_7wnKFe74xsEVuhxS8jM4R0eEmw4y9vvV1iuZEW0tVJ8cuNrU_wcQZ_bNEF0d1th632k7ypOjjvhLpIJcyZEbtF1oFA89nqvLaHxYb2sgiWSq1P-UAd3qI1qJEx4Z0-cmstgNOZ0r7E/s1600/Maddy+2017+185.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I managed to sneak in a little pool time, where day geckos kept us company. </td></tr>
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This is going to count as cheating, but at the Vakona lodge where we were staying had an expansive property, and nestled in all this land was their lemur island. A very brief canoe ride and you were face to face with lemurs eager for banana, which made this the single best opportunity to photograph lemurs on the entire trip!<br />
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I don't claim to be an expert on crocodilians either, so to be honest I had never thought about it, but I was surprised to learn that the crocodiles that we saw in Andasibe (and all of Madagascar) are Nile crocodiles! Much smaller here due to the cooler temperatures of the rainforest, but Nile crocodiles nonetheless.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepTAblJc2HbDAsPitfGchKrD7u24WuUCNrp3fT7H5xnddHvJ7sqyHps182yk1g3usLA7-S7no_hNIpE7RxtvIUalpZN8MSzf2VNhcDmnU9xWeqCihXlpZV3VbZzNqMzHa8iAwuIP2uUsS/s1600/Maddy+2017+219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepTAblJc2HbDAsPitfGchKrD7u24WuUCNrp3fT7H5xnddHvJ7sqyHps182yk1g3usLA7-S7no_hNIpE7RxtvIUalpZN8MSzf2VNhcDmnU9xWeqCihXlpZV3VbZzNqMzHa8iAwuIP2uUsS/s1600/Maddy+2017+219.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female panther chameleon (<i>F. pardalis</i>) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-16165134907165184532017-03-13T19:36:00.000-04:002018-01-10T18:06:40.795-05:00ChamEO Madagascar Expedition 2017 | Part IV<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwczuGhKeOn2CAmD1G9SUT-IsBX7G3gDuVD1goYho_iWt0Y90fOq_w-6FXWZ6vjZ7L-pCcY9YESFZCHF893VdqVRYK3BfbTWB1TttrcpEZXPqL0P2QNOG8mg-9M-7T1c72VHrdYKhRwJQ1/s1600/Maddy+2017+136+%2528Header%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwczuGhKeOn2CAmD1G9SUT-IsBX7G3gDuVD1goYho_iWt0Y90fOq_w-6FXWZ6vjZ7L-pCcY9YESFZCHF893VdqVRYK3BfbTWB1TttrcpEZXPqL0P2QNOG8mg-9M-7T1c72VHrdYKhRwJQ1/s1600/Maddy+2017+136+%2528Header%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Day 5: Leave Ranomafana, Head Towards Andasibe</h2>
On this morning we awoke early, despite having arrived back at the hotel room after 1 am, following our rum-and-coke-excursion along the roads of the town looking for herps. But at the crack of dawn we were up again, fed, and loaded ourselves up onto the bus. The following three photos are from the previous afternoon but I'm going to cheat a little! Eager children bathing in the river begged Evan and Melissa for their coke and sweets, and were thrilled to get something sugary as if they weren't hyper enough! Mothers internationally love us.<br />
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To get to Andasibe we had to go back north and actually cross through Antananarivo on our way further north. We did a lot of miles of road this day, but also got to see a lot of interesting things. One of which was a geranium essential oil... factory? Refinery? Whatever the correct term, our guide Hery let us disembark the bus and have a look around. Some of us purchased little bottles of geranium oil, which made the bus smell pretty good. </div>
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Until, that is, until <i>someone who shall remain nameless</i> accidentally spilled an entire bottle into their own hiking boot, forcing Hery to tie the offending shoe to the roof of the bus so that the rest of us wouldn't want to claw out our sinuses. </div>
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We stopped then at a different road-side market selling hand-carved wooden cutting boards. While others bought boards I photographed the locals that ran up to sell little fruits while they had us there. </div>
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Here is where it got interesting for us, as chameleon people. I, and others in the group, had kept carpet chameleons (<i>F. lateralis lateralis</i>) in captivity before, but after seeing them in the wild we realized we were doing things entirely incorrectly. We found them in a dry open grassland, much more reminiscent to me of Madrid, Spain's sierra than the picture I had in my head of their native environment. It was noon, so the air was hot and smelled of warm pine and fern. Again, if anyone else has ever been to the mountains near Madrid in the middle of summer, you'll know what I'm talking about. </div>
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We walked the area for not quite an hour, and I in flip-flops. In that time I returned to the bus with a sandal tan across my feet! So the UV here was quite intense. And yet, we found a handful of little carpet chameleons sitting in open grasses in high-80°F temperatures. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1NlMMvV_bSuG9IpY0_tcUpRk3sbHHqxG26_qgEOQ4Q43VTfFDTCZb3xVk-CD73ijKbHqDSCiiQ08iX0j7S6iZG__YNKizEKV_fmHqtjrnCs4yy4iaWrCr1Ph9bu6p63_YDTPqbbIrmPH/s1600/Maddy+2017+152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1NlMMvV_bSuG9IpY0_tcUpRk3sbHHqxG26_qgEOQ4Q43VTfFDTCZb3xVk-CD73ijKbHqDSCiiQ08iX0j7S6iZG__YNKizEKV_fmHqtjrnCs4yy4iaWrCr1Ph9bu6p63_YDTPqbbIrmPH/s1600/Maddy+2017+152.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our home for the 8-day trip. </td></tr>
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Then we moved on towards a village our guide Hery really wanted us to see, so that we could meet locals and see how they live. I hadn't but others had brought bags of clothing, school supplies, and other items for local families and children so this would be their big chance to hand-deliver those things into the hands of people that need them. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calumma Craig working on his GQ cover look.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfeBSoq5gvWACELu0G4KOboih1QMmM8SDVn3dU2YaWTgqc0gRPjIox8Eb5JG01USxRKetB6FiwhZaiL9MyIU55s-Amjm2lBs0W2iu1txMlNRAwPrRXT86pb2Bft_lFh4ReWmtc1D2Iynb/s1600/Maddy+2017+166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfeBSoq5gvWACELu0G4KOboih1QMmM8SDVn3dU2YaWTgqc0gRPjIox8Eb5JG01USxRKetB6FiwhZaiL9MyIU55s-Amjm2lBs0W2iu1txMlNRAwPrRXT86pb2Bft_lFh4ReWmtc1D2Iynb/s1600/Maddy+2017+166.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hery starting to hand out caps to the children. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the little girl's face!</td></tr>
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Following the most amazing pork chop any of us have ever eaten (seriously, amazing!) we continued for several more hours north towards Andasibe. As we continued the climate changed and it actually started to rain! It rained just as we arrived at a reptile collection that we'd been told to go see for the chameleon species that we weren't going to be able to see, since we weren't going to pass through those habitats. </div>
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Again, forgive the blurry photos! By now, with the rain, it was way too dark to photograph without flash but I didn't want to ruin any equipment either. So I switched to my older DSLR (which has a much worse ISO range) and just hoped for the best. Still, the collection was impressive, with species from panthers to Parson's to Oustalet's. </div>
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<br />Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-71097512543438794662017-03-06T15:43:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:06:56.411-05:00ChamEO Madagascar Expedition 2017 | Part III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Day 4: Ranomafana National Park and Arboretum</h2>
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By now I was feeling much better; the fever was essentially gone, all that remained was a cough and some fatigue. Nothing that was going to keep me from participating in as many of the day's activities as possible! This was going to be our first serious hike through jungle so we loaded the bus early in the morning after breakfast and headed up towards the Ranomafana National Park, only a handful of miles from our hotel. </div>
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A quick note here about the coffee in Madagascar... I don't ask for much, I really don't. I think I'm an easy traveler. However, the coffee everywhere in this country was really, honestly, pretty terrible. I certainly don't profess to know why, but after four days of drinking just the minimum amount of dark brown liquid that passed itself as coffee in order to function, I was really craving a good Cuban <i>cafe con leche </i>pick-me-up<i>.</i> So consider yourself, warned; it's not the mosquitoes and diseases that you should be worried about, it's the abysmal coffee. </div>
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Along the road, a major highway (believe it or not), we saw drives of zebu cattle making their way in from the coast. It's a 40-day walk, and the herders make the entire journey on foot beside their animals. We didn't have a single steak or piece of beef all trip that wasn't zebu meat, and clearly it's the livestock of choice across the country. </div>
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We arrived at the entrance to the park, where our guides from the night before, Emile and son, gave us a little background on the park. We prepared ourselves mentally for the onslaught of leeches we had been warned about, and dove right into the jungle. It was not a terrible hike by any means, not particularly steep nor perilous. However, my sickly lungs did leave me embarrassingly winded several times, but I still made it through the roughly 4-hour trek.<br />
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By the end of the trek I had my first leech bite! Thankfully the only one throughout the entire trip, but I was relieved to not be the only member of the group that wouldn't get to experience the thrill of a leech.<br />
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As we got deeper into the jungle the thicker the canopy became and the darker the forest. It became very difficult to photograph the lemurs at distances, even if I'd used a flash, so forgive the graininess of the photos that follow. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo lemurs. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJVukuAbIEZg_PhYZpdX5MrIKRDiwPgLE6PuO70IE7ijzPnsXpQBNlm2MlbXLsRWlkr4LeQbcWeeUcpxSA4cu6ddzZaXmUEXYMOOxcsaYOqT1yDK8hyrqqB-L7zF5CTr_tQYAtG6_5dG6/s1600/Maddy+2017+112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJVukuAbIEZg_PhYZpdX5MrIKRDiwPgLE6PuO70IE7ijzPnsXpQBNlm2MlbXLsRWlkr4LeQbcWeeUcpxSA4cu6ddzZaXmUEXYMOOxcsaYOqT1yDK8hyrqqB-L7zF5CTr_tQYAtG6_5dG6/s1600/Maddy+2017+112.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pygmy leaf chameleon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-j7F1shDOT726IC0vv-QZXm0A_zbmj00K6IyOr0zU4FRcpnMDiJNIGLNp5Sjf3Sw3XsmF14tQA6y_aawEQI4scu0Ear5xIEWtT0QepoGhs-RC7Schcjpogceu4A51xJjWNdhfPtORu0h/s1600/Maddy+2017+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-j7F1shDOT726IC0vv-QZXm0A_zbmj00K6IyOr0zU4FRcpnMDiJNIGLNp5Sjf3Sw3XsmF14tQA6y_aawEQI4scu0Ear5xIEWtT0QepoGhs-RC7Schcjpogceu4A51xJjWNdhfPtORu0h/s1600/Maddy+2017+114.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cameron with a leaftail gecko</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kHCQGMvBm4s1u7Jxkn2s9O62606YtYTljKjyxipxGRVLaSeyxux0X47jxemzl47W_qKlhkKdboxGUtsb2KhhnaF5UrsogqnvPFaehWsniTKLjMcZvkcLIm8GSkajS72UnMD_E5WIOyjf/s1600/Maddy+2017+119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kHCQGMvBm4s1u7Jxkn2s9O62606YtYTljKjyxipxGRVLaSeyxux0X47jxemzl47W_qKlhkKdboxGUtsb2KhhnaF5UrsogqnvPFaehWsniTKLjMcZvkcLIm8GSkajS72UnMD_E5WIOyjf/s1600/Maddy+2017+119.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day gecko back at our hotel for lunch.</td></tr>
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After lunch we set out towards the Ranomafana Arboretum, which is a collection of trees traditional organized by family or clade. We were told that within the Arboretum they had three Parson's chameleons (<i>C. parsonii parsonii</i>), two males and one female, that they had brought in from further north, where they are naturally found. Surprised that they could survive in this heat (because it was hot), we set off to go find them. It took all of two minutes to find the female, which was hanging out towards the entrance of the Arboretum and following that we located one of the two males up in a tree.<br />
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Back at the hotel restaurant we found a female <i>Furcifer balteatus</i>, which we did the courtesy of removing from a small palm in the parking lot and leaving at the entrance of the Ranomafana National Park on our way in front of it again. There, Emile told us, was a male that would appreciate the presence of a healthy female. </div>
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That night we did a night hike along the road, with the help of a little rum and coke, and had an amazing 4-5 hour walk in the cool darkness. We saw a ton of mouse lemurs, geckos, frogs, and chameleons but I did not photograph any of them at night.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female <i>F. balteatus</i> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only chameleons I brought back from Madagascar! Craig was very upset that I bought up the best ones. </td></tr>
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<br />Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com2Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar-21.320082 47.396392999999989-46.8421165 6.08779899999999 4.2019525000000009 88.704986999999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-48422066513536076582017-02-27T19:26:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:08:04.246-05:00ChamEO Madagascar Expedition 2017 | Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Day 3: Leave Antsirabe, Hike Ialatsara, and Arrive in Ranomafana</h2>
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Welcome to the second installment of the Madagascar trip! On this day, day 3, I awoke after a horrible night with a fever of 102°F (yay!) In true mother-of-two-girls form, not two minutes after texting Elisa that I had a fever she and her daughter April showed up at my room armed with a thermometer and bags of medicine under each arm. Properly loaded up on Tylenol and a yummy breakfast we set off again. </div>
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The food in Madagascar was honestly pretty good, but the breakfasts were particularly nice. In true French fashion, the spread every morning included coffee, teas, fresh fruit juices, fruit, bread, butter, fresh marmalade, and eggs in whatever fashion you wanted. Definitely a nice way to set off for the day!</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We we sad to leave this hotel, I think. It just really was such a beautiful little place; an oasis in an otherwise unattractive, bustling little city. But on our way out April spotted a baby Oustalet's chameleon (</span><i>F. oustaleti</i>) from the night before a second time. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calumma Craig of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/primochams/">Primo Chameleons</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny baby Oustalet's chameleon (<i>F. oustaleti</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These pigs were, very literally, on their way to market. Alive, and on the roof because the van was full of people. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great little shop where I was able to get most of my souvenirs for friends and family. Authentic and not cheesy. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc_sT4tRQnocO2LJprWXLJWGaRveqkpnazJdJwnNtXoGINOhcTi-xnrAVcJLZ-QsTjzIQBjQeiaIC8Zv1TQVKh-gvhfvDapF0phdzrbtX5VSodlKYHUj_juHC1TybJwvba4LpXZpRm3FI/s1600/Maddy+2017+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc_sT4tRQnocO2LJprWXLJWGaRveqkpnazJdJwnNtXoGINOhcTi-xnrAVcJLZ-QsTjzIQBjQeiaIC8Zv1TQVKh-gvhfvDapF0phdzrbtX5VSodlKYHUj_juHC1TybJwvba4LpXZpRm3FI/s1600/Maddy+2017+061.jpg" /></a></div>
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Honestly, despite the few moments that we spent in the store I spent the entire morning stretched out across two seats on the bus, sleeping the fever off. I was not feeling great by lunch time, so when we arrived at Ialatsara Lemur Park I stayed on the bus to sleep a little longer while everyone got off to eat lunch with Daniel, the long-time director of this park. </div>
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Just before setting out on the trip, Elisa had gotten news that Daniel had suffered a massive heart-attack, a wake-up-call that he was tired and ready to retire from this work. He had been in charge of protecting the park, its wildlife, and organizing guided tours for decades, but was not stepping down to live out his retirement in peace. Unfortunately for the wildlife and forests of Ialatsara, he estimated that without his stewardship the entire section of forest would be decimated to burns for charcoal in about 3 years. </div>
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We were the last guided tour through this forest. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotpx1yjgyfZ5MhhaHLVOPDGW3TRssv8vzmffqn6vyNt-aqyjfh09D-C-9g8dBvtMSNHeaRYH5nyjehuGJj_ZEjpPxEv-Nk7oT0udK_FSeyRB8ARfnl9HROPOCB-OfqOETj9FSTRI8-AjA/s1600/Maddy+2017+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotpx1yjgyfZ5MhhaHLVOPDGW3TRssv8vzmffqn6vyNt-aqyjfh09D-C-9g8dBvtMSNHeaRYH5nyjehuGJj_ZEjpPxEv-Nk7oT0udK_FSeyRB8ARfnl9HROPOCB-OfqOETj9FSTRI8-AjA/s1600/Maddy+2017+064.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAq1IVvfqWeitM29aFGIfuVnyIkMnAIeQyQPij02pEuC2MrS8RQ9GncjWpUk0F7nrzgUs60XkdLih2GxtqQNVCQbNq-fP39hKrTwFVqBNrXl0lmjpNZt7xDUxpzL8SvfzVyg5-xJpxa43-/s1600/Maddy+2017+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAq1IVvfqWeitM29aFGIfuVnyIkMnAIeQyQPij02pEuC2MrS8RQ9GncjWpUk0F7nrzgUs60XkdLih2GxtqQNVCQbNq-fP39hKrTwFVqBNrXl0lmjpNZt7xDUxpzL8SvfzVyg5-xJpxa43-/s1600/Maddy+2017+062.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male O'shaughnessy's chameleon (<i>Calumma oshaughnessyi</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7AR04sO2TQb96ZlvgkWYa2Ce7KpnKtpLTZMapH9rS0uL2S1E0tKW2f9_Ixg6hySvQpfH_2mu2CxyQ9vpm4UT9WL00cNJrRNSftkFKSh-v7TT5Lj_MpebHqMzIzrWPHfrUaGzT-_GtyQ1/s1600/Maddy+2017+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7AR04sO2TQb96ZlvgkWYa2Ce7KpnKtpLTZMapH9rS0uL2S1E0tKW2f9_Ixg6hySvQpfH_2mu2CxyQ9vpm4UT9WL00cNJrRNSftkFKSh-v7TT5Lj_MpebHqMzIzrWPHfrUaGzT-_GtyQ1/s1600/Maddy+2017+063.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male O'shaughnessy's chameleon (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calumma oshaughnessyi</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9upmSIyWX88DC2lsuEMnXrEHWAeWJZNke2RtzEzHEzC8__gHTy29qNlBE2WUZn6KYbLZhiVZsUUEQOYekKyXSedgo2aQiC7sulgiZTVUDGC-NlP7lM_3JbdIsLZdeewPBkz64qUTdOgo/s1600/Maddy+2017+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9upmSIyWX88DC2lsuEMnXrEHWAeWJZNke2RtzEzHEzC8__gHTy29qNlBE2WUZn6KYbLZhiVZsUUEQOYekKyXSedgo2aQiC7sulgiZTVUDGC-NlP7lM_3JbdIsLZdeewPBkz64qUTdOgo/s1600/Maddy+2017+066.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were clear lines delineating recent burns from slightly older burns. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-7MlauqAZGMUzntHoYj2su1MGpAO782GKAXTtHMp85N_P0Ah4mYUsv5Qmukg3uRTjNCObF7hT7Ti136vWii2IrSbv7xM2HQIMAa4mYI863IH7Xk3mcC-53GCEJVPc09NiKADAUJNdfsL/s1600/Maddy+2017+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-7MlauqAZGMUzntHoYj2su1MGpAO782GKAXTtHMp85N_P0Ah4mYUsv5Qmukg3uRTjNCObF7hT7Ti136vWii2IrSbv7xM2HQIMAa4mYI863IH7Xk3mcC-53GCEJVPc09NiKADAUJNdfsL/s1600/Maddy+2017+071.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elisa and Craig taking temperature and UVB readings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8X_U6ImaO8p4i30J7RCP39WjcYllKWwPkyopDVfGnRdjJvxfQZ2twLl56HCr7h3ljwzON5TXwgLplQ7T8mRlNb_B4w9Ip661vXKTl5Q-YkyPlZEgfPd59BoKoBtBkAFoOMnl0pziAarkR/s1600/Maddy+2017+072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8X_U6ImaO8p4i30J7RCP39WjcYllKWwPkyopDVfGnRdjJvxfQZ2twLl56HCr7h3ljwzON5TXwgLplQ7T8mRlNb_B4w9Ip661vXKTl5Q-YkyPlZEgfPd59BoKoBtBkAFoOMnl0pziAarkR/s1600/Maddy+2017+072.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craig vlogging about the deforestation. Check out his Facebook page to hear his account!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female O'shaughnessy's chameleon (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calumma oshaughnessyi</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female O'shaughnessy's chameleon (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calumma oshaughnessyi</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male O'shaughnessy's chameleon (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calumma oshaughnessyi</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan, Attila, and Craig with one of our park guides.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The largest spider I've ever seen! Evan's hand was only 3-4 inches away, for size. </td></tr>
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From there it was a short drive into Ranomafana, where nearly the entire group did a night hike along the road. I was still pretty sick, even after sweating out most of the fever in Ialatsara! I did feel better in the evening, but not well enough to hike in the rain for a couple hours. Once they returned we arrived at our hotel in Ranomafana, where we would stay for two nights. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papayas</td></tr>
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<br />Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com4Madagascar-18.766947 46.869106999999985-33.9952715 26.214809999999986 -3.5386224999999989 67.523403999999985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-7852544650526090072017-02-20T10:37:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:08:31.909-05:00ChamEO Madagascar Expedition 2017 | Part I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After several attempts at starting the Madagascar trip recount, I think I will begin just by extending my enormous gratitude to Elisa Hinkle of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChamEO.org/">Chameleon Education and Outreach (ChamEO)</a> for putting together this expedition for the ten of us. It could not have been easy to coordinate so many aspects of the trip and so many people from various cities, but the final result was a nearly flawless excursion through Madagascar. I say nearly flawless because there were certainly unexpected hiccups; such as losing Ryan only a few minutes after entering the country to the Malagasy customs agents, who had swooped him away for questioning in French! Or the fever of 102° that started with me on only our second night and spread to everyone else throughout the remainder of the trip. But despite the little unforeseeables, losing about 10 lbs, and getting tagged by leeches, the trip was a resounding success for me.<br />
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I will be dividing up the photographs into blog parts, as I came back with over 900 photos and 30 videos and cannot possibly post them all! <br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Day 1: Arrive in Antananarivo</h2>
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After many more hours than humanly tolerable on planes and in airports, we all landed together in the Antananarivo airport, at about 3pm local time. A tiny airport, I would have expected it to be a regional airport in Central America and not the airport belonging to a country's capital. We disembarked the plane and walked across the tarmac into the airport, quickly passing through passport control, the visa purchase, and (for some of us) customs. About half the group walked through to the exit of the airport, where our guide Hery waited. The other half stayed inside the airport to purchase SIM cards for their phones, and this is where we first lost Ryan. After the realization that we did not, in fact, have Ryan with us still, Elisa and Hery ran back into the airport and were ale to locate him inside a questioning room, where he was being asked in French about the laptops in his bag. The matter was resolved and we were able to depart the airport and head towards the first stay of the trip, Villa Sybille. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first chameleon of the trip, a female Oustalet's (<i>F. oustaleti</i>) </td></tr>
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Another group member, Attila, emplored that we head back into the city center to see the Sunday evening illegal bird market. About half of us left to go see it while Elisa, her daughter April, and others stayed behind to cook dinner for all of us. The bird market was a bit of an exageration, perhaps, and after another 40 minutes sitting in a bus I was pretty underwhelmed! But alas, we took some photos and returned to the Villa. </div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Day 2: Head South Towards Antsirabe</h2>
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The following morning we awoke after a much-needed full night of sleep and boarded the bus through morning traffic in Antananarivo on our way south, towards our stop that night in Antsirabe. The first few photos are of Via Sybille and then the city as we drove out into the country. </div>
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The landscape in the highlands here is a mix of mountains and rice patties, nearly the only crop we saw for miles and miles. Amazingly, there weren't any mosquitoes at all! That really shocked me, but I didn't really feel mosquitoes at all the entire trip.<br />
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We stopped at a restaurant that specialized in foie gras, which, if you've never had before, is either something you love or you hate. I grew up on the stuff, so I was excited to have it again but many in the group were not as convinced! Some also tried a little pepper that was the most horrible thing Elisa says she's ever tried, spiciness-wise. I don't know if it's a legitimate name, but Hery said they were called "cockdarts," so for the rest of the trip being cockdarted was a thing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some children happy to receive goody-bags Evan and Melissa prepared.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our guide Hery purchased some Madagascar lovebirds so that we could release them into the wild again. </td></tr>
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Then close to evening time we arrived at our second hotel, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/andro.denis/?pnref=story">Eco Lodge Les Chambres Du Voyageur</a> in Antsirabe, which was probably the second-nicest hotel we stayed at the entire trip. It was beautifully landscaped, and we saw various chameleons and tortoises running free on the property. Once we were all settled in we brought out the vanilla rum and cokes!<br />
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Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com7Madagascar-18.766947 46.869106999999985-33.9952715 26.214809999999986 -3.5386224999999989 67.523403999999985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-88014616399800720422017-02-07T08:00:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:54:37.224-05:00Male or Female? How to Sex a Veiled/Yemen Chameleon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOBrF4e6ZeCkuS7rjUmJwjoDq0jYdnQTSkwqerRoDN28vSHCjA-57auYjJwL1loPdngoZQYXsB8ABKB8FpFnzUdhjkJEC1fFrfcuub_jrJ_qoppbCy8SHj6oCoLfp8fNtSUDNErzUQGN5/s1600/16523019_1316394961751644_1644593993_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOBrF4e6ZeCkuS7rjUmJwjoDq0jYdnQTSkwqerRoDN28vSHCjA-57auYjJwL1loPdngoZQYXsB8ABKB8FpFnzUdhjkJEC1fFrfcuub_jrJ_qoppbCy8SHj6oCoLfp8fNtSUDNErzUQGN5/s1600/16523019_1316394961751644_1644593993_o.jpg" /></a></div>
This week I am elbow-deep in the Malagasy tropics, hopefully stopping now and then for a cold beer. So this week's blog post comes courtesy of Trevor Neufeld from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theniagaraherptoculture/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf">Niagara Herpetoculture</a> in Ontario, Canada. He has been breeding veiled/Yemen chameleons (<i>C. calyptratus</i>) for about 20 years, and specializes in producing amazing individuals, especially of the translucent variety.<br />
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His photos will illustrate how to sex veiled chameleons easily, even as babies. This will apply in over 90% of all cases; there is always the odd chameleon that is a female with large spurs or a male with little ones, but by and large this method is a great way to identify a chameleon as male or female before any of the adult coloration comes in.<br />
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As adults identification should be easy; the male sports an impressive casque, has bright vertical bands of color, and has the thick tail-base typical of male chameleons where they hide their hemipenes. Females should be overall smaller, with smaller casques, typically solid green with speckles of color instead of bands, and a narrow tail base. In addition to this, males will have what are known as spurs on the back of their hind feet; a little protuberance like the spur on a cowboy's heel. Something (most) females do not have. The spur is present at the moment of hatchling, so even a newly-minted baby chameleon should be sexable this way with good certainty.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2kVjs2218N6_nvq9ZQJ-0MX1PQ7ItH26i0VUjBZk-dvV_8qNibXEv4rFlFJBZ3N42K9s89ktyEJZNu4-qeB-4NutrAkwoZOyU7oWQJg77SwSzX5m60G9UKRbEy8JCmCAr9JsBfa9xZl3/s1600/16523019_1316394961751644_1644593993_o+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2kVjs2218N6_nvq9ZQJ-0MX1PQ7ItH26i0VUjBZk-dvV_8qNibXEv4rFlFJBZ3N42K9s89ktyEJZNu4-qeB-4NutrAkwoZOyU7oWQJg77SwSzX5m60G9UKRbEy8JCmCAr9JsBfa9xZl3/s1600/16523019_1316394961751644_1644593993_o+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful translucent male veiled. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUFVfLzlHTYFc_jtUwT8LZzEe0ZJ6mfstLJCIHWKCeYfpbo_acHDz5w9rKmsiz4jiAXXqm6RSjnsXP2S0eO84_3zGCyAtfagFvWjDPArWpyurIDmzqHKSJHujWP581Mb0MxWCsbaBVhNm/s1600/16523019_1316394961751644_1644593993_o+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUFVfLzlHTYFc_jtUwT8LZzEe0ZJ6mfstLJCIHWKCeYfpbo_acHDz5w9rKmsiz4jiAXXqm6RSjnsXP2S0eO84_3zGCyAtfagFvWjDPArWpyurIDmzqHKSJHujWP581Mb0MxWCsbaBVhNm/s1600/16523019_1316394961751644_1644593993_o+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More male veiled chameleons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Notice also the stark difference in overall shape and coloration between the males above and the females below. Even if we ignore the translucent spots of white or black, you can see that males sport heavy vertical bars of yellow or ocher color while females have much smaller spots. Once they hit sexual maturity females will gain spots in turquoise and mustard, which signal that she's ready to breed and produce eggs. If she is carrying eggs the background green color can go as dark as black, making the spots even more striking. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b92dXQWEI5ddeeVmV1h1BQAxpeHq4zPCTkz_3o9IZEyl6c9613E-6wQI8OMFOouw1E_FzPE9Mha_V9pIPxwp9jb9JFjFSZ6Gu9D5FMur0bqaumCATGF-d1WS7lFvhZ3Lh4-SAhYeCJXU/s1600/Charlotte+6+months+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b92dXQWEI5ddeeVmV1h1BQAxpeHq4zPCTkz_3o9IZEyl6c9613E-6wQI8OMFOouw1E_FzPE9Mha_V9pIPxwp9jb9JFjFSZ6Gu9D5FMur0bqaumCATGF-d1WS7lFvhZ3Lh4-SAhYeCJXU/s1600/Charlotte+6+months+12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young, sexually-mature female.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM94Sj8QlwimCNiJwcirzq8zVXGfj21scHhlKo9wY6MY_XMad9R3_xzS7LwTFU9-n0CcUB8_m_A5EQ7XPHtgCh0mU_ODv6eExrSTbWZqIejKJbRQP0EB3ldqN6YKpb1v5HR7fgFILcgkO/s1600/Charlotte+9+months+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM94Sj8QlwimCNiJwcirzq8zVXGfj21scHhlKo9wY6MY_XMad9R3_xzS7LwTFU9-n0CcUB8_m_A5EQ7XPHtgCh0mU_ODv6eExrSTbWZqIejKJbRQP0EB3ldqN6YKpb1v5HR7fgFILcgkO/s1600/Charlotte+9+months+7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sexually mature female (gravid with eggs.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B7RW649eDueWNRnNHxPaQI6QIQy0-V5TJnYkN6tjRNXtNaySOdMmQKRXoF08prRj11LOmiuWfkLqvBuR_aG8LhzLDAODQn-s8a63b7oZelSQBZpl93ks_1unmQH5iTQ5fyMDeJSSNbtM/s1600/16522842_1316394948418312_542186776_n+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B7RW649eDueWNRnNHxPaQI6QIQy0-V5TJnYkN6tjRNXtNaySOdMmQKRXoF08prRj11LOmiuWfkLqvBuR_aG8LhzLDAODQn-s8a63b7oZelSQBZpl93ks_1unmQH5iTQ5fyMDeJSSNbtM/s1600/16522842_1316394948418312_542186776_n+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female veiled chameleons. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzqvnZalZnrmAN5CSIFfvJZFHUrC_nICv_E7o1x85YqsUFkuSc7B88QwTrCOPwvqdbslB-36yzA_x6zu6SoZI8QriTDAVzjE4MKIiGG5UE0Uit8ftxbYaWfe8zyeFUMbreM0pgtOHkyAO/s1600/Charlotte+6+months+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzqvnZalZnrmAN5CSIFfvJZFHUrC_nICv_E7o1x85YqsUFkuSc7B88QwTrCOPwvqdbslB-36yzA_x6zu6SoZI8QriTDAVzjE4MKIiGG5UE0Uit8ftxbYaWfe8zyeFUMbreM0pgtOHkyAO/s1600/Charlotte+6+months+9.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A female veiled. See how narrow her tail base is by comparison.</td></tr>
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<br />Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-15817313590736321492017-01-25T19:01:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:10:01.805-05:00How to Avoid (or Treat) Parasites in Chameleons<div class="MsoNormal">
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If you saw <a href="http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2017/01/the-curious-case-of-chameleon-full-of.html">last week’s blog post </a>you might be a slightly
horrified right now. A little like when we watch <i>Monsters Inside Me </i>and vow to never eat anything even remotely
containing pork in a sketchy south-east Asian rural food stand. Easy enough; don’t
order <i><span style="background: rgb(248, 249, 250);">Yam naem sot</span></i><span style="background: rgb(248, 249, 250);"> while driving
through the backwoods of Thailand. The bad news, however, is that it’s not as
straight-forward to avoid parasitic infections in our herps. </span>How do we
keep the same thing that happened to Fox the panther chameleon from
happening to other reptiles in our homes? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Parasites are everywhere, unfortunately. If you’ve spent any
time on reptile groups or forums then inevitably you’ve heard that feeding
wild-caught bugs (like grasshoppers, crickets, mantids, etc. from outside)
carry a high risk of infecting your pet with parasites. This is true. However,
this does <b>not</b>, contrary to popular misconception,
mean that if your pets only eat captive farmed insects like crickets and
superworms, that they will never catch any parasites. A biologist I knew, Pete
Bandre (owner of Incredible Pets in Melbourne, Florida for a good two decades),
told me once about an informal study he did once. He wanted to see if any
cricket suppliers had “cleaner” crickets than others, so he ordered a bulk box
from all the top suppliers in the US. He had each supplier’s stock sampled and
they all came back positive for things like pinwom and even coccidia. Yikes! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ok, so if even our innocent pet store crickets are riddled
with the potential for parasites, the only things we can do are mitigate risk,
do preventive testing and treatment, and treat parasite loads as necessary. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Keeping Parasites from Taking Over</h2>
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The truth of the matter is that parasites are everywhere. According
to the CDC, millions of people carry some sort of parasite, and many are
totally unaware. That’s the thing about parasites; it’s not in their best
interest to kill the hosts they live in, and our immune systems keep them in
check to a degree, so in most cases the host will never know they have parasites
until their immune system is compromised somehow and the parasites get too
prolific or they find themselves in an area of the body where they cause problems.
If everything stays in balance a person or a chameleon could live full and
healthy lives never knowing that they have worms or other parasites in their
system.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What does that mean for us? That parasites are not an
instant death sentence, thankfully, just something to manage. All the common parasites in chameleons are also easily treatable with the help of a veterinarian, In no particular
order:<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">1. Keep insect
colonies as clean as possible. </span></h3>
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Clearly, our insects are coming in with all sorts of
potential invaders, so to keep it from getting out of control I recommend
keeping cricket and other insect colonies as clean and dry as possible. I had
one chameleon test positive for E-coli in his saliva once from his food, so even though it’s
not a parasite, keeping the insects from living in and around their own feces
will help keep things more sanitary in general. From the anecdote I told earlier, we know crickets can be parasite vectors, so best to keep them as clean as possible.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">2. Quarantine all new
chameleons, always. </span></h3>
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When we bring home a new chameleon it is vital to quarantine
them away from other herps for a minimum of 60 days. Some people say 30 is
enough but 60 is better practice. Keep animals and supplies separate, wash your
hands between animals, and don’t share or swap supplied until the quarantine is
over. This prevents any possible contagious issues from spreading to all the
animals in your home. Nothing worse than a brand new animal passing along something like coccidia to all your other reptiles!<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">3. Do routine fecal
tests. </span></h3>
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These are not expensive to do, thankfully! If you have an
exotics vet nearby they will usually charge you the initial visit to make the
animal(s) a patient and then the fecal smear/float plus any recommended
antiparasitic. In my experience, in Florida I’ve paid an average of $22 for the
fecal and another $20 or so for the medication. I highly recommend doing
routine fecal tests every 3-6 months and treating accordingly. Doing routine
fecal tests may seem like over-kill for a captive animal that eats crickets and
lives indoors, but it’s just good preventative practice. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you have so many animals that the amount starts to add
up, you can buy your own microscope for about $150 on Amazon and do your own
quick checks. This can be a good way to run random checks more often on a large
colony and if anything is detected in the feces that animal’s sample can be
taken to the vet. This can save money on routine checks for larger collections,
but just make sure to buy a good resource guide to properly be able to identify
what might be lurking in a sample.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">4. Disinfect cages. </span></h3>
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Especially if you are buying any used equipment, please make
sure to disinfect it well before using. And it’s prudent to really clean out
all herp cages with a strong product at least every few months. There is no
point in doing parasitic treatments and fecals if the cages are dirty and the
chameleons are stepping over their old, infected poop every day. Or worse,
licking water off dirty poop footprint-covered branches. Yuck! So really make a
schedule to do super deep cleans routinely (everything gets torn apart, thrown
into the yard or the bath tub, and gets scrubbed down with bleach water or
another tough clearer. I do mine every 3 months; I do spot cleaning often, a
semi-deep clean every two weeks (where I don’t take everything apart but I do
clean the cage floor and walls well) and then once every 3 months I will drag
the cages outside, strip them, and do a really, really deep clean. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Cautionary Tale of Fox the Chameleon</h2>
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I’ve been keeping chameleons a long time and I’d never lost
one to parasites until my last panther chameleon, Fox. How could this happen, right?
I followed all my typical quarantine protocols; no instruments were shared, no
animals came into contact with each other, and hands were washed between handling.
So how did Fox end up with a heavy infestation of flagellate worms? This is a
type of parasite that we see a lot in wild caught species but almost never in
captive born animals! This is because the life cycle of this parasite includes
a mosquito that is thankfully not found in the US, so even infested chameleons
here cannot spread the worms to other animals, allegedly. That’s what they say,
however Fox was not the only case of a young, alleged captive-born animal dying
from a heavy parasite load. So in my opinion the transfer must be happening,
rarely by occasionally, via other means. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It never even occurred to me to perform a fecal test on a CB
animal this young upon receiving him, but now I have learned my lesson and will
be performing fecal tests on ALL new chameleons regardless of origin as soon as
they come through my door. My policy so far has been to leave CB animals alone
in that regard until they are a little older, but I think now I will be amending
my personal policy to include “welcome home” fecal tests and a test every 3-4 months
thereafter. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s clear from how heavily he was infested that this did
not happen in the month he lived with me (at the age of 7 months old), and it
probably took some time for all the adult worms to accumulate, so he may have
become infected at a very young age. I for one will be much more vigilant in
regards to parasites from now on, and will be performing checks much more often
even on young animals!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-43969235253896043332017-01-15T16:58:00.001-05:002018-01-10T18:10:17.628-05:00The Curious Case of a Chameleon Full of Worms<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72h7GKnyaPBe2OcMR7RGsNbDuVM512wZaDIVzWs5X6Eywj1nZGuM_WmQNcHDpAnVyKlMj-EFYXPY29MgUwTb9HKN0Gg9zQuZHMrPxRZ7bWUOeUa340wGr3_dZqkZE0nEKHSw_8tE6nr8k/s1600/Fox+for+IG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72h7GKnyaPBe2OcMR7RGsNbDuVM512wZaDIVzWs5X6Eywj1nZGuM_WmQNcHDpAnVyKlMj-EFYXPY29MgUwTb9HKN0Gg9zQuZHMrPxRZ7bWUOeUa340wGr3_dZqkZE0nEKHSw_8tE6nr8k/s1600/Fox+for+IG.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Caution: This post contains graphic necropsy photos.</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, this week’s post is not a happy one but it’s
a necessary one, nonetheless. I’ve never talked very much about parasites
beyond just recommending routine fecal tests but I’m going to dedicate this
post to talking about what it looks like when parasites take over and end up
killing their host. Next week I’ll follow up and talk more about common
parasites, how to manage them, and how to (hopefully) avoid this situation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not quite a month ago, on Tuesday, December 13<sup>th</sup>,
I received a new little panther chameleon. To the best of anyone’s knowledge he
was a captive-born from the previous July (making him 6-months-old), and in
great shape. We had a very pleasant buying and shipping experience and I had no
complaints about Fox, the Ambilobe panther chameleon. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the few weeks that followed he did very well; he would
eat and drink normally and nothing in his behavior seemed out of order. He
started warming up to his new home and you could start to see his little
personality shining through. On a couple occasions I was able to take him
outside for some Miami sunshine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0aAgXu1jXHc1a9kOKPVCsBM4FcB8TQ3Jj23Jo1w5-qnJtzN7a7lKv6MpqTykkheStBP1vl28nBp3-xSePFBKeoTdkdIDP7iVfd0ijFr_QD-mP5OCd2USCyMSi1gPuLD34fw_sELaKSgN/s1600/Fox+week+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0aAgXu1jXHc1a9kOKPVCsBM4FcB8TQ3Jj23Jo1w5-qnJtzN7a7lKv6MpqTykkheStBP1vl28nBp3-xSePFBKeoTdkdIDP7iVfd0ijFr_QD-mP5OCd2USCyMSi1gPuLD34fw_sELaKSgN/s1600/Fox+week+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fox, shortly after coming to live with me. Picture of health.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Wednesday, January 4<sup>th</sup> I came home from work
and went to check on the reptiles as I always do after feeding the dog his
dinner. Fox’s eyes were sunken, which
struck me as unusual given how white his urates were, but I gave him a
20-minute shower and after drinking heavily he perked up. I could tell
something was off, however. The following day I came home after work and he
looked considerably worse; his colors were pale and his eyes were even more
sunken than the previous day, and I found him lethargically sitting on a branch
with his eyes closed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is an animal that is crashing, I thought. I
moved him into a hospital cage where I administered some fluids, but by now I
knew he wouldn’t make it through the weekend, and that there was nothing we
could do to turn him around. Sure enough, he passed away late on Friday the 6<sup>th</sup>.
Before he died, however, I noticed for the first time clearly distinct shapes
just beneath his skin. Worms!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANEr2PWa83FZeFao5JC38J7Z8GJ-CBhcYjuuUOk8IhTbXlzSrNeKQlGYDGggxJZtm14Kj0c-je1nvRh6exHNBJWyUpSsk4jQstCfzygbMsW4qQA1YP_ZQ5wkPlhf2QvSdMMKdBhYiGw7j/s1600/IMG_7890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANEr2PWa83FZeFao5JC38J7Z8GJ-CBhcYjuuUOk8IhTbXlzSrNeKQlGYDGggxJZtm14Kj0c-je1nvRh6exHNBJWyUpSsk4jQstCfzygbMsW4qQA1YP_ZQ5wkPlhf2QvSdMMKdBhYiGw7j/s1600/IMG_7890.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginning of the decline.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Caution: Graphic necropsy photos begin after this point.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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I dusted off my dissection kit and immediately set to work
once I was sure he had passed away. I started by very gently removing the skin
from the rib cage on his left side, where the worms seemed quite obvious. As
soon as I peeled back the skin I was greeted by half a dozen large off-white
worms, which quickly slithered into recesses away from the open. As I kept
peeling I could see a pocket of worms collected near his pelvis, towards the
back of his abdomen. I realized he wasn’t as well-fed as I originally though,
he was just full of subcutaneous worms. Pretty gross, even for me!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Next I removed the entire side of his rib cage. Inside were even
more worms, under and around all his organs. There was one on his lung,
encrusted in the lining, and his stomach was completely bloated. I barely
touched the stomach with my scalpel and it burst open with worms. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a similar story throughout the rest of him. I stopped
once I saw the extent of the infestation (I didn’t think exploring further was
necessary, as I had my cause of death). I easily pulled out a couple hundred of
these worms and still had plenty left I could have removed. It’s clear to me
that he had a particularly heavy infestation and that the stress of moving into
my home must have tipped the scales against him. Whatever balance the parasites
had with their host that allowed him to develop relatively normally otherwise
was broken and they caused his death. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7T9wRiFuBoipYdu0BgwD-BxBzzmq-mQbwTAmhaonCo7WGvbHtWAyAtPHMQQOtY0ZJNmZWxWv2echwJl-LexBH9qWaaephlAq8Celi-qjOC1nCq4shnCDq2i7E7Hj62mjm1DRlvXhE0w_G/s1600/IMG_7900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7T9wRiFuBoipYdu0BgwD-BxBzzmq-mQbwTAmhaonCo7WGvbHtWAyAtPHMQQOtY0ZJNmZWxWv2echwJl-LexBH9qWaaephlAq8Celi-qjOC1nCq4shnCDq2i7E7Hj62mjm1DRlvXhE0w_G/s1600/IMG_7900.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minutes before he died. You can see the worms under his skin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
These are the questions I have still, and which I am still
investigating:</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>1.</b> According to one veterinarian that was able to look at my photos, they seem to be <o:p></o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Foleyella furcata</i>, which most of us know as subcutaneous filaria, which usually only affect wild-caught chameleons. So how did they end up in an alleged captive-born chameleon?</span></span></div>
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<b>2.</b> Is there any way these worms could have spread here in Florida somehow? In Madagascar they depend on a special species of mosquito to act as a vector, so we should be safe here in the US from chameleon-to-chameleon infection. But if this is so, and assuming this panther was indeed captive-born, how else do we explain it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b></b><br />
<b></b></div>
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<b>3.</b> Could it have been avoided by deworming early? How early
should we start treating chameleons with dewormers to avoid something like
this?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>4.</b> Would deworming shortly after receiving him have saved
him? Did he have too-heavy a parasite load to save?<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWWdCKwSvd85IvtZbXYsrNav3FgCrA6FQy-kZK2wA4_mHiVU8yuhnkYfGFPPJ-3LxcwUl8t8ceyiBuE8gU-UIUNJzYR0KgQdHpnxH46HW-qbIUBnBEc5BXVWcvyiNNTszFZA6HM9sldcD/s1600/IMG_7903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWWdCKwSvd85IvtZbXYsrNav3FgCrA6FQy-kZK2wA4_mHiVU8yuhnkYfGFPPJ-3LxcwUl8t8ceyiBuE8gU-UIUNJzYR0KgQdHpnxH46HW-qbIUBnBEc5BXVWcvyiNNTszFZA6HM9sldcD/s1600/IMG_7903.JPG" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhKhWty8IRYeGJ9-lir3VnLKEWizAD-EExmwTCGXjkbmEFDMN4FiLce8-JY1k1BXwHW2oP-fMI1W1IP9wuhF8daCb7vxqpPJXyq5v_eVs81W-i94s1ORWWXgNnRs__WAdCfwF_9WwAd8M/s1600/IMG_7904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhKhWty8IRYeGJ9-lir3VnLKEWizAD-EExmwTCGXjkbmEFDMN4FiLce8-JY1k1BXwHW2oP-fMI1W1IP9wuhF8daCb7vxqpPJXyq5v_eVs81W-i94s1ORWWXgNnRs__WAdCfwF_9WwAd8M/s1600/IMG_7904.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shortly after passing away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AxeMNFNFkjzv0bhaPYaPtpT8nZtPUtktwPWthbt1TrpKxJepq7W-L8hBJVK07ZH32kOwTTaqwUdu8baXh4qoiTTBFxC3fh5OU1qRichkhxeYIxZxWFv95JVX4A43r7Ae8Phu3ubp37N1/s1600/Fox+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AxeMNFNFkjzv0bhaPYaPtpT8nZtPUtktwPWthbt1TrpKxJepq7W-L8hBJVK07ZH32kOwTTaqwUdu8baXh4qoiTTBFxC3fh5OU1qRichkhxeYIxZxWFv95JVX4A43r7Ae8Phu3ubp37N1/s1600/Fox+4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upon removing the skin I could see he was absolutely covered in worms. I had already removed several and there were still plenty. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7SSaGpwbQTcoEDtqipZzBao2W2FwUs8PXihTQ8aWCty31kld4lFALD8PT6ZuFX_BeiTkzNuqMZmqWPXTMsF0wurcoAM_MXmOEcORMOdSlhkBTDigcbuNeLtDlXhyphenhyphenJDb4uT8RMLmtZoN4/s1600/IMG_7929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7SSaGpwbQTcoEDtqipZzBao2W2FwUs8PXihTQ8aWCty31kld4lFALD8PT6ZuFX_BeiTkzNuqMZmqWPXTMsF0wurcoAM_MXmOEcORMOdSlhkBTDigcbuNeLtDlXhyphenhyphenJDb4uT8RMLmtZoN4/s1600/IMG_7929.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just the first few worms I removed. After a while it was too gross to photograph, you couldn't tell how many there were in the alcohol because it was so thick with worms. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2qmbaVzTEUCxj-OxujwdGKAyQpmlx_OLxXAnYDp3Kb-GAwLMWfroSHQ1H78MnsLnUN3wzfWePd9vZ0jgjn4z0-HV6G96_Yfd-LxFY82vv04ZibON67qtX3_Kd2A_H9-PQJe5BcMM7qFD/s1600/Fox+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2qmbaVzTEUCxj-OxujwdGKAyQpmlx_OLxXAnYDp3Kb-GAwLMWfroSHQ1H78MnsLnUN3wzfWePd9vZ0jgjn4z0-HV6G96_Yfd-LxFY82vv04ZibON67qtX3_Kd2A_H9-PQJe5BcMM7qFD/s1600/Fox+5.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzejXkxWxAttEMFAlnpNPilvM3CIkG1KsBwUctdbg8WzyLo6O9fk1EUCCFMofiEqhdpYN5JpwH7N0aF5rmRFib9CQDjDcGdE8O4EAeZwWvHKfGCm3xCaJchgUKsTDu0PNF4ulMQI5b4BOx/s1600/Fox+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzejXkxWxAttEMFAlnpNPilvM3CIkG1KsBwUctdbg8WzyLo6O9fk1EUCCFMofiEqhdpYN5JpwH7N0aF5rmRFib9CQDjDcGdE8O4EAeZwWvHKfGCm3xCaJchgUKsTDu0PNF4ulMQI5b4BOx/s1600/Fox+6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stomach was completely bloated with worms. I cannot believe he had been able to eat at all. You could see them through the stomach lining. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtURcv-RyV5OgLO5amIdG_lfJ5GcujrADXJtwQuxOmi1gal13pPyvOmbnADumMp9i97IP3r9AdDvTD6bG7uadmbC6BNPQkMjbb53fJ8quYgSLLQLCG4bXPb3WH-B4OKxn8v8idM683hdT/s1600/Fox+7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtURcv-RyV5OgLO5amIdG_lfJ5GcujrADXJtwQuxOmi1gal13pPyvOmbnADumMp9i97IP3r9AdDvTD6bG7uadmbC6BNPQkMjbb53fJ8quYgSLLQLCG4bXPb3WH-B4OKxn8v8idM683hdT/s1600/Fox+7.jpg" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfb9MMBZimsNEUB3MBIzVYfupeRW4KLHt3tjSD8zSmLMbgx2g6Swlc6DuY9-mwxixNuuEixR27i4Ufj88aHeU31CWYvxksTh4J7pN4eIBTV41qykhHYnwTImb3X1xQYdXeiqSN8Q2WvkJ/s1600/Fox+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfb9MMBZimsNEUB3MBIzVYfupeRW4KLHt3tjSD8zSmLMbgx2g6Swlc6DuY9-mwxixNuuEixR27i4Ufj88aHeU31CWYvxksTh4J7pN4eIBTV41qykhHYnwTImb3X1xQYdXeiqSN8Q2WvkJ/s1600/Fox+8.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After removing the stomach from the GI tract and poking it with a scalpel it popped, and dozens of worms spilled out. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhIuixwNuxCj2s9Tjh6Nf6MwbeFx-Kr7vKCWzTzTl2twT4oBFIemqNNquAQMOaEubgba94XuBXrgG1CfUJhXCNci4vYA_Je530sMFR2gw8LCtDc-ZW4CFniYfDbqBTQ-HgW09yeHP90VP/s1600/Fox+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhIuixwNuxCj2s9Tjh6Nf6MwbeFx-Kr7vKCWzTzTl2twT4oBFIemqNNquAQMOaEubgba94XuBXrgG1CfUJhXCNci4vYA_Je530sMFR2gw8LCtDc-ZW4CFniYfDbqBTQ-HgW09yeHP90VP/s1600/Fox+9.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were more and more in each organ, especially in his intestines. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is not a story about harassing a breeder or dragging his name through the dirt. Absolutely not the point of this blog post. I want this blog post to serve as a cautionary tale, to show how well chameleons hide illness until it is absolutely too late. About how bad issues can get without us even knowing about them. About how important it is to do routine fecal checks for parasites and to treat accordingly, as part of good preventative care.<br />
<br />
Next week I will talk a bit more about the different types of parasites that can be commonly found in reptiles, good quarantine practices, and how to manage parasites effectively. Parasites are not usually a death-sentence for reptiles that are healthy and routinely treated, so take Fox's story as an extreme case of when things go terribly wrong. </div>
Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-39463237786550276502017-01-10T09:00:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:10:40.479-05:00[Review] Rain Forest Habitats' Pro PVC Cages<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Fq2Qkb2Rd_EB2DyO4FyVNYzV-SEGsoWS2QFLtAnyVEelX2or_Ry00AV63JzAjyO0dwVGJ85QthBe0EqJ0wAK66ssO-Wnl025H-9f-vWzKb2Q81I86g3_9stxJfzALJ5ZSO3J23BCyxET/s1600/IMG_8062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Fq2Qkb2Rd_EB2DyO4FyVNYzV-SEGsoWS2QFLtAnyVEelX2or_Ry00AV63JzAjyO0dwVGJ85QthBe0EqJ0wAK66ssO-Wnl025H-9f-vWzKb2Q81I86g3_9stxJfzALJ5ZSO3J23BCyxET/s1600/IMG_8062.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Meet Mojito. Not the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><s>elixir
of the gods</s><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>minty beverage
that helps me recover from a long workweek with girlfriends on balmy evenings
in Miami, but Mojito my young Cuban knight anole (<i>Anolis equestris</i>.)
Anyone that lives in South Florida will recognize this species as the largest
of the anole species, which, a courtesy of Cuba as the name implies has made its
home comfortably here in the neighborhoods and keys of the subtropical
southernmost tip of the continental United States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWf0Pi58V4czNQzjszbWwxOcPGlK-NBM6sTfNv6DWnXGZB7as0LYmE6j9uOTKhs_Ie9wsMC3r3Qz7k62UiXe0cmXconP3JhtkOs1wR6eM4Bc41hBEWWLO69DQCcmW4N5G0lQMVfF0vi5J/s1600/IMG_6784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWf0Pi58V4czNQzjszbWwxOcPGlK-NBM6sTfNv6DWnXGZB7as0LYmE6j9uOTKhs_Ie9wsMC3r3Qz7k62UiXe0cmXconP3JhtkOs1wR6eM4Bc41hBEWWLO69DQCcmW4N5G0lQMVfF0vi5J/s1600/IMG_6784.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">In lieu of catching one off the street (as my biologist friends
would prefer it) I purchased Mojito as a captive born baby at the last Repticon
Miami expo at just a few weeks of age, and since he was so tiny I simply housed
him in a spare Exo Terra terrarium measuring 12” x 12” x 18”. After almost two
months, however, Mojito was beginning to outgrow the little glass terrarium and I
started to look for something more suitable for the next several months of his
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">When I discovered the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><a href="http://www.rainforest-habitats.com/">RainForest Habitat</a></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>enclosures by Sean I thought I
had come across exactly what I needed; a company that hand-made screen,
enclosed, and hybrid cages in all sorts of styles and sizes, and in three
colors; black, light gray, and white. Fabricated out of PVC, the cages offer
light-weight enclosures that make great alternative to glass terrariums. For
someone like me that likes things in a group to match, they presented the
ability to have a series of cages that all had the same uniform look but suited
each species specifically. In Mojito’s case I purchased a hybrid cage – a white
PVC cage with three closed sides and a screen door and top. It would be perfect
for keeping in humidity and heat but with the screen door would still allow for
plenty of air movement, so that the cage does not get too warm as my room
temperatures here in Miami fluctuate throughout the day.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">On
a Thursday, for a very reasonable $45 plus shipping this stock 24” T x 24” W x 18” D
cage was mine, and it arrived, mounted and insured, the following Thursday.<span class="apple-converted-space"> I'll admit that Mojito was not nearly as excited as I was for his big home upgrade. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTexnNxo-YwxHulvtr1S1wZ0fLibkQfa1wkIpSDqvXjaSGz-8gmU_frV15bDv_ROYjd0a4DCkizbMtXRwOE7AI8rdRfFoSvCLL7mei2EciRVRQnnxC8tsSFTaAF0oS2tfosjm471RoQtU/s1600/IMG_7452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTexnNxo-YwxHulvtr1S1wZ0fLibkQfa1wkIpSDqvXjaSGz-8gmU_frV15bDv_ROYjd0a4DCkizbMtXRwOE7AI8rdRfFoSvCLL7mei2EciRVRQnnxC8tsSFTaAF0oS2tfosjm471RoQtU/s1600/IMG_7452.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The empty 24" T x 18" W x 18" D white on white PVC cage from Rain Forest Habitats. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-nxBNf6Cf9IisDB31BIJ0myhYPG5xgPK8tNnvyU_qhffEFZrK7lRfP9nKuWoH_-oAaH2mlphwqunRqTEKU3JcV8fGAeAstBDcG3UA7YPh1rOVGYVrhkFyh2-QJa7uwDvV17Yf3LK8f1m/s1600/IMG_8053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-nxBNf6Cf9IisDB31BIJ0myhYPG5xgPK8tNnvyU_qhffEFZrK7lRfP9nKuWoH_-oAaH2mlphwqunRqTEKU3JcV8fGAeAstBDcG3UA7YPh1rOVGYVrhkFyh2-QJa7uwDvV17Yf3LK8f1m/s1600/IMG_8053.JPG" /></a></div>
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I actually loved the cage so much that I bought a second one; one built specifically with my leachianus geckos in mind. The clear solid door and nearly 100% PVC coverage means the humidity stays nice and high inside the cage, which is helping my male leachianus with a tough shedding spot on his tail that he's always had from an old injury. Very light but solid, I really love these cages. The second cage was shipped disassembled and I took about 20 minutes to put it together properly, so very easy and I expect to be much faster at putting these cages together the next time I order one now that I know how they come together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosEuVJSJhKD2aJnEZ-xygMJh4XMO7E8NctGoBARgAeCkN1lMqihuSJ2p4CdnZoqT7bfHRQYrCwAXFY_nAVNDGJOwIuDvctZEqaSz9Yue-Q9nGeZmF2GkP9kGpD98oaZ8VPEG4DWpPBcGT/s1600/IMG_8055+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosEuVJSJhKD2aJnEZ-xygMJh4XMO7E8NctGoBARgAeCkN1lMqihuSJ2p4CdnZoqT7bfHRQYrCwAXFY_nAVNDGJOwIuDvctZEqaSz9Yue-Q9nGeZmF2GkP9kGpD98oaZ8VPEG4DWpPBcGT/s1600/IMG_8055+edited.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_zGcZutcFK0rcy7TV4EnnjzhyphenhyphenxP6pJx1-2J0vomsxh9_bAwy3BMHwFpycUS87HsTK66EDB3ce7eRHKQeYNr2czFnlfuMjHYAss2y9RBinrLIm6VXzO_OaRVnnkqYQvkb1Oud31QLyRna/s1600/IMG_8061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_zGcZutcFK0rcy7TV4EnnjzhyphenhyphenxP6pJx1-2J0vomsxh9_bAwy3BMHwFpycUS87HsTK66EDB3ce7eRHKQeYNr2czFnlfuMjHYAss2y9RBinrLIm6VXzO_OaRVnnkqYQvkb1Oud31QLyRna/s1600/IMG_8061.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Official helper keeping a keen eye out for danger. </td></tr>
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I definitely plan on ordering more of these cages in the future. I would love to get a few more solid cages like the leachianus one on the left for my other leachianus geckos and then a few open-front cages like Mojito's cage for future chameleons.<br />
<br />
But by far one of the best attributes of Rainforest Habitats is Sean's customer service. I have exchanged 20-30 emails back and forth with him on a single custom order request and he has always been prompt to reply and is always extremely helpful, offering suggestions or letting me know what is possible or not. It's definitely worth its weight in gold to receive attentive customer service like that, and it means I'm happy to spend money on his products and services in the future. I would highly recommend them!</div>
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Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-13037924715094418632016-12-21T11:30:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:14:12.273-05:00A Quick Guide to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
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It’s the ailment that scares nearly all reptile keepers the most. It worries us and sends us online to do hours of research on proper lights, hoods, and vitamin supplements. And we hear about it continuously in online groups or forums. MBD, MBD, MBD, over and over again. Unfortunately, it is one of the leading causes of unnecessary (and easily preventable) death in captive reptiles, and it hits young, growing animals particularly hard. What is it, how do we prevent it from happening to our pets, and how do we recognize if an animal has it?</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">What is MBD?</span></h2>
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<b>MBD</b> is the
acronym for <b>Metabolic Bone Disease</b>,
which is a catch-all term for a condition in which (in summary) the body cannot
metabolize calcium properly and in severe cases leads to the bones of the body
becoming brittle and rubbery, and problems with muscles and the nervous system.
If it sounds painful it’s because it is; untreated, chameleons and other
reptiles with severe MBD will develop brittle bones that can break, bend out of
shape, and cannot support their movements. Chameleons can develop tremors
(hypocalcemic tetany), problems moving, lethargy, digestive issues, and
eventually death. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The good news is that is is preventable, early all cases of MBD could have been easily
avoided. It is like heartworm in dogs; extremely easy to prevent but serious
once the infestation has set in. Thankfully, MBD is also treatable and although
broken or misshaped bones may never heal and look completely normal, the bone density
can be corrected and the body brought back into balance. </div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">What Causes MBD?</span></h2>
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There are a few other rare causes, but for nearly all cases
of MBD this is where the blame lies:<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qaOrsSrVoFJxGGg-l00juDHPnox9QFYBebpurgpVp4tIxevyEU1z0jrYp3UDzlwWdHxpL6PV1bn03-7b8lT4fg8kV-hdYffgsgGOe4fhyphenhyphenRLIdGkpjW4pd7iBQIUq6cfs0InewR82HFTg/s1600/Guinevere+November+2+COPY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qaOrsSrVoFJxGGg-l00juDHPnox9QFYBebpurgpVp4tIxevyEU1z0jrYp3UDzlwWdHxpL6PV1bn03-7b8lT4fg8kV-hdYffgsgGOe4fhyphenhyphenRLIdGkpjW4pd7iBQIUq6cfs0InewR82HFTg/s640/Guinevere+November+2+COPY.jpg" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MBD in the tail of a Meller's chameleon.</td></tr>
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<b>LIGHTING:</b> I have
written about <b><a href="http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2012/07/importance-of-uvb-light-and-sunshine.html">The Importance of UVB</a> </b>before, but in short, chameleons and other diurnal
reptiles absolutely need and depend on UV light to form strong bones.
Specifically the UV<b>B </b>range of the UV
spectrum is what helps reptiles form vitamin D in their skin. This vitamin in
turn helps metabolize calcium and maintain healthy blood calcium levels. It’s
the same for us; healthy bones need calcium as well as vitamin D.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is vital that chameleons have a linear (tube style)
fluorescent UVB bulb across the cage, on 10-12 hours a day, so they can bask
and produce their own vitamin D. Some good bulbs to consider are the Reptisun
5.0 or 10.0 or the Arcadia 6% or 12% lights, as examples (the new high-output
T5 bulbs are better, but the T8 are fine). Each bulb will have a
different life span of UV radiation, but they should be replaced every 6-12
months depending on the brand, to ensure that they are always going strong. And make sure that the fixtures never have a plastic cover, as<i> UVB cannot go through glass or plastic. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>SUPPLEMENTS:</b> The
second major cause is improper supplementation. I’ve written at length about
what <b><a href="http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2012/03/chameleon-physiology-supplements.html">Vitamins and Minerals Do (and Why They Matter)</a></b> and on <a href="http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2016/07/are-all-in-one-supplements-really-better.html"><b>Which Supplement is Best and Why</b></a>, but as a
quick summary this is the stuff to know:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Calcium is (as we all know) absolutely necessary to build
strong bones. A lot of the insects we feed are not very high in calcium so we
find it necessary to correct this by dusting feeders lightly with calcium
powder. <i>Occasionally</i> a calcium or
multivitamin containing artificial vitamin D3 can be given, to fill in any
potentially gaps the UVB bulb may not be covering. Here, people tend to make
one of two mistakes:<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Either their give </span><b style="text-align: center;">too little</b><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><b style="text-align: center;">calcium</b><span style="text-align: center;"> at all or they give way <b>too much vitamin</b></span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><b style="text-align: center;">D3</b><br />
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But Olimpia, you’re thinking, that makes no sense. Didn’t
you just say vitamin D is important? Yes, dear reader! But the skin can make as
much or as little vit D as it needs, whereas oral supplement vit D is (in short)
fat-soluble and will build up in the body, with nowhere useful to go. Too much
and it actually starts to work <u>against</u> us – getting in the way of
absorbing calcium, calcifying the soft tissues, and causing MBD too. So
to keep this short and sweet; a little vitamin D3 in the diet is a great idea,
but too much (ie. daily) will lead to complications.<br />
<br />
A little goes
a long way with vitamin D! With most brands 2-4 times a month will do, depending on your chameleon species. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">What Are Some Symptoms of MBD?</span></h2>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_RhWi6oZYA-irDiBzNuQ_kf2f0cxsaV-lJX-Dmm9ujSkOmF4qcU2qRS8Kj4hdK8mIF3J3gNVmb3LqkBzDFDky2HNHuBY0Vm_TVQNrhTWzEgq4RBZfd28KB_0sOqkc6YAgKOzLNRUv9ed/s1600/MBD+chameleons+for+article.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_RhWi6oZYA-irDiBzNuQ_kf2f0cxsaV-lJX-Dmm9ujSkOmF4qcU2qRS8Kj4hdK8mIF3J3gNVmb3LqkBzDFDky2HNHuBY0Vm_TVQNrhTWzEgq4RBZfd28KB_0sOqkc6YAgKOzLNRUv9ed/s1600/MBD+chameleons+for+article.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veiled chameleons with MBD. Broken arms, malformed casques, etc. are all physical signs. </td></tr>
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I’ve already mentioned the <b>bone deformities</b>, so I’ll start there. Calcium is used for a ton of other things in the body besides just bones and teeth; it is almost like a fuel that powers the muscles of the body,
so your arms move, your gut contracts, and your heart beats thanks to calcium. Your
bones are obviously the scaffold of your body, but they serve as a calcium
reserve as well. So when the body isn’t taking in any additional calcium,
muscles and organs start to pull from the only place they can; the bones. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Soft bones, breaks, and asymmetry in the bones are all
physical signs. The bones in the arms and legs should be nice and straight with
a single elbow/knee join. Two or three “elbows” in an arm mean that the bone
has broken in a couple places. The edges of the mouth should be straight. The
spine and tail should be nice and straight also with no serpentine curves. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Other physical signs include <b>tremors and clumsiness</b>. Remember how calcium is used in the
muscles? Without enough calcium to work properly you’ll start to see signs like
muscle tremors in the arms and legs, particularly when walking, trouble moving
around normally, lethargy, problems shooting the tongue at food, and even
constipation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfm2NEafGXVMbKehobkRylxEZk2imjKK3AatQpBcONvi6P0b9tGLlz0scRGetKAqez8blL-M_LpAZO6rWvikgd-oAj5P7x_hEYKpsZSoOCZfCsItoxgL8dU-LzT8YthMAg_z2WHeQDPqP/s1600/Charlotte+6+months+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfm2NEafGXVMbKehobkRylxEZk2imjKK3AatQpBcONvi6P0b9tGLlz0scRGetKAqez8blL-M_LpAZO6rWvikgd-oAj5P7x_hEYKpsZSoOCZfCsItoxgL8dU-LzT8YthMAg_z2WHeQDPqP/s1600/Charlotte+6+months+10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a healthy young veiled (female) should look like. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC0SrfajSjr__UKxXxL1DXbYthSLIyGtxDr5hqyJOq6sy2x3WUQ6W_fP7G31eQ5cEmSD16OS32bnjcJhW2tMaXRmHLWn3wJPIB-GYzHr4Q4vPY9O80SwUDLL_F_hD0rIuTwCwjqdD-HBq/s1600/Charlotte+6+months+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC0SrfajSjr__UKxXxL1DXbYthSLIyGtxDr5hqyJOq6sy2x3WUQ6W_fP7G31eQ5cEmSD16OS32bnjcJhW2tMaXRmHLWn3wJPIB-GYzHr4Q4vPY9O80SwUDLL_F_hD0rIuTwCwjqdD-HBq/s1600/Charlotte+6+months+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another healthy veiled chameleon female. Nice straight limbs, straight casque, and straight spine. </td></tr>
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How Can MBD Be Treated? Is it Curable?</h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first step in treatment is to reach out
to a vet for assistance. Depending on what the root cause is, changes to the
cage and/or diet will definitely need to be made. But a veterinarian can give
an injection of calcium to start recovery and can help you with the correct
dosage of an oral liquid calcium (if necessary) for as part of treatment. I
highly discourage anyone from administering medicines at home without the
guidance of a professional, even though liquid calciums like calcium glubionate
are easily available online. You want to return the body to a state of balance
carefully, properly, and slowly, so not over-doing it is important as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is possible to stop MBD, return the
blood calcium levels to where they should be, and re-solidify the bones again.
However the breaks and curvatures in the bones may never correct themselves
entirely (so the animal may always be somewhat malformed) and it’s difficult to
determine how much permanent organ damage may have occurred. But with
veterinary assistance and changes to husbandry, animals suffering from MBD can
be treated and go on to live normal or nearly-normal lives for some time.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">In severe cases where moving around is difficult or dangerous for the animal, a hospital cage might be necessary. To learn how to make a hospital cage, check out my article for <a href="http://reptileapartment.com/"><b>Reptile Apartment</b></a>, <a href="http://reptileapartment.com/make-a-hospital-cage-for-a-chameleon/"><b>How To Make a Chameleon Hospital Cage</b></a>. </span></span></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">How Do I Prevent MBD?</span></h2>
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</div>
Like I said earlier, the two main causes are either <b>lighting</b> and/or <b>diet</b>. When setting up a cage really invest in the best UVB bulb you can
afford, and replace it often. Do research and ask breeders/experts what they recommend for <u>your
particular</u> species and animal. Look into what supplements you need and often
they should be used. When it comes to these two things don’t cut any corners –
Don’t reuse a UVB bulb you found on Craigslist to save a few dollars (who knows
how old it is!) and don’t go with the first product the pet store recommends
because it’s faster than ordering a product online. It will be money and time
well spent if it means your chameleon lives happily and healthily its entire
natural lifespan. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Metabolic bone disease is an easily preventable disease, and by taking just a few steps can be avoided entirely. And as always, if you still have questions please don't hesitate to ask!</div>
Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-43055406069199298102016-12-13T18:23:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:13:52.750-05:00How to Order a Chameleon Online<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuny_CV6IJeKF3RYioXO4tRFk3dV5rdZB49z9SnhsJVKPLxNXAnh8vYYwK5w-XE0NOWRXOyikYF1FHRKZCZnjt_xxpvfsoAaYORigO8TX2-W9LELAgV8J3enS3BW0Nv1Qhy0rqwEiinyZ/s1600/Nautilus+8+months+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuny_CV6IJeKF3RYioXO4tRFk3dV5rdZB49z9SnhsJVKPLxNXAnh8vYYwK5w-XE0NOWRXOyikYF1FHRKZCZnjt_xxpvfsoAaYORigO8TX2-W9LELAgV8J3enS3BW0Nv1Qhy0rqwEiinyZ/s1600/Nautilus+8+months+1.jpg" /></a></div>
People are often off-put by the idea of ordering a chameleon online. The idea of ordering an animal online and having it shipped to your front door in a box like a pair of new shoes seems a little unsettling. Dangerous or unethical, even. However it's actually an incredibly popular way for people in the Herp world to buy and sell animals that they wouldn't otherwise have access to. And as long as the person doing the shipping takes all the necessary responsible steps for a safe ship and the buyer takes all the necessary steps to ensure a safe delivery, it's something that carries little risk of going wrong.<br />
<br />
That said, even for a veteran like me it is still a nail-biting experience! Between the excitement of waiting for a new pet and the nerves of making sure it all goes right, I'll admit it can be a sleepless night. But it is also an extremely easy and normally smooth experience, and I'm going to show you how.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
This last year, 2016, has been the first year in a long time in which I haven't had a chameleon (or two, or three) to care for. After my dog got sick I didn't want to focus on anything but giving her as much quality time as possible, and once she passed I didn't really have the heart to care for reptiles in general again. But I dipped my toes in the water again with geckos and I'm at a place now, with 2016 rolling (finally) to a close that I have the room and the time and the heart to welcome a chameleon home again.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Online Search</h2>
I thought long and hard about what species I would want to reenter the hobby with. A Meller's again, perhaps? They are still my favorite but I need a chameleon that I can handle and use for educational demonstrations, and a Meller's was not going to fit that bill. Something new, perhaps, like a <i>K. multituberculata</i>! They'd always been on the list. But my warm little reptile room wouldn't have suited a cool species like that. Oustalet's were also on my list and have the temperament of a panther chameleon but I didn't have the kind of room a big male would need.<br />
<br />
So I settled finally on a panther, and after searching all the breeders I could think of I finally laid eyes on the perfect animal on a Facebook ad I saw purely by chance. A breeder I was not familiar with, here in Florida, was letting go of a solid blue and red Ambilobe male and I knew he had to be mine. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Enter Rich at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kwas9076/">Wild Side Chameleons</a>, in <span class="_4qba" data-intl-translation="{prepositionLabel}{space}{locationLabel}" data-intl-trid="" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Dunnellon, Florida</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gW8T24ghlfuEzX7cqcMTgJ3sIuIKyXc9cB_V5VIkgFb4VTV89fKVrCxe7W88GJvmJDLvI2BoQUnt5uTyN06guPWfikjlVoCyi_zlXSzs-zewmZBXQnnR3hkeCXMvFSYSv9lWVr1B5M3-/s1600/How+to+order+a+chameleon+online+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gW8T24ghlfuEzX7cqcMTgJ3sIuIKyXc9cB_V5VIkgFb4VTV89fKVrCxe7W88GJvmJDLvI2BoQUnt5uTyN06guPWfikjlVoCyi_zlXSzs-zewmZBXQnnR3hkeCXMvFSYSv9lWVr1B5M3-/s1600/How+to+order+a+chameleon+online+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ad that sold me on my perfect chameleon. Anyone that knows me knows I love red and blue together. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I reached out to Rich, who answered any
questions I had, showed me a few other available animals, and showed me older
siblings to the chameleon that had originally caught my eye. I still liked the original
Ambilobe I saw, he assured me this guy was friendly and with that I was sold. I need a calm animal that I can condition to
gentle handling for education purposes, after all. </span><br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Purchase</h2>
Once I was satisfied that this was my new chameleon I asked Rich to send me an invoice to my Paypal. Wild Side Chameleons operates out of Facebook, but many breeders have a website with a store function built-in so you can order and pay for a chameleon directly through the website, thereby saving a step. When purchasing an animal online it's prudent to make sure you know what the breeder's policies are as far as guarantees, like 7-day health guarantees, etc. A reputable breeder should be able to stand behind the health of their animals and guarantee that they will work with you to fix any issues should any arise. The trick to purchasing online is simply to make sure you're working with responsible, experienced people.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Shipping</h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are the three major things a shipper should do to ensure a
safe shipment:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. An experienced shipper knows that you never, ever ship around
the weekend.</b> This is asking for trouble if the package gets delayed for
whatever reason and the animal sits in a box over the weekend until shipping
resumes on Monday. Be wary of anyone whose shipping policy isn’t to ship only Monday,
Tuesday, or Wednesday for next-day 10:30am arrival. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. An experienced shipper will also work with you on when to ship
out</b>, so that you are prepared to receive the package. Rich and I agreed Monday
for Tuesday delivery so I was ready to receive him. I also chose to have him
shipped to my workplace, where I know our packages are treated as a priority as
a major company in this area. I was given <i>proof</i>
of shipment in the form of a photo and a <i>tracking
number</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Note:</i></b><i> I highly recommend shipping to your nearest FedEx/UPS hub,
too. Usually you can pick up the packages really early because the packages are
usually there before 6am. So if you’re worried about the weather, or being home
to wait for the truck, choose this option and you can get your package much
earlier. It saves the chameleon from bouncing around in the truck until
mid-morning, too.</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3.
An experienced shipper will also look at their weather and yours and plan
accordingly.</b> All reptiles have to be shipped in secure, insulated boxes but
depending on the temps along the journey the shipper may add either a hot pack
or a cold pack. They should not be using alternative things like hand warmers. If
the overnight or next day temperatures are too low or too high, even offset by
the heat/cold packs, the shipper may recommend waiting until the weather gets
better. Make sure you check as well and question it if the shipper is willing
to send the animal in -20°F winter weather!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And as far as <i>your</i> homework, double and triple check that the address you gave the shipper is correct. Make sure you gave the right address (not your home when you meant to give your workplace, etc.) and that it is spelled correctly, with all the right numbers. Make sure that FedEx or UPS don't have any excuses for messing up the delivery. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Armed
with my proof of shipment and my tracking number, now I wait. And check the
tracking number occasionally to make sure it’s moving along properly.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1yVlzrqDdFDbW7derYR8SM3H4N02iF_3MdJXImZx-1xtjhT7x3w5enJVT5Fw1LDlLevZEmXkLcxfZJczEjLUpdt7OrK7eo3YlJQ6OObJS3uL7_2N3oYUNFQnRIR_xttSfftzQ5TGzxch/s1600/Shipping+screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1yVlzrqDdFDbW7derYR8SM3H4N02iF_3MdJXImZx-1xtjhT7x3w5enJVT5Fw1LDlLevZEmXkLcxfZJczEjLUpdt7OrK7eo3YlJQ6OObJS3uL7_2N3oYUNFQnRIR_xttSfftzQ5TGzxch/s1600/Shipping+screenshot.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Delivery</h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So finally 10:30 the following day arrives. You want to make
sure to inspect the box and document anything that seems iffy with photos, just
in case. Perhaps the shipper did something wrong with the packaging, or perhaps
FedEx/UPS beta up the box – whatever the case may be, document it with photos
in case you need to show proof of a bad delivery. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Note:</i></b><i> If the delivery is
not there by 10:30 am you can get your shipping money refunded. Call the
shipping company and figure out where the animal is and what the delay might
be, of course, and coordinate the fastest delivery possible. A safely-shipped
animal should be fine even if the delivery is delayed a few hours. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
Mine arrived a little late, almost at 11 am, but everything arrived well in order. Below are some photos of the unpackaging process!<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxaogQlnGvKEQBR9nwvEsOgSU95B5jcy2noU4-O3qrlHLbKNRMsH_bs7mUBKxtJzpo5fxaZg5CQWu1ikrA8t5kCrFjn03xffirgIBf9kSkWqCzB2NkaXrdp7pZUweKdU4zl7K_Hnd75o-/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxaogQlnGvKEQBR9nwvEsOgSU95B5jcy2noU4-O3qrlHLbKNRMsH_bs7mUBKxtJzpo5fxaZg5CQWu1ikrA8t5kCrFjn03xffirgIBf9kSkWqCzB2NkaXrdp7pZUweKdU4zl7K_Hnd75o-/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The box, with no dents or holes from rough shipping.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJftRpos3BrVFMkZspuWOJzcH80aZITK9rWWkSddCCnSAO-yLgbl0yEdeNdaxkGx42dSuEQVtOCvqSp3z0gzTRljfQS9sXnocZMBRu2LKGsgxEkjeb5zESVYP9MlOw1ZHpbZlqDWUapN_2/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJftRpos3BrVFMkZspuWOJzcH80aZITK9rWWkSddCCnSAO-yLgbl0yEdeNdaxkGx42dSuEQVtOCvqSp3z0gzTRljfQS9sXnocZMBRu2LKGsgxEkjeb5zESVYP9MlOw1ZHpbZlqDWUapN_2/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once I removed all the padding I see a well insulated box and a snake bag, securely tied. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v6MA_3Wk-BzmCIZNr8Q-jOg3OZVXIIc9RCCrsKONkKMN6gj_s-Sx6VEd03ro5kppEWgsqzLOYdqPqZfN5YjcJ24nukffjlxi0m8_0KhRp8KHpakayY5PvVrJMt1m_IKe6ruPOzAU_rjp/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v6MA_3Wk-BzmCIZNr8Q-jOg3OZVXIIc9RCCrsKONkKMN6gj_s-Sx6VEd03ro5kppEWgsqzLOYdqPqZfN5YjcJ24nukffjlxi0m8_0KhRp8KHpakayY5PvVrJMt1m_IKe6ruPOzAU_rjp/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the man of the hour himself, eager to get out of the snake bag. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0jNVkRLveCFJLuDoqrpANZFXUlrvUYNEc0WXSNoJBbYhqQHFtV4zzBPKax_ASM7UyYkujBHbzZKyoyPHfyrcTNdVf01nUqkQKjj7RK-GJWgHbVVYFo9Q_KqRPBVrOQ2On-Drdc_BIhka/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0jNVkRLveCFJLuDoqrpANZFXUlrvUYNEc0WXSNoJBbYhqQHFtV4zzBPKax_ASM7UyYkujBHbzZKyoyPHfyrcTNdVf01nUqkQKjj7RK-GJWgHbVVYFo9Q_KqRPBVrOQ2On-Drdc_BIhka/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look him over and everything is in order. A couple small scuffs from shipping are normal, especially from rubbing their nose on the bag. But he's safe and sound. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And that's it! The next step, once you've looked over your new purchase and are satisfied that everything looks in order, is to put him/her in their new home and give them a much needed drink, time to bask, and privacy. Rarely do new chameleons want to eat the day they arrive so don't worry about that. Just remember that they have been rolling around in a dark box all night and most of the morning, so all they want is to bask, relax, and at most have a little water. Allow your new addition to settle in a few days before messing with them! I know it's super tempting to start handling them and showing them off but give them a bit to adjust.<br />
<br />
And that's it! That's really how easy it is to ship a chameleon overnight.<br />
<br />
Now for a name for this guy!Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-29788319015569613222016-12-05T16:17:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:14:28.081-05:00Keeping the Cuban Knight Anole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj17i8HpA9ziUmPYE8eMmmRUf_kfOuwxqASHlt1OCJNQMwLHcWeFfa2ntgegQmM5MGRzriISOFBDyonFXOKyuhZwph7D_VtbmirDAxnpvDwTIuIDzPD6q1y8oGPI7ZIBKQFsz7cckrmff/s1600/Cuban+knight+anole+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj17i8HpA9ziUmPYE8eMmmRUf_kfOuwxqASHlt1OCJNQMwLHcWeFfa2ntgegQmM5MGRzriISOFBDyonFXOKyuhZwph7D_VtbmirDAxnpvDwTIuIDzPD6q1y8oGPI7ZIBKQFsz7cckrmff/s1600/Cuban+knight+anole+smaller.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The last few weeks have featured a lot of little Mojito, my Cuban knight anole (Anolis equestris.) To be perfectly frank, when I attended the Miami Repticon at the University of Miami campus earlier this Fall I was not planning on coming home with anything alive besides feeder insects. But when I saw cups with baby lime-green anoles I stopped and admired them for a brief moment, and then meandered onward to buy some cork bark for the leachies. But then I circled back. How cute they are, I thought. And then kept going so I could buy the crickets and hornworms I needed for my pets. And then I looped back around a third time, and looked at them again over the shoulders of other show-goers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You get the idea, I’m sure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Long story short, by the time I made it home that afternoon I had a new pet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, Mojito may have been an impulse purchase (do as I say, not as I do, anyone?) but as an underrated species that could make a very rewarding pet, I decided that I would try my hand at raising one and use him as another ambassador for the blog. So this week’s post will feature him exclusively, and we’ll take a look at how easy it is to care for these beautiful large anoles when you already have some experience with chameleons.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">GENERAL HUSBANDRY</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3l1tCyPHIoRbO1F1IkJCJ7CrVCuMjbLOyNQUDu7ICjt-OTcEgYvcprIivOXeyv2A0H2Y9iTMO_h3aM2mE4ktE-bd9uSEhwAG1EuWfwTsld5Itl99If0RtmmfXBWoMDD59livq6ImI_y9y/s1600/IMG_6784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3l1tCyPHIoRbO1F1IkJCJ7CrVCuMjbLOyNQUDu7ICjt-OTcEgYvcprIivOXeyv2A0H2Y9iTMO_h3aM2mE4ktE-bd9uSEhwAG1EuWfwTsld5Itl99If0RtmmfXBWoMDD59livq6ImI_y9y/s1600/IMG_6784.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is relatively little in the way of care information about this species online. There might be a brief, very basic overview in an online reptile magazine and a few forum posts but not much as far as comprehensive care guides. Rest assured however, they are not a difficult species to care for, and they are quite hardy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the name implies we have Cuba to thank for this gecko, which is the largest recognized Anolis species, measuring as much as 20” from tip to tip. As they so often do, this species found itself upon the shores of balmy, humid, subtropical Miami (and surrounding areas and keys) and has made itself quite comfortable here among the urban and farmland sprawls of the area. In my neighborhood they are abundant, often basking on the trunks of oaks or waiting in the branches of mango trees for a smaller lizard or insect to wander into range. And a happy, healthy knight anole is quite a sight with their bright green and yellow flanks, their large peach-red dewlap, and their intelligent black eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">CAGING & CONDITIONS</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In terms of care they are extremely similar to common chameleon species, like panthers or veileds. They like it warm with peaks of humidity, like chameleons, and do not usually drink from standing water so misting throughout the day is vital. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTx3JW5Nk3GCpLGzQ53D_9k9eEeusqw6Km6349a__kkiLdLKHTzp6L_1rA5xICyzwBe3rH4ytCwQoXZ3h-a5hhuuB9gnHh6PDWXQ9ZvtMVUZE74z6L0n7RT02XL_Y9g8gHgvRNOxC8p3t/s1600/Cage+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTx3JW5Nk3GCpLGzQ53D_9k9eEeusqw6Km6349a__kkiLdLKHTzp6L_1rA5xICyzwBe3rH4ytCwQoXZ3h-a5hhuuB9gnHh6PDWXQ9ZvtMVUZE74z6L0n7RT02XL_Y9g8gHgvRNOxC8p3t/s1600/Cage+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hybrid PVC/Screen cage from <a href="http://www.rainforest-habitats.com/">Rain Forest Habitats</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I keep Mojito in a custom PVC hybrid cage, where the front door panel and the top are aluminum screen and the back three panels are solid. The cage measures 24” T x 18” W x 18” D, which will be suitable for the next few months until he really starts getting large, and then I feel that a 48” tall cage will be the most suitable to an animal of this size and activity level. But for now, at all of 10 grams, this cage will be plenty. I have it decorated with plenty of branches for climbing and plants for cover. To see a tutorial of how I decorated his cage, go <a href="http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2016/11/taking-advantage-of-space-in-reptile.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Atop his cage for basking and UVB I am using the all-in-one MegaRay Mercury Vapor bulb in 70w strength (for the first time, more on this in a future post). In addition to this I have a Reptisun 10.0 T-8 linear bulb that hangs across the top as well, which helps provide a fuller spectrum of UVA/UVB light. I do not know if I would be comfortable using only a mercury vapor light alone yet. Follow the same lighting requirements as for chameleons, essentially. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A Mistking nozzle is also connected to the cage and mists twice a day for 2-4 minutes at a time, so that there are two large spikes in humidity during the day and two ample opportunities where he can drink plenty of water. As with chameleons, let the cage dry between misting sessions but provide various peaks of high humidity throughout the day and do not spray the cage during the night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">FOOD & SUPPLEMENTS</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Knight anoles are insectivores so I am providing a diet of insects which features crickets, discoid roaches, superworms, and hornworms mainly with a few extras when I can find them available, like butterworms or mantids. Any chameleon-approved insect is also safe for these anoles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am also supplementing the same way as I would a typical panther or veiled chameleon, by using a plain calcium powder at most feedings with a multivitamin with vitamin D3 sprinkled in 2-3 times a month. All his insects are also properly gut-loaded with high-grade commercial insect food and fresh fruits and veggies. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTeANY3w-FJ2O6GLjYJAdSDRbl05EL7UZsnKcEULzUw-r6YYN5TtAbnkAThfam107x4DmvZsnsK666bwZYl0vgbGXBf8jG7H1C_TjUAukbzLHZesE8E22sYayn_NiYo1-vx6qnCYlQgO6/s1600/IMG_6942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTeANY3w-FJ2O6GLjYJAdSDRbl05EL7UZsnKcEULzUw-r6YYN5TtAbnkAThfam107x4DmvZsnsK666bwZYl0vgbGXBf8jG7H1C_TjUAukbzLHZesE8E22sYayn_NiYo1-vx6qnCYlQgO6/s1600/IMG_6942.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">HANDLING & TEMPERAMENT</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have only had Mojito a few months, and as my only knight anole so far I cannot speak to the temperament of the species as a whole. However, I find them to be very sharp little lizards. While my Leachianus geckos don’t look as though they are capable of great thoughts, Cuban knight anoles do, in my humble opinion, seem like they are intelligent lizards. I can see it in how he studies everything around him and can figure out the most creative way to jump from my desk over to a large branch I have standing in the corner of my office, from which he likes to people-watch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you can see, I do free range little Mojito occasionally when I know I will be sitting at my desk a while. Since he is so small I do actually worry about losing him, but so far he has been very well-behaved, and the free-range time allows him to build trust in me. I also hand-feed insects whenever I have time to sit in front of the cage, and all these things help him to learn to trust me. He is not aggressive (as this species can often be) but he is shy, so I am focusing right now on patient and gentle conditioning with food and free-range time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TJDkPt_CMHTmfhJFc-vyn700GyPWcFB9RZ21CvlZkCYUw0T8Wp7RcB5MWEsuqxideZbHNTAoGCX2EIeqjCO2qVae67L0A6OhO2VY2V7nCs-h17bxeqshmR7ZjSZJnjIWopyNEtqLPsbY/s1600/IMG_6807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TJDkPt_CMHTmfhJFc-vyn700GyPWcFB9RZ21CvlZkCYUw0T8Wp7RcB5MWEsuqxideZbHNTAoGCX2EIeqjCO2qVae67L0A6OhO2VY2V7nCs-h17bxeqshmR7ZjSZJnjIWopyNEtqLPsbY/s1600/IMG_6807.JPG" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNV0-6eWIxqJmABJQFieCAZR84TyZoeq7kthCIkT0YmCl_93mBKY4ax5IzwBfoASP0OEB6k15KdoNemhNGK76RhCVFwO-2arOJvWBkJ1YxYS4aVm8gV2Ic-Fp30iSmFLhYAwHwkS34sKo/s1600/Mojito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNV0-6eWIxqJmABJQFieCAZR84TyZoeq7kthCIkT0YmCl_93mBKY4ax5IzwBfoASP0OEB6k15KdoNemhNGK76RhCVFwO-2arOJvWBkJ1YxYS4aVm8gV2Ic-Fp30iSmFLhYAwHwkS34sKo/s1600/Mojito.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Overall I really do find this species to be a very pleasant and interesting one to own, and can make a great alternative species for someone who wants a tropical and arboreal species but may not be ready for something much more delicate. They are hardy, inquisitive, relatively easy to care for, and require a lot of the same conditions as chameleons, so for anyone that already owns chameleons adding a knight anole to their family would be an easy jump. </span></div>
Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-11343363149094939602016-11-29T09:15:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:15:20.355-05:00Taking Advantage of Space in a Reptile Cage<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBaXdIFsqrknraFqp5E-PQ61OF919pOI0jZ016YypoQIaYgJ54wdASFWyqmBKxKpFmpygpdCDgtrk0pN0d31aq5gBsG8ckC6WxNp2kDxbBLXFbSKaneQMI_JZoznnxibhREhRdUpTgJtk/s1600/IMG_7018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBaXdIFsqrknraFqp5E-PQ61OF919pOI0jZ016YypoQIaYgJ54wdASFWyqmBKxKpFmpygpdCDgtrk0pN0d31aq5gBsG8ckC6WxNp2kDxbBLXFbSKaneQMI_JZoznnxibhREhRdUpTgJtk/s1600/IMG_7018.JPG" /></a></div>
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Unsurprisingly, my most popular post to date is <u><a href="http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2012/04/how-to-set-up-proper-chameleon.html"><b>How to Set Up a Proper Chameleon Enclosure</b></a></u>, which even years later still generated the majority of the
comments and emails I get regarding chameleon husbandry. Of course I’m guilty
of repeating over and over that setting up a cage properly from the beginning sets
you up for success more than anything else – a good cage with the correct
parameters can help even a sickly pet store chameleon bounce back, where as a
mediocre set-up will spell the downfall of any healthy chameleon given a little
time.</div>
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This week I’ll delve a bit into one aspect which I think
many chameleon owners tend to fall short; <i>taking advantage of the
usable space within a cage. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s no surprise that decorating a cage is my favorite part
of the whole ordeal! I just love setting up cages, so I’ll walk you through
what I keep in mind when I decorate a cage, whether it’s for a chameleon or a
gecko or a snake. I want to decorate the inside of my cages in such a way that
I meet three basic requirements:</div>
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<b>1.</b> Provide natural gradients for regulation of temperature and
UV.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>2.</b> Offer a variety of choices for basking, hiding, lounging,
and eating.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>3.</b> Make all areas of the cage accessible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKCcGrsB9NdeL5RWrtM1lLgZEKnPZaTQYCqVwqBF9OnxI9QMrGIMCuM3swZz-eVjp9W2gV30V3V3lh2jGf5FLlEGoJ3NOwzQglWsKaf6ELDEYU7lyUpOuNfyFwURJN0IWLVawqDkWS-21/s1600/IMG_7463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKCcGrsB9NdeL5RWrtM1lLgZEKnPZaTQYCqVwqBF9OnxI9QMrGIMCuM3swZz-eVjp9W2gV30V3V3lh2jGf5FLlEGoJ3NOwzQglWsKaf6ELDEYU7lyUpOuNfyFwURJN0IWLVawqDkWS-21/s400/IMG_7463.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Mojito, a Cuban knight anole (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">A. equestris</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We know we need to provide UVB and heat, but just as
important is providing them in such a way that the chameleon can move towards
and away from them as they see fit (i.e. a gradient.) I usually do this by
setting a basking spot in one corner of the cage and providing branches (or
vines, or plants, etc.) at varying heights and distances from the lights so
that the chameleon or other reptile can choose how near or far he needs to be from the lights to
bask. There should never be just a single basking perch – aim to provide 2-3
near the lights at varying heights to give him a choice.</div>
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There is no point in providing a large 4’ tall cage if most
of the volume within the cage is totally unusable. An empty cage is no good! What
ends up happening is that you get issues like:</div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">* Climbing the
walls and potentially ripping out fingernails in the screen.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">* Hanging from the
ceiling to get closer to the basking light because the basking branches are too
few or too far away (risking burns.)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">* Face-rubbing
against screen or glass sides.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">* Stress from being
too exposed within the cage. </li>
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Don’t be afraid to fill in the cage generously, there should
be a good balance of places to use as walkways, things to hide in/behind, and
open basking areas. And as always, tailor the decoration to suit the particular
species (and individual) you are keeping.To illustrate how I go through the decorating process I’m
going to use my Cuban knight anole, Mojito, and his new <b><a href="http://www.rainforest-habitats.com/">Rain Forest Habitats</a></b> enclosure. He is just a little thing still so I do not want to overstuff the cage so that hunting crickets or roaches is hard for him, but I do want him to feel that he has plenty of places to hide in, climb on, and navigate around. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75eVNdVE1k3hgQocvp5UYDvo8sFf2j2M-dRi0UXij4CdYWltx54S29JMigFYqJ-GlhI7koxl1frse3UDMo7z-qy8qcG9Cz2ilzUG_tF7P9yp1Qq-2D9Uocm6y0wbG4NvuLxmIpZk9ty1U/s1600/IMG_7452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75eVNdVE1k3hgQocvp5UYDvo8sFf2j2M-dRi0UXij4CdYWltx54S29JMigFYqJ-GlhI7koxl1frse3UDMo7z-qy8qcG9Cz2ilzUG_tF7P9yp1Qq-2D9Uocm6y0wbG4NvuLxmIpZk9ty1U/s1600/IMG_7452.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His bare Rain Forest Habitats cage. In this case an enclosure measuring 24" D x 18" D x 18" W.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7_RQ5tR9Jdk5K-oj-Etfqkw9wqx0pCPl-XetbD5ecYJpvRv3_6AZFAlubPP2NKNXxPb5oFjHcNApKLMlf1jWIDufApQvDPw3bAAZlNCYTClzzTqURovpTEUAxGcKGDFXXcXT_Dfojp30/s1600/IMG_7458+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7_RQ5tR9Jdk5K-oj-Etfqkw9wqx0pCPl-XetbD5ecYJpvRv3_6AZFAlubPP2NKNXxPb5oFjHcNApKLMlf1jWIDufApQvDPw3bAAZlNCYTClzzTqURovpTEUAxGcKGDFXXcXT_Dfojp30/s1600/IMG_7458+Edited.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of poor decorating. This would be <i>fine</i>, but it fails to take advantage of the whole cage. It lacks basking options. 50% Of the cage remains bare, in this case. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70vQfWZ1lCVE96QH6IfyKtO7yV1o8mLzEnJ7SzCDUhLJi2O_le_8kZbpDqq9XbAreomdnIjd9ND4JhNzJVfONeL0qXFRP2MJOdH3ZdU26kOVAaYpKI2LYL4ROogNnYhQ7rgN0TlL-0kNL/s1600/IMG_7529+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70vQfWZ1lCVE96QH6IfyKtO7yV1o8mLzEnJ7SzCDUhLJi2O_le_8kZbpDqq9XbAreomdnIjd9ND4JhNzJVfONeL0qXFRP2MJOdH3ZdU26kOVAaYpKI2LYL4ROogNnYhQ7rgN0TlL-0kNL/s1600/IMG_7529+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much better! With added grapewood, some cork bark, and zip-ties to hold it all together, this cage is now much more fully utilized. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m1PQMcKu3RcJ5dRjxA9U5iidw_qOCNYEC63SCYICLtGGxEYe0dgK0ha_VnJBrBT-RUDQHWT38XNZI4I8X0yYZnzUx4VpqIZg7jAOPeeLQuu4ZzSb25-CXCFEOpzNA47QGbtp944GTC5i/s1600/IMG_7527.JPG" imageanchor="1"><br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m1PQMcKu3RcJ5dRjxA9U5iidw_qOCNYEC63SCYICLtGGxEYe0dgK0ha_VnJBrBT-RUDQHWT38XNZI4I8X0yYZnzUx4VpqIZg7jAOPeeLQuu4ZzSb25-CXCFEOpzNA47QGbtp944GTC5i/s1600/IMG_7527.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5Hw8mcH7MP5mJSjqkYKKDqXZPbNB1Xr5i0WDVwAXgcSv1-kHr7IeKjL7uNpki_AET-oiM49ylS5R6E4Mk1wtcrDpdhN8RE-0Td9TCJo2yrfbvuHNeNBZ1v7d0DBYXB9nKtRfHKDG7wHJ/s1600/IMG_7530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5Hw8mcH7MP5mJSjqkYKKDqXZPbNB1Xr5i0WDVwAXgcSv1-kHr7IeKjL7uNpki_AET-oiM49ylS5R6E4Mk1wtcrDpdhN8RE-0Td9TCJo2yrfbvuHNeNBZ1v7d0DBYXB9nKtRfHKDG7wHJ/s1600/IMG_7530.JPG" /></a></div>
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It does not have to be complicated to decorate a cage while
taking advantage of the space available. For very little money I have decorated
Mojito’s cage, utilizing a single pothos plant (about $10), two pieces of
grapewood (at about $10 per piece, but branches from outside can also be used
for free) and some pieces of bark (found outside.) A larger cage will be just
as easy, but will need more wood and perhaps 2-3 plants. I also did this
without ruining the PVC cage sides, and it is completely changeable if I want
to redo it in a few weeks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What do you say, dear readers, is this something you try to
keep in mind when decorating a new cage? Do you try to see how you can really utilize
all of the cage or is this something you struggle with? Do you feel you need
tips and tricks to figure out how to utilize that top half of the cage better?
Let me know!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-75676919136871146252016-10-28T11:39:00.000-04:002018-01-10T18:15:03.908-05:00Turning a Screen Cage into a Solid-Sided Cage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6rfm7lk6uUxd7e7lN5PvaXNA9453f1CotHiuF-TYV_IzmNMobnjKLV4S83jHkcICcZwc9MRqV_v_qFQMqLsCTAlx5sT5inNyvdIb7GTy_0TdwNzkwPfwKehwzsTuu-dUe_hvh-cQAaW7/s1600/IMAG0121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6rfm7lk6uUxd7e7lN5PvaXNA9453f1CotHiuF-TYV_IzmNMobnjKLV4S83jHkcICcZwc9MRqV_v_qFQMqLsCTAlx5sT5inNyvdIb7GTy_0TdwNzkwPfwKehwzsTuu-dUe_hvh-cQAaW7/s1600/IMAG0121.jpg" /></a></div>
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When I first purchased the <i>R. leachianus</i> geckos I found myself in a slight predicament – I wanted
to snatch up the pair before the person selling them realized how insane they
were to charge only a few hundred dollars for an adult, proven breeding pair of
Nuu Ana geckos, but I wasn’t prepared to house animals of this size just yet. I
only had a week to prepare the cage, and I didn’t want to order in something in
the fear that shipping would take too long and I’d find myself with two animals
without a proper home.</div>
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So then I looked through the reptile supplies that I did
have and realized that I could probably emulate closed-sided cages like the
<a href="http://dragonstrand.com/">Dragonstrand designs</a> for less money and in less time than ordering a new one. I
knew the quality wouldn’t compare, but for now it should prove to be more than
adequate. I just needed something large, and with mostly solid sides. And then
I realize that this could prove a useful tutorial for anyone else that perhaps
wanted to add a solid side or two to their screen cages themselves. <o:p></o:p><br />
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1. I started with an old<a href="http://lllreptile.com/"> LLL Reptile</a> screen cage in grey, in
this case a 48” tall x 24” deep x 24” wide model. The screen was old and broken
from years of use and moves from house to house, so I ripped out the screen and
spline completely. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dXGxJher3letNgjEwVcMyXwrw1roSjfNKT_6DdSNd37VEoIDJtRN6pEIHMjCRproCgGU6UImgnAqB_NDynYRqA-seqTOAg_hrRunHexXJ_Q7XoopgMsKKa9bOZAvmXNYFf5KDgmWv2iC/s1600/IMAG3742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dXGxJher3letNgjEwVcMyXwrw1roSjfNKT_6DdSNd37VEoIDJtRN6pEIHMjCRproCgGU6UImgnAqB_NDynYRqA-seqTOAg_hrRunHexXJ_Q7XoopgMsKKa9bOZAvmXNYFf5KDgmWv2iC/s1600/IMAG3742.jpg" /></a></div>
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2. I bought a large sheet of acrylic shower liner (for $20), which is
found in most large home improvement stores, and measures a convenient 48” tall
x 96” wide, which is just enough for 4 complete sides on a cage like this. I
only needed 3 sides, however, so I have one left over in case I need to replace
anything. In past projects I’ve spray-painted the plastic a pleasing color but
I decided to leave it white this time for ease of cleaning. Gecko poop is something else!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I laid down one of the frames of the cage and measured drew
out the lines for each panel. I cut them with a good razor blade and a
metal-edged ruler to get a straight line as much as possible. This material is
easy to cut, thankfully. It’s thick enough for this purpose but not completely
rigid. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8lBSlt8h8DcaHL4oIgIuaIcBRkh8HY1N_YqaRwvLUbqvU-OLXBOaOfEKtLh24PgcZRmBHbq9inq6QgdeEOD76uDVyuuwaov_qv52nNcdN8oguJhmswhyphenhyphenQmtsHPb9QelPhtvo6wY5Y8PO/s1600/IMAG3744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8lBSlt8h8DcaHL4oIgIuaIcBRkh8HY1N_YqaRwvLUbqvU-OLXBOaOfEKtLh24PgcZRmBHbq9inq6QgdeEOD76uDVyuuwaov_qv52nNcdN8oguJhmswhyphenhyphenQmtsHPb9QelPhtvo6wY5Y8PO/s1600/IMAG3744.jpg" /></a></div>
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3. Then I grabbed a tube of clear silicone that we use at
work all the time to secure specimens down for extended UV exposure, so not
only do I know that this stuff is amazingly durable, but once dry it is
harmless and easy to remove. I used this silicone to glue the frame to the <u>inside</u>
of the cage aluminum frame. I placed some random weights across the top and let
it all dry overnight and the following day.</div>
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4. Once the glue is cured and the sheets are securely
attached to the frame, I assemble the cage as usual. If you have a drill I
recommend drilling out the holes for the screws ahead of time, but I did not at
the time so I simply had the screw go through the plastic. It doesn’t require
too much force, and you get a tight fit as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And that’s it! I ended up with a cage that had solid sides
on the left, right, and back face of the cage and screen on the top and door. This worked extremely well for the geckos for about a month
until they started fighting with each other and they had to be separated. In
the photo above you can see the corners fit tightly, and the quality of the
finished cage was pretty decent (if I do say so myself.) Unfortunately, this
whole project was photographed mainly at night and on my cell phone so the
photo quality is not much to speak of.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQTSlT1rGmI23itUebIqal_yjqaFrc7aIbwiEwTan2Y8D6QTIH7wTSm9qpiRN3psv-8QVCbT2RjEBO8KbtrhyphenhyphenVyEiKMeP2WHbD_CpVhPOiN_eDwgVk45UkIz7mhtFowh2jgi9RZv5Qh1y/s1600/IMAG3809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQTSlT1rGmI23itUebIqal_yjqaFrc7aIbwiEwTan2Y8D6QTIH7wTSm9qpiRN3psv-8QVCbT2RjEBO8KbtrhyphenhyphenVyEiKMeP2WHbD_CpVhPOiN_eDwgVk45UkIz7mhtFowh2jgi9RZv5Qh1y/s1600/IMAG3809.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More branches were added across the top the following days. It is hard to find branches thick enough for these guys!</td></tr>
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This material still allows me to pin branches up
horizontally using thumb tacks or push-pins, it lets me thread fishing line to
tie branches up as well, and proved to be easily climbable for the geckos,
which like to hang vertically on the sides of their enclosures. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This could work well for people that like the benefits of
having several sides covered up (either to keep temperature and humidity inside
the cage more stable longer, or to keep mist water from ruining the walls,
etc.) but without the added weight of having to buy a heavy glass cage. This
cage is still light, easy to move, and serves the purpose well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-79597195955161159862016-09-28T09:41:00.000-04:002018-01-10T18:15:38.459-05:005 Things I’ve Learned about Keeping Leachies<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">So far this year has been a peculiar one, as far as my reptilian menagerie. Years ago I swore that I would never keep another creature besides a chameleon (dogs not withstanding) because nothing could be as interesting or challenging to keep as a chameleon. I was possibly right to a degree, but as I stand in my new little reptile room/office and admire my ten non-chameleon pets, I have contradicted myself on every regard!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">In May, as a birthday present to myself I purchased a bonded pair of R. leachianus geckos (New Caledonian Giant Geckos), allegedly belonging to the Nuu Ana locality. I had always toyed with the idea of keeping leachies, but for the price of one of these beauties I was never sure I could justify it if they were going to be boring to keep. Who wants to pay $800+ for a giant blob of gecko wrinkles that you can’t handle and that doesn’t move all day? This pair was for sale at a ridiculously reasonable price, so I snatched them up and I’ve been so glad!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">This is written with just about 5 months of experience with this species but as they are dominating my Instagram, I am getting bombarded with questions on how I care for mine. Below are 5 things I’ve learned about them while they’ve been part of my little household.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbiReDzQtAhgI3KjNyViWOWBMA1exs3JdcJ33s2FxCYsoF28hm60czodg_XNdqqAH7GIbG1hU14rLrpr7D6sS5C-NYn4Gmp2lK5jznvxq6NwXHNZf3xuRLUxBho6uxlRzrUm6iUCNN-fa/s1600/IMG_6715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbiReDzQtAhgI3KjNyViWOWBMA1exs3JdcJ33s2FxCYsoF28hm60czodg_XNdqqAH7GIbG1hU14rLrpr7D6sS5C-NYn4Gmp2lK5jznvxq6NwXHNZf3xuRLUxBho6uxlRzrUm6iUCNN-fa/s1600/IMG_6715.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My big beautiful male, Atticus. </td></tr>
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1. Your decorating skills mean nothing to these inconsiderate wrinkly lizardpigs*.</h2>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">Ah yes, housing. I keep my pair separate in two Exo Terra terrariums measuring 24” W x 24” H x 18” D, which is a little more generous in size than what most people use (I believe for small localities people opt for the 18” W ones to save a little space) but this means I could house them together during mating season. I will go into why they are separate a little further down.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">As my long-time readers may perhaps know, I put a lot of effort into decorating my enclosures. I go on and on extensively about environmental enrichment, so naturally my enclosures are full of species-appropriate décor, like branches, logs, plants, and substrate. Things to climb, things to dig into, etc. Leachianus geckos, however, have no regard for your carefully orchestrated cages. Oh no. These behemoths of the gecko world will disregard all your carefully placed branches and choose instead to hang vertically from the glass sides. At feeding time, they will take their over-sized lizard hands and finger-paint the murals of the Sistine Chapel across the front of their glass terrarium. And as if that wasn’t insulting enough, they seem to relish leaving their post-meal… deposits, to streak down as much glass as possible before landing in some tough-to-clean cork.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">I do provide a mild UVB bulb across the top of the cages, under which they do seem to enjoy basking at least a portion of the day. My female also gets a low-wattage basking bulb that she does use, especially when she is gestating some eggs.</span></span><br />
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2. Prepare to be serenaded at night, and quite loudly.</h2>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">Accustomed to the chirps and squeaks of crested geckos, I expected leachies to be along the same vein. Louder, perhaps, but in a similar family of gentle, unobtrusive sounds. Boy was I naive!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">Leachies have up to fifteen recognized different noises, most of which I have discovered as I was startled awake by a call on the opposite side of the apartment, through a closed door. Barking, whistling, chirping, screaming, groaning, growling, etc. One leachie is apparently quiet. Two or more leachies seem to have a lot to say to each other, and very loudly.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwObMG5l9FLA5FZXbp_2f42HcYmZ7aMKba9LiV4XGaGI9pxe_zHxrjXa530crMGUvjc8qgqzHT8XcTii0QrTY3hrlfMI8WtBP0RuDIDJXO-U26gZib0bcUh65Pzzg44COFQjOEZOxzjlM/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwObMG5l9FLA5FZXbp_2f42HcYmZ7aMKba9LiV4XGaGI9pxe_zHxrjXa530crMGUvjc8qgqzHT8XcTii0QrTY3hrlfMI8WtBP0RuDIDJXO-U26gZib0bcUh65Pzzg44COFQjOEZOxzjlM/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG" /></a></div>
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3. Mango is King.</h2>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">A big plus to this species, after having kept large chameleons, is that they can eat the crested gecko diets so I don’t have to worry about procuring a varied diet of large insects. They will gladly eat their CGD (especially if it’s mango flavored), and will most certainly go after mashed fresh mango, but will not go after live food with a lot of gusto and enthusiasm. It seems that anything that promotes a relatively lazy, easy existence is preferred over having to chase down a live cricket. It is simply too much effort. Holding up an insect in tongs? Still too much effort. I have watched Petra take a roach from tongs, chew it just long enough to kill it, and then spit it out unceremoniously. Simply not worth swallowing. Simply not mango.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDUylQ-zSNxdtHhOQo-nv08GmYYVPpPulK7wByr9-eu1no3rZfFLGWlGjjSWgDHD4CX0CoBKZPnjFzOKNUJijG-lnQmMHOXN76hTGNEMrVN4CWYYpeFx_AaHlUJSnyVGRwP_yjxf2O59D/s1600/IMG_7063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDUylQ-zSNxdtHhOQo-nv08GmYYVPpPulK7wByr9-eu1no3rZfFLGWlGjjSWgDHD4CX0CoBKZPnjFzOKNUJijG-lnQmMHOXN76hTGNEMrVN4CWYYpeFx_AaHlUJSnyVGRwP_yjxf2O59D/s1600/IMG_7063.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petra gets tong-fed some fresh mango, buy eyes the camera suspiciously. </td></tr>
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4. Leachie Tinder would be even weirder than human Tinder.</h2>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">As anyone that is familiar with this species may know, courtship is an ordeal. This species pair bonds and two compatible animals may breed and cohabitate together successfully for years. However, what I did not know when I first got my pair is that leachie amour is a very tumultuous thing, even in bonded pairs. Mine would bite at each other, scream, whistle, and grunt in displeasure with each other. I proceeded to separate them, worried they were no longer compatible animals. A few professional breeders assured me that this was completely normal behavior, that most leachie pairs are never completely peaceful. I was even told about a successful pair where the female bites off and eats the male’s tail every single year. Just because!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm09-ZnsgpAP5eICQ2eZPWYxMR9yhlG1uKrOSeC5ykrjAUDDLElWABUdEyAwG1Hzx8dL28joowBioUoVsC1EnMn2pqYWYHnsgQhak4OGb-0BB-ICbtGROQqWhrSmADoeQYTCXE6Rcbp9bR/s1600/IMG_6749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm09-ZnsgpAP5eICQ2eZPWYxMR9yhlG1uKrOSeC5ykrjAUDDLElWABUdEyAwG1Hzx8dL28joowBioUoVsC1EnMn2pqYWYHnsgQhak4OGb-0BB-ICbtGROQqWhrSmADoeQYTCXE6Rcbp9bR/s1600/IMG_6749.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
This is Petra, my pretty female. You can see her head is
scarred up from fights with her paramour. She has left him some as well! And
yet, they court each other, serenade each other, and sleep as closely together
as they can through the glass. <o:p></o:p></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">I reintroduced the pair, who lived together uneventfully another several weeks. Until one evening I hear a lot of noise (like flapping) in the cage and I pull away some cork flats to investigate. She was hanging from the glass with his entire face in her mouth, while he was trying to furiously shimmy away! I separated them again, this being a bit too rough for my tastes, and they will remain separate until next spring (when we shall try again? Undecided still.) </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">In </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.6667px;">a world where romance means “I’m going to chew on your face, baby” I am reminded that human dating is not quite this difficult to navigate. Almost, but not quite.</span><br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
5. Babies are just tiny, adorable replicas of their wrinkly, lizardpig parents.</h2>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">Incubating eggs turned out to be extremely straightforward, compared to chameleon eggs. I left them at room temperature and 80 days later I had two perfect hatchlings. No diapause period, no 8-month wait. Just a few short months and large, wrinkly, gecko piglets emerged. And my goodness, are they adorable! I hope that my female will still lay a couple retained clutches because I do not know how I could possibly get rid of the babies and not keep at least one. Maybe keep all of them, I haven’t decided how far I want to descend into this madness.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">A few months ago I had no interest in breeding this species beyond just my little pair, but now? Is one pair of leachie lizardpigs enough? I dare say that it may not be. And I am blown away by the naturally occurring patterns, greens, pinks, and whites that this species displays. So time will tell if I end up selling the two babies I have now (I’ve already named them) or if I begin the slow accumulation of more beautiful adults. We’ll leave that for a different post, perhaps.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleSeduS2GGu4ns9S3vtHkZizA5o4sg-7MxsJZ_0sXmnkycnFP5MJMo72kYRMmOm-NH9Hk9aWP-ShtiVB-vzfOsEXcpr6cAf6BjFQLSSnkrgT6msYr4mGPWtsaboqnaA4VRstC4BX1zxZT/s1600/Baby+leachies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleSeduS2GGu4ns9S3vtHkZizA5o4sg-7MxsJZ_0sXmnkycnFP5MJMo72kYRMmOm-NH9Hk9aWP-ShtiVB-vzfOsEXcpr6cAf6BjFQLSSnkrgT6msYr4mGPWtsaboqnaA4VRstC4BX1zxZT/s1600/Baby+leachies.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first hatchlings from this pair, hatched on September 19th, 2016. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;"></span>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">So these are just five of the things I’ve learned since taking in these strange geckos. I have to say I adore their fat, wrinkly bodies and their disproportionately large feet. Petra may be hell-bent on biting me (unless I offer fresh mango, and then we’re on good terms) but Atticus is a gentle, shy lizard, and the two babies seem to be taking after dad’s more complacent nature. I am so glad I finally decided to give this species a try, and I have been enthusiastically recommending them to anyone that likes New Caledonian geckos and wants to get something different.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.6667px;">While I am always happy to answer questions and help
where I can, I do not feel experienced enough to help with very specific
questions. A lot of lizard physiology and medicine is the same so I will help
if I can but for advanced help with breeding, pairing successfully, or locale
identification please seek out one of the top-notch breeders in the hobby that
specialize in these guys. </span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;"><i>*Lizardpig is not the correct scientific identifier for
Rhacodactylus leachinaus, but I am a rebel. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-24111862506300872362016-08-20T12:50:00.000-04:002016-10-02T14:40:28.466-04:002016 Blog Updates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbjPlfh1fTKqrTvh66NNsIGNzOI_Sd4p_RBVbdSl5e9SOrfoVGJ9Innxyw11xLClfAOoZy0tdIiZVFb48pMSCRLLIMcuzUBsq4tXl3eKHr7mFO5a1EL39D25_hvMl4eCsQIgR9ftaiSJo/s1600/Office+Photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbjPlfh1fTKqrTvh66NNsIGNzOI_Sd4p_RBVbdSl5e9SOrfoVGJ9Innxyw11xLClfAOoZy0tdIiZVFb48pMSCRLLIMcuzUBsq4tXl3eKHr7mFO5a1EL39D25_hvMl4eCsQIgR9ftaiSJo/s1600/Office+Photo+2.jpg" /></a></div>
Hello everyone! I can’t believe it’s August already, I can’t
believe the speed at which this year is flying by. I know the new blog layout
has been live for several months now but I’m going to point out the cool new features
for anyone that hasn’t taken advantage of them yet and mention some new
projects that I’m going to be working on.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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General Ease of Use</h2>
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The new lay out has a quick and easy <b>Contact Form</b> on the right-side of the blog, where you can quickly
email me any questions or comments.
Additionally, the <b>Search Bar</b>
is more accessible and you can see a list of <b>Top Posts</b>, which are my most-visited posts of all time (thankfully,
the most relevant ones, for setting up a cage, sexing panthers, and other
general care information.) These should all make reaching the relevant
information you're looking for much faster.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My <b>Social Media</b>
accounts are all hooked up as well on the right, so if you want to follow my Instagram account, full of random lizard
goodness and latte photos, or my chameleon Pinterest account it couldn’t be
easier now. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Additionally, I have set up a Paypal button on the right
where you can <b>Tip the Blog</b> if you
appreciate the content. I have set it up so that if you would like to leave a
little something as a sign of gratitude, to help maintain the blog (hosting
services, email account, IT support, etc.) and enable it to grow, then that
option is now available.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt2ok4iVf8wOI81i2wGJAHn10BxtiEBuyPDxtYqPJk6Zeg7eUFkromZmxe2NoQzBW-e46bLwiqn4PFx5SU7naZ-meyqyb2eVoHyZX3N1JI2hKjPz136Cz03w9XOPlH8r3QE9xA8kv5JlF/s1600/IMG_6767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt2ok4iVf8wOI81i2wGJAHn10BxtiEBuyPDxtYqPJk6Zeg7eUFkromZmxe2NoQzBW-e46bLwiqn4PFx5SU7naZ-meyqyb2eVoHyZX3N1JI2hKjPz136Cz03w9XOPlH8r3QE9xA8kv5JlF/s1600/IMG_6767.JPG" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Contact Me</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have also (finally!) set up a blog-specific email address,
so that I never miss another chameleon-related email amongst all my regular
emails. As always, feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or
clarification you may need, but the address is now <b>Olimpia.Martinotti@Muchadoaboutchameleons.com</b>. All comments and
emails through the contact form will go directly to this address now. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Typically, I reply to emails within the hour during work
hours (East Coast time). I will definitely answer any urgent or emergency
emails directly from my phone unless I absolutely cannot.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Near-Future Projects</h2>
</div>
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I’m very excited to be working on a few different projects
for the blog in the near future. I am working on offering a Youtube channel
with video tutorials, I will be working on offering some of the basic content
in Spanish, and I am currently building a project (can’t give any details yet!)
that should be a really interesting option for anyone that needs personalized
help with their chameleons or reptiles in general.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Thank you all for several years of readership, support, and
encouragement! If there is anything you would like to see improve on the blog
or any additional services I should make available, please don’t hesitate to
let me know. What ELSE would be a valuable tool for you as a chameleon keeper, veteran or beginner alike? </i></div>
</div>
Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-21685553321148327302016-07-15T11:14:00.000-04:002018-01-10T18:15:55.997-05:00Are All-In-One Supplements Really Better?<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/18183013/?claim=qcqwgb9sgjb">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnq2yeKSmeVF7tbYJIsajrVeMEg0RiJzwvXOJvlMegrVHifGqeJkbBxYvhB0yylDemJ2UbBiix2JAKojOtBLyz5gWVqU1JkvrtukqCvyhDBtOhZC5rKcoIF-7HLFPAfMOqOdIUgZSLpmJ/s1600/Lachlan+July+2+wallpaper.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnq2yeKSmeVF7tbYJIsajrVeMEg0RiJzwvXOJvlMegrVHifGqeJkbBxYvhB0yylDemJ2UbBiix2JAKojOtBLyz5gWVqU1JkvrtukqCvyhDBtOhZC5rKcoIF-7HLFPAfMOqOdIUgZSLpmJ/s1600/Lachlan+July+2+wallpaper.png" /></a></div>
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There are few topics that frighten and confuse like that of
supplementation. It can all seem very complicated and difficult, and there are
hundreds of different supplement schedules with recommended brands and products
listed online so choosing one to trust is no easy matter either. It can be
enough to make anyone curse at the heavens and reconsider chameleons
altogether. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>I wrote out a guide to what the key players are as far as the vitamins
and minerals and why each one matters, <a href="http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2012/03/chameleon-physiology-supplements.html">HERE</a>. It sounds intimidating but it’s
not! And knowing this stuff will make supplements much more straightforward and
logical.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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I’ve seen a lot of talk lately in some of the Facebook
chameleon groups regarding the use of supplements that worries me, particularly
the heavy push to get new keepers on an all-in-one supplement such as the
Repashy Calcium Plus, in the belief that
using a single product as instructed by the manufacturer will be more
fool-proof and will confuse new keepers less. So the point of this blog post is
to outline why I think that is a well-meaning but terrible idea.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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Regardless of the quality and success of your other
products, you cannot formulate a nutritional product that will work on all
individuals of <b>all </b>species equally.
I believe this to be self-evident. You cannot make an all-in-one calcium and
vitamin formula that will work on all chameleons, all dart frogs, all monitors,
etc. equally well. Currently the Calcium Plus product line comes in No D, Lo D,
Normal, and Hy D varieties in an attempt to work for as many species as
possible. The Lo-D version is touted as the ideal formula for all chameleon
species because of the lower vitamin D3 content but many people use the
normal/classic formulation as well. I love the Repashy products and have used
many of them for many years, but I don’t buy into the marketing of Calcium Plus,
even the Lo-D formula, as the end-all supplement for all chameleons.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s compare some numbers, shall we? I’ve taken the liberty
of converting the amount of vitamin D3 from these brands into the same units,
so we can really see things compared apples to apples:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Repashy Calcium Plus Lo-D</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has roughly<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>3,624</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>IU/kg<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b>Sticky Tongue Miner-All Indoor</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has roughly<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>4,400</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>IU/kg<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b>Repashy Supercal Lo-D</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has roughly<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>4,530</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>IU/kg<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b>Zoo Med Reptivite D3</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has roughly <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>4,600</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>IU/kg<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b>Exoterra Calcium +D3</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has roughly <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>6,680</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>IU/kg<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b>Repashy Calcium Plus</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has roughly <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>9,060</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>IU/kg<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b>Repashy Supercal MeD</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has roughly<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>11,325 </b>IU/kg</div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b>Exo-Terra Multi-vitamin</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has roughly<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>18,110</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>IU/kg<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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You’ll notice that the values start off with Calcium Plus Lo-D at the lowest end, then stay roughly about the same, and
can increase dramatically by brand. There are more brands, of course, but this
gives us a good idea of what’s on the market right now. You’ll notice that Calcium Plus Lo-D has the lowest D3 concentration on the list, but only by 17%. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If we use veiled or panther chameleons as the example for
the time being, the traditional wisdom has been to use a plain calcium at most
feedings (to compensate for the low calcium content in most bugs), and then a
multivitamin and/or calcium with D3 about 2-4 times a <u>month</u>. This is
because a supplement should be supplemental to a good UVB bulb, so it should be
given sparingly just to fill in any potential gaps. And since the content of
most brands is fairly high, 2-4 times a month (depending on species) is more
than enough. But the Repashy Calcium Plus Lo-D has a very moderately lower amount of D3 to Zoo Med
Reptivite; So <b>why</b> would anyone recommend something like Calcium Plus lo-D daily but
recommend that all other brands be used much less often?<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is why I believe that it is dangerous and misguided to
tout this all-in-one product as the only supplement keepers should be using. I
would continue to use it sparingly throughout the month as a multivitamin and
rely on a plain calcium more often. I simply do not believe that the numbers
show this product to be appropriate for chameleons to ingest daily, and I
believe we are doing new keepers a disservice by pushing this product so
fervently in an attempt to simplify the topic of supplements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately, as with clothing, there is no
one-size-fits-all product that will work on all chameleons universally and
under all conditions. It means a little bit of research in the beginning, but
in the long run it will make all the difference. When deciding what supplements
to use and at what frequency, we have to take into consideration the following:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The species of chameleon.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The gender/age of the individual.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Does the animal live indoors or outdoors?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The UVB bulb they have (brand, type, age,
etc.) or length of time spent outside.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The diet (variety of insects) and their
gut-loading regimen.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This information is vital to provide a supplement schedule
that will fit the needs of your specific chameleon. To blindly recommend an
all-in-one product as a one-size-fits-all approach is to ignore completely all
the factors that play into this topic, which can have dangerous long-term
consequences.</div>
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As always, I am always available and happy to provide
additional help or information to make any of these topics clear and easy to
understand. Please feel free to post a comment below with any thoughts,
concerns, disagreements or questions or email me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-21378588030018327122016-06-14T10:46:00.000-04:002018-01-10T18:16:24.202-05:00UVB for Crepuscular and Shade-Dwelling Species<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoynGBayJwkw46rHbFxHz-3WDpGBZiimL_ErEGBBRKfRdlVmB14gjuu5A_-lSpRn5hOotcBBEOU4F1Wet2Tw-A2uVns2rhkfuf9lQbaCZ14Y6OMRjvhrr8sQMJupCQPD_XmI9VrZeDUbr/s1600/img8473t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoynGBayJwkw46rHbFxHz-3WDpGBZiimL_ErEGBBRKfRdlVmB14gjuu5A_-lSpRn5hOotcBBEOU4F1Wet2Tw-A2uVns2rhkfuf9lQbaCZ14Y6OMRjvhrr8sQMJupCQPD_XmI9VrZeDUbr/s1600/img8473t.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Before
anything else, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for what is now over
4 years of support for this blog. I cannot believe that the little pet project
I thought no one would ever read has become a blog that receives a quarter million views a year and that generates an inbox full of emailed questions, comments,
and grateful messages of encouragement. Last year I did not write very much due
to work and other priorities but this year I am pushing myself to get back into
blogging, which I so enjoy. And all the encouragement reminds me that I don’t
just write into the void. Thank you again and here’s to another 4 years!
Cheers!</i></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">Now, I
wanted to give an example of how relevant something like proper lighting is to reptiles
in general and what an impact it can have on health, even those that
traditionally aren’t given regular UVB access. I’ve explained in other posts
how important UV lighting is, so in this post I just want to tell you a
cautionary tale, as it were, from my time as an intern at the herpetology
department of a major zoo here in Florida. This department had several major
faults that I will not go into, primarily because this isn’t supposed to be an exposé
on what is essentially a department of well-meaning but stifled zoo keepers
mismanaged by a barely competent administration, but also because only one
story is relevant here; the story of why the dart frogs were mysteriously ill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">It is
not apparent to the public, but in this department there were hundreds of dart
frogs in little terrariums lining the walls of all the back rooms, the ones not
visible to anyone but employees. And among these, there were dozens of Golden
poison frogs,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Phyllobates
terribilis</i>, in various cages across these rooms. Small, adorable, and
indeed golden in color, these frogs were an important breeding project for the department.
However, over the span of a few weeks some of the frogs had started developing
sores on the palms of their hands, on their noses, and on their thighs. The zoo
veterinarian was doing everything she could think of; she had them change the
substrate in their cages to a more sterile one, and she had them apply an
ointment to the sores as well as a topical antibiotic. But none of this worked,
the frogs were not improving. The sores stayed exactly the same for weeks at a
time.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESTFlPl6A0FclBPxUOVuvFSR0WyD66IA0WdEK87N3sZVMI6W2eVq6vKRKIUEVSU-AlW7cdOYEeYFRpBfFC-7X262fUmtQFlGxzYzH1BnevoAqcYthAR4mnUZ_y1OGMHLqisCpBFwi-2Eq/s1600/img8476g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESTFlPl6A0FclBPxUOVuvFSR0WyD66IA0WdEK87N3sZVMI6W2eVq6vKRKIUEVSU-AlW7cdOYEeYFRpBfFC-7X262fUmtQFlGxzYzH1BnevoAqcYthAR4mnUZ_y1OGMHLqisCpBFwi-2Eq/s640/img8476g.jpg" width="467" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">One
morning I was handed a Solarmeter and told to perform the monthly check on all
the UV lamps in the entire department, to ensure that UV levels were still
appropriate for everyone. Shockingly, many were not. Many lamps read 0,
regardless of the distance to the lamp. The lamps had completely burned out. I
even checked the</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">terribilis</i><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">UVB lamps and those read 0 as well. I
flipped back through the cage logs to the last time the readings were taken and
even a month ago then were practically useless; hovering in the single digits.
I immediately changed the lamps. Within a couple weeks the sores were looking
much better, and knowing all we do about how UVB and vitamin D assist the
immune system this improvement didn’t seem accidental. Management
half-heartedly listened when I reported how many lights were outputting nothing
at all and why this was bad for immune systems and over-all health, but I am
unsure if any moves were made to ensure this never happened again either.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">I recently
contributed to an article for <a href="https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/">Swell Reptiles</a> regarding UV access for all species,
including those that traditionally have not been given UVB lamps. In the series
of articles they discuss Ferguson Zones, four different zones that categorize
reptiles and amphibians from those needing the least UV exposure (Zone 1, crepuscular
or shade-dwelling animals) to those that bask in the mid-day sun and have the
highest requirements (Zone 4). It is argued that even species like dart frogs,
which traditionally are heavy shade-dwellers, need and receive low levels of
ambient UVB exposure throughout the day and as such should be provided the
option to bask under a gentle UVB light in part of the enclosure. I myself have
observed some dart frog species basking in speckles of sunlight on the
rainforest floor in Costa Rica. The appropriate level of UVB is such an easy
thing to provide and it can have such a powerful effect on the immune system
and overall well-being of the animal in question, even for animals that appear
to be doing<i> fine</i> with their current
set-up. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;"><i><b>Check out the article and the series on UVB exposure here:</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;"><a href="https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/blog/uvb-lighting-part-2-bulbs-set/"><i><b>Swell Reptiles | UVB Lighting – What, Why, How? Part 2 – What Bulbs and How to Set Them Up</b></i></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">Consider
adding UVB to species that have traditionally been able to “get away” without
having it and see what the health benefits might be. And for species we know
need UVB, such as chameleons, always stay on top of the age of your UVB bulbs,
replace them often, and (with the assistance of someone experienced, if needed)
make sure you buy the strongest bulb possible with the appropriate UVB output
for your specific species. If natural sunshine time is possible periodically,
then excellent! Provide different areas of shade and open exposure so that your
pet can regulate their own heat and UVB needs appropriately. Don’t be like the
zoo above and let the lights deteriorate beyond the point of being useful or
look into all husbandry parameters when a health issue pops up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">I
myself will be adding low-level UVB lights to my crepuscular/nocturnal geckos
(crested geckos and leachianus geckos) to observe for myself what Dr. Gary
Ferguson has said in his zone research; that even species that traditionally
have not been provided UVB can benefit from access to it. I will write more on
the subject once I have everything set up and allow the geckos to live with
access to this new light source for a few months and see if I see any improvements
in health, growth, and breeding habits. What do you think about this idea to
provide crepuscular species with UVB? Have you tried this? I would love to hear
what others think about this, either in theory or from practice. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHJmA4IIDy7kf98qbD-36fXWGT_Afi7muvOL1eZBJxNVB_ZWHlITycWEv5ZgyhF5Ueq3GJfoOHvrjKfamk-8TDLlRQ6nDbfidlrlWCll9TU1SgRRRohyphenhyphenm2XwO7zGoIH85bIx5bB8Y3Ev-/s1600/Leachie+Male+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHJmA4IIDy7kf98qbD-36fXWGT_Afi7muvOL1eZBJxNVB_ZWHlITycWEv5ZgyhF5Ueq3GJfoOHvrjKfamk-8TDLlRQ6nDbfidlrlWCll9TU1SgRRRohyphenhyphenm2XwO7zGoIH85bIx5bB8Y3Ev-/s1600/Leachie+Male+1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My adult male Nuu Ana <i>Rhacodactylus leachianus </i>gecko, or Leachie for short. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-32776961468186483932016-05-08T10:07:00.001-04:002018-01-10T18:16:45.132-05:00Contributor Post | Chameleons: A Threatened Species?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVx4c8iZuaNb9Ec1AQnvW2Pf4khfyjzy16RY6Wi7Zrx_bCLyLgb8yBrgEvizFbAFJOurF7v5JlgX1nhyMX_5W-oaIlPjjOgkUbeMpDEeRpfoNg-MNvOZ2NDQWaNJqi01pFBO582MtMipd/s1600/Brookesia+Brygooi+-+Canvas+Chameleons+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVx4c8iZuaNb9Ec1AQnvW2Pf4khfyjzy16RY6Wi7Zrx_bCLyLgb8yBrgEvizFbAFJOurF7v5JlgX1nhyMX_5W-oaIlPjjOgkUbeMpDEeRpfoNg-MNvOZ2NDQWaNJqi01pFBO582MtMipd/s1600/Brookesia+Brygooi+-+Canvas+Chameleons+%25286%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Canvas Chameleons is a small, family-owned breeding business that focuses on the healthy development of Chameleons as pets. We enjoy educating both new and experienced Chameleon owners in order to maximize their enjoyment of these amazing creatures. We offer a wide range of stunning chameleons, as well as everything you need to set up and maintain a quality habitat. For more information visit <a href="http://canvaschameleons.com/">Canvas Chameleons</a> today.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">__________</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KQd97lrC0VM4c-QTZXs2ZtZCHDtyG1sJRbxEC2Uo1pW3YnqoCyPlDaU6WYZOAYsUit8o5hzmeBe_6a8GXByvwTzJ8mpfe8gxWfVzjDHQ4cYjXO3E9V5ZqiJLsHTMXn4ipgtO2JFc5EGn/s1600/Furcifer+Petter+-+Canvas+Chameleons+-+Female+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KQd97lrC0VM4c-QTZXs2ZtZCHDtyG1sJRbxEC2Uo1pW3YnqoCyPlDaU6WYZOAYsUit8o5hzmeBe_6a8GXByvwTzJ8mpfe8gxWfVzjDHQ4cYjXO3E9V5ZqiJLsHTMXn4ipgtO2JFc5EGn/s400/Furcifer+Petter+-+Canvas+Chameleons+-+Female+%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you think of endangered and threatened species, chameleons don’t typically come to mind; however, they should come to mind. While only a few species are in immediate danger of becoming extinct and endangered, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) lists "all chameleons are being threatened” in some way (Kundinger, n.d.). Many circumstances contribute to animals becoming threatened and endangered, but chameleons have become threatened primarily due to habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Habitat destruction due to deforestation either for commercial gain or for increased human living space is a major concern. Chameleons are native to sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and to some parts of southern Europe, south Asia, and Australia. Some species have been introduced to other parts of the world through breeding and release into the wild. Unfortunately this means their homes are primarily in third world countries and, as Anderson (2003) says, “The dangers of habitat destruction are particularly abundant in third world countries…Agriculture is a large part of the economy and therefore, the land has value that is too high to be ignored by the government, as well as families struggling to survive in these nations.”</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Abraham (2014) cites an example from a study by Virginia Commonwealth University biologists that depicts the impact habitat destruction can have on chameleon populations: “In the past 50 years, the chameleon populations in the montane rainforests of Tanzania have declined by more than </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">60 percent</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> from historical levels due to habitat loss and fragmentation.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While we have seen animals adapt and evolve when their environments change, chameleons are experiencing some trouble adapting to a lack of habitat. Jones (n.d.) tells us “Chameleon populations are particularly sensitive to the problems associated with habitat loss because many chameleon populations have evolved in small, often isolate pockets and are unable to relocate.” Different species prefer different living conditions, and these living conditions lead to certain diets and even certain characteristics that are appropriate for survival; for example, the brown leaf chameleon (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Brookesia supercilliar</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">) spends most of its time among dead leaves on the forest floor and thus closely resembles a dead leaf. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4VKMAc1HZYAG71o35S6deEQkEeV5TZ2vTKfGRzml6K0ijl34JntRzJ4N9yB26mBwhDeFVmlIsC5aORt7OIizPH-Z7JNcsowq3LX1KjrNMQKPyNlNQMqDc5HKD4Wyxb0yDYT6L5yzmpZf/s1600/Tamatave+Male+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4VKMAc1HZYAG71o35S6deEQkEeV5TZ2vTKfGRzml6K0ijl34JntRzJ4N9yB26mBwhDeFVmlIsC5aORt7OIizPH-Z7JNcsowq3LX1KjrNMQKPyNlNQMqDc5HKD4Wyxb0yDYT6L5yzmpZf/s400/Tamatave+Male+.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pollution is another factor that threatens the lives of these reptiles. As deforestation occurs and people move into areas once populated by chameleons, or as people use these areas for farming, they use products and pesticides that are harmful to chameleons and the insects they eat. This pollution also contributes to global temperature change, which harms chameleons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While there are only a few studies done specifically on chameleons and climate change, there are patterns that emerge from studies done on lizards in general that can be applied to chameleons; after all, chameleons, along with geckos and iguanas, are considered lizards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2010, an international study found that "as many as <b>20 percent of the 3,800 species of lizards could be extinct by 2080</b> if global temperatures continue to rise as predicted." This same study found that since 1995, nearly 12% of the lizard population had already disappeared in some parts of the world. The study claimed climate change was to blame (Connor, 2010).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why would climate change have such an impact on lizards? According to Segall et al. (2013), “reptiles and amphibians being ecotherms, are especially vulnerable to climate change as their physiology and function are dependent on variation in environmental temperature.” Their body temperature rises and falls as their environment’s temperature rises and falls. Lizards bask in the sun to warm up, but when it gets too hot they must seek shade. If it’s too hot for lizards to stay outside, then they will not be able to eat enough food. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_TNKDT0k3o6j2D74qZuKrtRx3cOmbagiLD8MVDeUIYd908gllHeFHnqM5HX3HxNa4uTofSrGzIrI39SlR0b2h-3K0udGzmTMKYndKflNcbUYRItPCWDFhofqPPcXQlViHFgdJIL_i0PQ/s1600/veiled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_TNKDT0k3o6j2D74qZuKrtRx3cOmbagiLD8MVDeUIYd908gllHeFHnqM5HX3HxNa4uTofSrGzIrI39SlR0b2h-3K0udGzmTMKYndKflNcbUYRItPCWDFhofqPPcXQlViHFgdJIL_i0PQ/s1600/veiled.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact “scientists fear that, in many parts of the world, temperatures have become too warm for the local lizards to be able to stay out during the hottest part of the day to catch enough food, causing the animals to weaken and die.” Lizards are dying rather than adapting to this change because, “beyond a certain point, the lizards can’t adapt” (Connor, 2010). Despite the fact that lizards overall are having a hard time adapting to climate change, a 2013 study examined two species of South African dwarf chameleons and found that chameleons living in semi-arid regions have a better chance of coping with global warming than do other chameleons” (Segall et al.).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The loss of a species can shift ecosystems and have great impacts on the world. In the case of chameleons and other lizards, they feed on insects that may be harmful to trees and other plants, thus providing vital pest control. They also serve as a source of food for larger predators. While we may not see chameleons and other lizards as vital to nature’s delicate balance, all species are vital to this balance and must be protected. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">REFERENCES</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">⦁<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>https://www.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Animals/Amphibians-and-Reptiles/Chameleons.aspx</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">⦁<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>https://www.news.vcu.edu/article/Habitat_loss_and_fragmentation_reduce_chameleon_population_in </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">⦁<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Chameleon </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">⦁<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/62150.aspx </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">⦁<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>http://www.chameleonnews.com/03MayAndersonHabitat.html </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">⦁<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chamaeleo_jacksonii/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">⦁<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/lizards-are-dying-out-because-of-climate-change-study-says-1973015.html </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">⦁<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>http://jeb.biologists.org/content/216/20/3828.long </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">⦁<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_leaf_chameleon </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>__________</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Bolded sections added for emphasis by blog editor. </i></div>
</div>
Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-26549332147951968752016-04-30T10:01:00.000-04:002018-01-10T18:17:24.790-05:00When In Doubt, Offer Advice Cautiously<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyone that is familiar with my presence on the Chameleon
Forums will probably have noticed that I have been extremely absent in the last
year or more, so much so that I wouldn’t be surprised if my account has been stripped
of moderator privileges. I’ve been so caught up with so many other things that
I’ve found it hard to find the energy to get online and continue participating
in daily forum life as before. I have, however, been a vaguely active member of chameleon groups on
Facebook, specifically groups pertaining to Meller’s chameleons and other advanced species topics, with the exception of a Spanish general chameleon group. But this last
week I was asked to join some of the bigger general chameleon community groups
so that I might be able to help people with general questions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW5nnke8noeMtnFITT01HS5-mpC0WDjWsAQ_dM5CXWSCYghERAPWNl6J-Ch2ZtpAwXhwJzLdV8zLyZ0rsm1SHIbTHd3Y3I-be4KBLSGet7JswShHPx7HXFHRKLurwjlm-haaFztF3rtqP/s1600/Guinevere+August+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW5nnke8noeMtnFITT01HS5-mpC0WDjWsAQ_dM5CXWSCYghERAPWNl6J-Ch2ZtpAwXhwJzLdV8zLyZ0rsm1SHIbTHd3Y3I-be4KBLSGet7JswShHPx7HXFHRKLurwjlm-haaFztF3rtqP/s1600/Guinevere+August+3.jpg" /></a>As much as I am a huge advocate for free and accessible
information, I cringe at the advice I witness on these chameleon groups, both
in English and Spanish. It’s quickly apparent that the average experience level
is very minimal, but the most vocal contributing members are exactly these. So
when a new keeper asks a question the cacophony
of replies can be overwhelming, and it would be impossible for the person doing
the asking to know with any certainty whose opinion to trust and whose opinion
isn’t based on anything. This can be a nuisance if the question pertains to
something like sexing a young chameleon or getting opinions regarding a
product, but it can be catastrophic in the case of any medical emergency, for
example.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">So often I see people lunge at the chance to assist someone
else with an opinion or some advice, which I understand is completely normal (and
a great way to ingrain information into your own mind when all these ideas are
still very fresh for someone) but I wish people exercised a bit more restraint.
Below are just a couple examples of why, if you are unsure of the answer, you
should either state as much or follow along silently for the sake of learning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>"Here is a photo of my baby panther chameleon. Is it a male or a female?"</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrPSzM_C3tW_es9iby7s5tfGF_W0jp8VnDb3Sf_D4nleRE4F5LnacoFjdSGIj4sb3ujReDZi2x-VhZMosOE9YWjLEJ9GmgfdJQP346QDu2fT5f0uHPVOgbxGwXu1ZNs61-VBpudsy7q4P/s1600/Facebook+chameleon+sexing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrPSzM_C3tW_es9iby7s5tfGF_W0jp8VnDb3Sf_D4nleRE4F5LnacoFjdSGIj4sb3ujReDZi2x-VhZMosOE9YWjLEJ9GmgfdJQP346QDu2fT5f0uHPVOgbxGwXu1ZNs61-VBpudsy7q4P/s1600/Facebook+chameleon+sexing.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A screenshot of a Facebook chameleon group conversation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
In the above screenshot you see someone (light blue) that rushes to offer advice without even knowing what <b>species</b> they are looking at in the photo, much less its gender. Not only do they confuse what is actually a <span style="font-family: inherit;">young female panther chameleon (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">F. pardalis</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">) with a veiled chameleon (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">C. </i><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16.12px;">calyptratus</i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16.12px;">), but makes the </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 16.12px;">assertion</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16.12px;"> that it is specifically a male veiled chameleon, despite no possible evidence of spurs on the feet or any other cues to go off of. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16.12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHNNOfJEE3htwWqNH0vbtFDFhYIEBGXSfR6pIH0HO7aD_Kfez_v8Qf7ilRcUfRPv1oz1kVVDZmNRlihc8PGU95PzqBrSNwugp1Nlepruk8FWlF4wS4P5ubzQ5OmU21rFpSAzif0FwYXMB/s1600/Peony+August+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHNNOfJEE3htwWqNH0vbtFDFhYIEBGXSfR6pIH0HO7aD_Kfez_v8Qf7ilRcUfRPv1oz1kVVDZmNRlihc8PGU95PzqBrSNwugp1Nlepruk8FWlF4wS4P5ubzQ5OmU21rFpSAzif0FwYXMB/s1600/Peony+August+3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you are not sure about the difference between the species, it's best to not take a wild guess. A female pather and a male veiled will have very different care requirements!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16.12px;">Thankfully someone quickly corrects the other person and the original poster of the question is hopefully not too confused by what signs they should be looking for to properly sex their new chameleon. In this scenario, the well-meaning but completely mistaken advice isn't harmful as it is quickly corrected, but I wish the person would have waited before posting if they were unsure of what advice they could offer. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16.12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16.12px;">This is also true when it comes to answering more serious questions, such as anything medical or which might involve advanced husbandry knowledge. If your only experience is a couple months with a veiled chameleon, you will not be able to help someone who just bought a delicate montane species, wild-caught, from a reptile show and now needs emergency help getting the animal stable. Or you will not be able to help someone who might be having trouble with a medical issue. And that is ok! Someday you will, but you will need to read and learn first. Jumping to help someone with the wrong information doesn't help anyone, you or them, as it can derail a conversation/thread. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 16.12px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16.12px;"></span></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXh1IAjjBst_8enpOaMRtEdl1MnDgPWv3qDHAxShVgbmwlWjgFAlb5mI4xL2yfn67HH3p6Bg8fVRvkrCFFf_w2bGKG5ty9xSSWQ21asbjZaIM6P3iyUf71U5ir3v6Jyioj0cKcwX11cXH/s1600/Veiled+FB+help.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXh1IAjjBst_8enpOaMRtEdl1MnDgPWv3qDHAxShVgbmwlWjgFAlb5mI4xL2yfn67HH3p6Bg8fVRvkrCFFf_w2bGKG5ty9xSSWQ21asbjZaIM6P3iyUf71U5ir3v6Jyioj0cKcwX11cXH/s1600/Veiled+FB+help.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The above is another screenshot from Facebook. The photo is
not mine.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the above example we see a veiled chameleon that very
obviously has a problem with edema (a condition characterized by an excess of
watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body) and one person
goes on to say that she looks <i>normal</i>
to him. The second person has no idea either. If you don’t have enough
experience with chameleons to recognize the difference between an aggressive
display and swelling of the tissues, then you should not be offering advice at
all yet. This could cost this person their chameleon.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Original Question</b>: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
my 4 mo old just up and died everything fine what may have happened had black
in mouth<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Comments<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Person 1</b>: Mouth
rot maybe?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Google it and see if it looks the same<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Person 2</b>: Mouth
rot that sounds horrible<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Person 3</b>: It's
highly unlikely that mouth rot killed a 4 month old Veiled. Could you go over
what</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
exactly you're using to provide uvb, basking temps, cage set up, diet and
supplements/routine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Person 4</b>: Any
pics of him before he passed?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Me</b>: I'm so sorry
:( Answer Trevor's questions and hopefully we can help. We can't possibly make
a</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
guess with such little info, it would be a total stab in the dark.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Person 5</b>: Mouth
ROT!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the above example we have several people jumping to a
diagnosis again without the slightest hint at what the actual cause could be.
Again, well-meaning but inexperienced, people jump to give an answer without
finding out more first. Mouth rot, an infection, doesn’t present itself as “black
in the mouth,” it will present like other infections in the way of swelling (of
the lips, gums, etc.), bleeding from the gums, missing teeth, thick saliva,
build-up of bacteria (usually puss-colored, white or yellowish), and open
wounds/sores. It may involve black at some point if areas have become severely
necrotic, but the disease has to advance quite a bit first. Jumping to a
diagnosis of mouth rot is not useful here, as there could be several other
explanations for the sudden death, but we need more information and photos
first to make a better guess. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Essentially, please use caution. Remember that what you recommend may have far-reaching consequences, and that it's important that you are certain of what you are saying or label your comments as a best guess ("I'm not sure, but...") so that the one doing the asking recognizes the uncertainty. I do this as well, I do not always have all the answers to the questions I receive and I make it a point to say that I am using an educated guess. Definitely read, and participate, and ask questions to your heart's content! That's the best way to learn. But when it comes to offering advice, if you are not sure of what the right answer is then it's best to use a little restraint. </div>
</div>
Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-77308857202024609142016-04-24T14:24:00.000-04:002018-01-10T18:17:50.072-05:00Temperature Sexing and Chameleons<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwBd7-rqcAsgrdBsplkSe-gID8KNmWiZvAW9Bk2YNu8R2q75nfeZw6aELi6wCVZ-e5pONHthbY4dBuEWkv3DS5OD1UtswqGshKVFhFSJ-l4WV7V2GEgAg0QyEGbxvQ1d9o37dgJMl9BBq/s1600/Dr+O+baby+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwBd7-rqcAsgrdBsplkSe-gID8KNmWiZvAW9Bk2YNu8R2q75nfeZw6aELi6wCVZ-e5pONHthbY4dBuEWkv3DS5OD1UtswqGshKVFhFSJ-l4WV7V2GEgAg0QyEGbxvQ1d9o37dgJMl9BBq/s1600/Dr+O+baby+1.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;">We’ve all shopped for chameleons before, and probably yearned for the beautiful male offspring of a certain species or locale but groaned at the added price. It can cost from $20 to a few hundred more to purchase a male compared to a female of the same species, especially when we talk about the ever-popular and flashy panther chameleon (F. pardalis.) It’s on an almost daily basis that I get emails from readers asking me to sex their baby chameleons, and to read their frustration after having paid more money for what they were told was a male only to discover they have a little female instead. I understand, as males in almost all the chameleon species are flashier, prettier, more ornate, and don’t come with the added challenge of egg-laying. So I see the appeal, especially for first-time keepers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;">And for breeders of popular pet species like panthers or veileds (C. calyptratus), the Holy Grail for them would be to be able to produce more male offspring than female offspring, who sell more quickly and for a higher price. But why can’t we? Don’t other species like geckos or snakes develop their gender characteristics depending on incubation temperatures?</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">Without doing into a longer explanation than it needs to be, we’re going to look into this, what people in the industry call temp-sexing. Known more technically as temperature-dependent sex determination. You'll be more familiar with mammalian sex determination, (genotypic sex determination) where gender is decided by the chromosomal contribution of the father. Females only have the chromosomes for female offspring (two copies of the X-chromosome, which makes them homogametic) while males have X and Y, and whichever of his chromosomes ends up in the fertilized egg will determine the sex of the resulting offspring. In certain reptilian species this is true as well, but for others the gender of the offspring depends on other external factors instead. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBILAtwgIhgAmXjFVYZ2Q7l_KAV1iflmrEtr8dg6McFomZXbJ1GyCgyImfjI7BpuEKzDZsuuE0bWU5Rcu45YINpFzrog3Ljh70HQv_FFwlaq5ehb2wOzn7ZWVFKRvcJ8XcdKjKjQCUA2l/s1600/crocodile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBILAtwgIhgAmXjFVYZ2Q7l_KAV1iflmrEtr8dg6McFomZXbJ1GyCgyImfjI7BpuEKzDZsuuE0bWU5Rcu45YINpFzrog3Ljh70HQv_FFwlaq5ehb2wOzn7ZWVFKRvcJ8XcdKjKjQCUA2l/s1600/crocodile.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An American crocodile photographed in a park where I walk my dog regularly; this crocodile species is temperature sexed for male or female. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;">In certain species, such as turtles, crocodilians, and a few others, their sex is determined by the environmental temperature during certain periods of incubation. Generally, temperatures in one range will produce females, temperatures in a different range will produce males, and the temperature within the narrow band between these will produce a mixture of both (called, the threshold temperature.) For a time it was believed that a species could only receive their sex from either one of these mechanisms or the other, not both. That temperature-dependent species were in essence "gender-less" until the environment made the decision for them. Recent research on the Australian skink lizard suggests that this may not be completely true for all; that some species that have a genotypic gender can be swayed depending on the environmental</span><span style="color: #222222;"> conditions during incubation. The thought is that these species may be a half-way gray area between the two types of sex determination, species which may make it exclusively into one strategy or another given enough time. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;">For a long time chameleon breeders have tested chameleon incubation to determine whether this category of reptile can be manipulated in the same way as some geckos or snakes. So far, the consensus indicates that this is not true. Chameleons seem to be genotypically driven, and as such, cannot be manipulated by incubation temperatures. What's more, high incubation temperatures seem to produce weaker offspring overall, while a more moderate incubation temperature creates the strongest offspring, but neither of these affect the gender ratio of a clutch. So as with mammals, in chameleon clutches we get what we get due to chance and must rely on visually sexing youngsters correctly for sale. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I do not believe that I have ever seen anyone advertise this, but rest assured, if you ever see anyone selling chameleon babies as temperature incubated for one sex or another, you are looking at a liar! </div>
</div>
Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-7850974852466785782016-03-22T22:02:00.000-04:002018-01-10T18:19:42.856-05:00A Case for Ethical Breeding<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the third in a multi-part opinion series on Ethical Reptile Keeping. The series seeks to urge keepers, new and old alike, to evaluate their own husbandry habits and to think about the impact their choices, from housing to breeding, have on their personal animals as well as on the herpetology hobby as a whole. While some aspects of reptile and amphibian keeping have evolved to focus on pushing and advancing husbandry techniques to ensure that a species thrives in captivity, others have become stuck in antiquated and short-sighted practices which do not promote progress. And certain species, particularly entry-level species, are suffering as a result. I wish to draw attention to these embarrassing aspects of the herp community and encourage people to take a look at how they can grow as hobbyists and keepers, push what we know about great husbandry together, and strive for excellence, personally and as a community.</span></i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwWCvk_Mc3V8DDuHieZurHWlp4IZKp3Q41TC4r9PQseq_Vscrr7ySw8alzKLzRZthCxcW_nS_k2DZYfTx2Pjgyci6PIm63IP2TtHkzSxy0BWARDc6zJU45cVLfEkgQVn7-KL5ywnoJJOL/s1600/Guinevere+November+Blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwWCvk_Mc3V8DDuHieZurHWlp4IZKp3Q41TC4r9PQseq_Vscrr7ySw8alzKLzRZthCxcW_nS_k2DZYfTx2Pjgyci6PIm63IP2TtHkzSxy0BWARDc6zJU45cVLfEkgQVn7-KL5ywnoJJOL/s1600/Guinevere+November+Blog.png" /></a></div>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Having already touched upon issues in housing that I feel desperately need more conscious thought in the industry, this week I will be touching a bit more about breeding and breeding experience. The two (housing and breeding) so often go hand in hand, but I find that in many cases ambitions of breeding dictate housing, and almost always in the direction of cheap, mass housing and streamlined husbandry practices. Ideally, proper housing should dictate breeding projects! And limit a person to how many animals they can responsibly own and care for properly, much less breed, instead of getting carried away and amassing dozens of "breeders" into plastic totes because it's possible. Additionally, ambitions of becoming like the large rack system breeders push people into over-breeding popular species like leopard geckos or bearded dragons, which are easy first-time reptiles, and flood an over-saturated market with offspring no one may want. Breeding ethically needs to take into account the long-term welfare of the offspring you are directly responsible for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male and female panther chameleons breeding. These<br />
animals were pets first and foremost, so no<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The downfall of a lot of these entry-level species is how easy to keep and breed they are. It's an excellent way to gain your footing with ectotherms and breeding them, certainly. And whether it is the fault of forums or something else, new keepers are inexplicably drawn into competing to become another big breeder and this leads to hundreds (if not thousands) of keepers that dive into breeding projects too fast too soon, bypassing experience, in the rush to be one of the "greats." Perhaps it's a combination of how easy it is to care for these beginner species, how cheap it can be (especially when you take the minimalist route), and how many of these poor animals you can cram into a room, as evidenced by breeding operations all over forums and Youtube.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I go on, I am not going to pretend that I was not drawn to breeding. I certainly was, and I'll admit that I got caught up in gecko breeding when I first started, almost 9 years ago now. The reality is that it never went anywhere for me, because almost a year into gecko keeping I acquired my first chameleon and my era of geckos came to a swift end for several years. So the truth is that I never hatched a single gecko, but I had accumulated almost two dozen pet geckos in my aspirations of grandeur, in cages of various sizes strewn across my little one bedroom apartment, and then proceeded to re-home them all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now I can't believe how silly that was. And my subsequent dive into chameleons was a much more controlled, responsible experience that never reached that fevered pitch of accumulating for the sake of collecting. But more than the accumulating, the idea that I could suddenly start a gecko breeding business and be Someone with such little preparation, experience, and funding! It's laughable now, but I've seen so many after fall into the same trap. You will not burst into the industry with a collection of $50 pet store "rescue" animals. You're never going to be one of those people that sells a ball python for $70,000 in your first breeding season by buying up a few snakes from Craigslist and Repticon for bargain prices. Odds are that you will not revolutionize the hobby with a new morph of bearded dragon. I don't want to crush any dreams, but we have to be realistic here; it is better to hone in your skills as a keeper and future breeder by doing tightly controlled breeding than to dive in, head-first, throwing caution to the wind, into a large project that can quickly spiral out of control. Especially when you don't have the experience yet. Start off with only what you can comfortably handle, and <b>MASTER</b> it.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRHKxxUmDvoZsmgEUEfnTeWh-d7qSOk6BotatmoIIT4W8ABY-F7sku2nOmTF56n1HsF0e9UHCQoqAWlQPwHGbWZgrn1C5x_fuEQOsoClN_ndGoZqr1flVIRrjbRuTmHalSMca8WQgZ0XC/s1600/Cages+for+Dayna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRHKxxUmDvoZsmgEUEfnTeWh-d7qSOk6BotatmoIIT4W8ABY-F7sku2nOmTF56n1HsF0e9UHCQoqAWlQPwHGbWZgrn1C5x_fuEQOsoClN_ndGoZqr1flVIRrjbRuTmHalSMca8WQgZ0XC/s640/Cages+for+Dayna.jpg" width="462" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many breeders will downsize their enclosures to fit more animals into a certain<br />
space because they do "fine" with less room. Not I. My chameleons live in the largest<br />
screen cages I can get, even the females. Because their quality of life is my priority.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most new hobbyists burn out after a year or two in the herp hobby. I think this happens most often when people come into it too strong, with too much momentum, and take on too much responsibility too soon and after a year feel that they cannot possibly sustain that level of honey-moon enthusiasm forever. And soberingly, most people cannot sustain the amount of time and resources it takes to manage the needs of a fast-growing large collection and breeding project. It's easy to add one more animal when everything is running smoothly (what's one more mouth to feed when you already have 30, anyway?), but will it be just as easy when suddenly a plague spreads through a collection and suddenly you need antibiotics for 15+ animals. Having experience in keeping and breeding will give you the tools to better manage a larger collection if that's the goal, but you cannot rush experience. You need experience time like pilots need flight hours or doctors need residency.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be experienced breeders and keepers we definitely need to get the experience somewhere, of course, but I argue that we try to be conscious of what we can handle. It is better to keep a handful of animals and truly <b>master</b> their care and breeding than to keep 100 too fast and fail or not achieve anything. Even greatly successful people all start out small and build up their empire as they build up their experience. To rush into too much too soon is ill-advised. Master what it means to be a great keeper, understand the nuance of husbandry, get to know your animals so you can recognize changes in behavior, and choose quality over quantity in everything that you do.<b> That's </b>how you grow yourself and (if you so choose) your breeding experience/business and become someone. Excess does not directly equal experience, or at the very least not quality experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Besides staying within your limits, consider the well-being of any and ALL offspring you produce. Every single baby chameleon, gecko, or bearded dragon that you produce is your responsibility. You are in charge of making sure they grow up healthy and go off to the best kind of home you can find. It is not good enough to accomplish breeding and then leave the resulting young to fend for themselves after 2-3 months of rearing. There is a severe over-abundance of a handful of species in the hobby. Too many leopard geckos, bearded dragons, and ball pythons on the market as it is means that no one wants to buy them from small, no-name breeders. And these animals end up becoming redundant, sometimes bouncing around Craigslist and ending up in poor homes just to re-home them quickly. I am aware that to work up the experience to breeding more delicate chameleons we have to start by learning with veileds and panthers, but there is no need to inundate an already over-saturated market with hundreds of extra baby veiled chameleons unnecessarily. Keeping clutch numbers small and manageable will still allow you to gain experience breeding, incubating, and raising young, and it will also make finding homes for them easier. When I bred panthers I made sure I was set up to comfortably house any offspring that didn't sell off immediately, and ended up keeping two beautiful females for about another year because I wasn't finding them good enough homes. That's the kind of preparation and foresight you need.</span></div>
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Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667332768834059568.post-14271461390617721052016-03-05T09:33:00.000-05:002018-01-10T18:18:37.915-05:00A Case for Environmental Enrichment in Reptiles<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is the second in a multi-part opinion series on Ethical Reptile Keeping. The series seeks to urge keepers, new and old alike, to evaluate their own husbandry habits and to think about the impact their choices, from housing to breeding, have on their personal animals as well as on the herpetology hobby as a whole. While some aspects of reptile and amphibian keeping have evolved to focus on pushing and advancing husbandry techniques to ensure that a species thrives in captivity, others have become stuck in antiquated and short-sighted practices which do not promote progress. And certain species, particularly entry-level species, are suffering as a result. I wish to draw attention to these embarrassing aspects of the herp community and encourage people to take a look at how they can grow as hobbyists and keepers, push what we know about great husbandry together, and strive for excellence, personally and as a community.</i><br />
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To follow along the vein of ethical housing, I wanted to elaborate upon some points I made regarding enrichment and stimulation. In an act of cosmic coincidence, I came across this phenomenal blog post in my social media, which I fully recommend that everyone read carefully and which I will discuss a little bit here.</div>
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<a href="http://rainbowsnakes.tumblr.com/post/119229812584/environmental-enrichment-for-reptiles-what-why">Environmental Enrichment for Reptiles; What, Why, and How?</a></div>
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The blog is absolutely thorough in its references and detailed in its information. The case it makes is simple; more and more we are discovering that reptiles and amphibians are more intelligent than previously thought, and that they need enrichment like any other animal in order to stay healhty and sharp. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we must be willing to provide for a pet's mental needs as well if we are going to keep animals in captivity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiessFsKl-D3-bwMrqQRaZ6xKJeKpAYTuc2kD_yjt4y5Q5aSWl4Td0xnSmvov5HrCmAWoE7wDFNG6flKAf6BQi_Z0OBuMc5QtsWzlOOfUFeRXOg9P-bxAeAH3k4_ejYrRBjz2fPUXqnM77K/s1600/Charlotte+6+months+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiessFsKl-D3-bwMrqQRaZ6xKJeKpAYTuc2kD_yjt4y5Q5aSWl4Td0xnSmvov5HrCmAWoE7wDFNG6flKAf6BQi_Z0OBuMc5QtsWzlOOfUFeRXOg9P-bxAeAH3k4_ejYrRBjz2fPUXqnM77K/s640/Charlotte+6+months+7.jpg" width="426" /></a>I made the case in my last post about how keeping herps in minimalistic, isolated, and unstimulating housing is lazy and a poor way to keep them, and in this one I'm going to argue that it is harmful and unhealthy. To put an animal in a plastic tote with hardly any stimulation during the day/night is to condemn them to be perpetually bored and largely inactive, and this is why herp obesity is so rampant in the community. An animal that isn't provided with the opportunity to move about and get exercise is inevitably going to develop health issues over time. And these are such easy conditions to change, and they have such a powerful impact!</div>
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When setting up a cage (regardless of what animal we are housing, be it a chameleon or a bearded dragon) it is vital that we make use of all available space. An animal will only be able to utilize the parts of the cage you give it access to, so if the height of a cage isn't being taken advantage of then you are wasting that space and limiting their range. Think of the species you are keeping. Really think about it. Forget what you may have read online about how other people keep them, just for a second, and think about what your animal has evolved over thousands of years to do. Is it a burrowing species? Is it an arboreal climber? Is it perfectly camouflaged in mossy branches? Is it an animal that spends part of the day soaking in a pool of water? Is it an active carnivorous hunter or a slow vegetarian/fructivore? Are they very shy and live hidden most of the time?</div>
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All these questions are important in helping you, as a keeper, to really understand the needs of your pet. It does a chameleon no good to be in a semi-sparce, dry, sandy cage while a bearded dragon would love it. Living in a low, horizontal cage as an arboreal green iguana would be torture, but a tortoise would feel right at home. Once you understand the nature of the species you keep, you can research how other people who have had a lot of success have been keeping theirs and make the informed decision on what tips make the most sense given what you know to be true about your species of choice.</div>
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Providing things like substrate to burrow into, things to climb, plants in which to hide, and pools in which to soak (even though, yes, they WILL make a mess all the time) will bring out such a colorful array of natural behaviors that it's absolutely worth it. Changing up the layout of the tank every few months is one way to keep it all feeling new and interesting, and changing out or adding new things occasionally will add enrichment without creating too much stress. Perhaps adding a new plant or a new hide, or changing around some large grapewood branches so that the climbing pathways are different. Changing around the food items and offering them in different ways will also add enrichment. Some handling (if tolerated) and even some free ranging around a safe area or basking outside (responsibly) are ways to add variety to their daily lives, allow them to become acclimated to you, and gives them a chance to stretch their legs beyond the confines of their own cage.</div>
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If you find that you have to reduce your pets' quality of life for the sake of fitting more animals into a given space in your home then you have reached a point where acquiring more reptiles has become unethical (in my opinion.) Remember, quality is more important than quantity in almost all aspects of life.</div>
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Olimpia Martinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363399562932574219noreply@blogger.com16