The Parson’s Chameleon is one of the most sought after species and, for good reason. It is a wonderful chameleon to keep. The challenges in reproducing this chameleon have kept the Parson’s chameleon rare. But recent successes by some dedicated breeders have given us a chance to enjoy the holy grail of chameleon keeping – captive bred specimens. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Craig Durbin of Primo Chameleons as he shares his experiences with the Parson’s Chameleon.
Aug 30, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast The reptile community of which we chameleon people are a part of is like any other community. It is made up of hobbyists and businesses catering to their needs. Today we are going to look into the pet business at the corporate level. I am going to talk about how we as consumers create and shape the community at that level through our decisions. And how “actions speak louder than words” is more than just a cliché.
Aug 23, 2019•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast It is easy to be smitten by chameleons. From their patterns, horns, impossibly long tongue, color change, and….just all of what they are, they are truly other-worldly and have a quick charm about them. Their popularity continues to grow through movie appearances and social media exposure. In addition, a growing community of breeders has made robust, captive bred chameleons easily available. But do they make good pets? Today we will discuss what kind of pets chameleons make.
Aug 16, 2019•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Reptile shows are a blast to go to. You get to see your favorite local vendors and the national brands all in one space. Today we are going to talk about chameleons and reptile shows.
Aug 08, 2019•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Making your own chameleon cage can be a fulfilling project and a way to use all your available space for that larger than life chameleon cage. Today I talk about considerations in making your own chameleon cage.
Aug 02, 2019•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kinyongia carpenteri. Most of us have not heard of this name. This is a rarely seen chameleon from the highlands of Uganda. Today we have Mario Jungmann, one of the few people to reproduce this species on to tell us about the husbandry. We may never have a Kinyongia carpenteri ourselves, but just hearing about the steps Mario took to figure out the care can help us the first time in whatever species we may bring home.
Jul 26, 2019•30 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast Once we set up a chameleon cage we need to maintain it and adjust if things are not correct. Today we will talk about tweaking your cage and keeping your chameleon happy. So you got your cage, did your research, listened to this awesome podcast, and made a gorgeous garden of a cage that fulfilled the Forest Edge 4+4 method from podcast episode 114 perfectly. And then, you introduced the newest reptilian member of the family. What now? Well, I have to let you know that I have dived as deep as I c...
Jul 19, 2019•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast One of the most important things we will do as chameleon keepers is set up our chameleon’s home. This is where our fantastical beast will need to find everything required for a happy chameleon life. Today we talk about how to set up a chameleon cage effectively and I introduce the 4+4 checklist to help simplify that process.
Jul 12, 2019•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast It used to be so simple. We heard that chameleons needed a 48” tall screen cage and that was that. But then it comes out that all these experienced keepers are using glass or hybrid cages of different sizes. Well, today we will talk about chameleon cages, what makes a minimum size, and when to use screen, glass, or hybrid cages.
Jul 05, 2019•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Furcifer minor, from Madagascar, has the distinction of having the most dramatic gravid coloration. If you saw a gravid female and a non-gravid female you wouldn’t know they were the same individual. And if you saw a male and a female you would think they were different species. Furcifer minor has variety! This wonderful little chameleon is exceedingly rare in captivity, but there are successful breeding groups and their numbers are growing. Today we talk with Frank Payne who is a leader in the ...
Jun 28, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Trioceros montium. The two horned chameleon. The mountain chameleon. Is one of those incredibly decorated Cameroon chameleon species with crests and horns. It is no longer imported, but there are small pockets of breeders working with it. One of them is the team of Tyler Gordon and Kristen Zeller at Cage the Chameleons in Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada. Today we talk to this dynamic duo about their work with this rare chameleon.
Jun 21, 2019•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast One of the basic environmental husbandry conditions is humidity. This is one of the more difficult of our conditions to dial in. In this episode we talk with Mario Jungman from the Netherlands about how he has refined his husbandry with humidity as a critical element.
Jun 14, 2019•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the first part of this series we talked about the natural history of Trioceros melleri and the housing strategy. Today we will talk about husbandry. And that is how you set up their cage to replicate the conditions they need as well as nutrition. Our three breeders are back to help us get started in the right direction. Dale Tamura from the United States, Martine Desjardins from Canada, and James Killey from the United Kingdom share their hard won elements of success. To start off, I’d like t...
Jun 06, 2019•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast One of the most impressive of chameleons is the Meller’s Chameleon. Trioceros melleri is the largest of the African chameleons. With recent captive hatched specimens available in the US, Canada, and Europe more keepers have access to this special species. But there are extra preparations necessary to keep them healthy. Today I start the discussion with the top breeders of Trioceros melleri who have graciously agreed to share with you their methods for success.
May 31, 2019•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we explore the concept of co-habitation in chameleons. For the purposes of this podcast, co-habitation is more than one chameleon living together in a cage. If the chameleons have physical access to each other it is cohabitation. By the end of this episode you will understand the “why” behind advice regarding co-habitation.
May 23, 2019•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to a fascinating episode of the Chameleon Breeder Podcast where we will look into the development of a veiled chameleon in the egg. Dr. Raul Diaz is about to give us a tour of what goes on during incubation! Just what is going on inside a chameleon egg during incubation? That is a question just about every chameleon breeder has asked themselves. I am excited to say that, as a result of the work of Dr. Raul Diaz, we now know. And we are lucky enough to have the scientist himself speaking ...
May 17, 2019•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast We spend a great deal of time focusing on what goes into the mouth of our chameleons, but there is just as much happening at the other end of the system. And sometimes things can go wrong. Today, Dr. Rob Coke comes back on and we talk about prolapse, sperm plugs, and constipation.
May 09, 2019•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast In west Africa there is a line of volcanic mountains that starts in the Gulf of Guinea and makes landfall in the country of Cameroon. Upon these ancient volcanos has arisen some of the most incredible chameleons found nowhere else. Today we talk with Walter Tapondjou, a scientist whose research work focuses on the bizarre and beautiful chameleons of Cameroon.
May 02, 2019•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast A relatively new feeder to the reptile world is the Black Soldier Fly. There are many marketing names given to the larval stage of this insect. Today we are joined by Lauren from Symton, a company that breeds and sells the BSF to the reptile community. She will be giving us an introduction to the Black Soldier Fly!
Apr 26, 2019•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Scherz is a scientist who studies the chameleons, frogs, and other reptiles and amphibians of Madagascar. Today he brings us with him on his latest expedition through interviews and audio journals recorded while he was in the forest. We learn what his team does and what daily work is like in the field. This expedition explores Montagne d'Ambre, a mountain in the northern tip of Madagascar. Although it is a popular tourist destination, only the entrance to the national park has been well stu...
Apr 18, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast In 2017, scientist Mark Scherz led a research team to Montagne d'Ambre in the northern tip of the island to study the difference elevation makes on speciation in chameleons and other reptiles and amphibians. During that expedition, he took an audio journal so that we on the podcast could go along with him and experience what a scientific expedition was like.
Apr 12, 2019•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast At this episode 100 milestone it is time to reflect on where we have been and how we have grown over these last 99 episodes. I share my growth in the area of chameleon hydration philosophy and describe other challenges we are up against as the chameleon community.
Apr 05, 2019•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we answer the question: What Chameleon Should I Get? This is for the keeper just starting out and finding themselves faced with a myriad of choices. Let’s discuss your options and get you on the right track!
Nov 02, 2018•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to an exploration of the world that both we and chameleons live within. We are honored to have John Courteney-Smith share with us a preview of his upcoming book. It is part 1 within the new Elements series: Fire – The Sun, its use and replication within Reptile Keeping. Today, we will talk about light and its importance to us as chameleon keepers.
Oct 05, 2018•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today I interview Helen Kairo from Anatomika about chameleon anatomy, MBD, and what goes on under a chameleon's skin. Helen is no stranger to the chameleon or even reptile world. If you have seen postings on social media of bright pink skeletons or beautiful images that show a window into the internal organs – that is Helen Kairo. She is actively sharing her love for anatomy and teaching. Today we get to know Helen, her art, and her outreach through her online business Anatomika. Here is our int...
Sep 14, 2018•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Metabolic Bone Disease is a terminal condition. But, if caught in time, the chameleon’s life can be saved. Today we talk about living life with a special needs chameleon. Cheryl Garcia runs the reptile section of an animal rescue called Another Chance Sanctuary in the state of Ohio. Her daily duties are to manage the rescues when she is not traveling across the country picking up reptiles too sick to ship. One thing she sees on a consistent basis is Metabolic Bone Disease. If you have been follo...
Aug 24, 2018•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Nutritional disorders in chameleons, like Metabolic Bone Disease, are a result of us not providing natural conditions. Today, John Courteney-Smith joins me to discuss preventing illness through proper environment. Welcome, chameleon wranglers, to episode 95 where we are continuing our discussion into Metabolic Bone Disease, or MBD. MBD is important enough to get multiple episodes worth of attention because it is so prevalent in our hobby of chameleon keeping. The good news is that it is preventa...
Aug 17, 2018•24 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast Metabolic Bone Disease, or MBD, is one of the chameleon world’s leading causes of death. And it is completely preventable. Join me in the “Scare Away MBD” campaign and let’s make MBD a story we tell from the chameleon dark ages. In this first episode we are joined by Dr. Rob Coke, the head veterinarian from the San Antonio Zoo who explains what MBD is and what is going on.
Aug 09, 2018•37 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast More and more chameleon breeders join our ranks every day. And you may be one of those curious about starting a chameleon breeding business. There are scores of instructional materials on how to start a business. But we have an extra twist that our product is a living creature. And with that comes added responsibility. Today we will talk about the basics of pricing your chameleon babies and how your choices affect much more than how quickly you sell the clutch.
Aug 03, 2018•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Food and water fuel living creatures. Understanding the right fuel for your chameleon is critical to their health. Today we explore the diet of the Veiled Chameleon in the wild and how we can feed them a healthy diet in captivity.
Jul 27, 2018•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
