Chameleon Academy Podcast

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Ep 83: Kenyan Xantholophus Jackson's Chameleons Feb 09, 2018

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In the United States, the Large Xantholophus Jackson's Chameleons we see are almost all from a feral population on Hawaii. But this magnificent chameleon originated in Kenya, Africa. The newly started Kenyan Xanth Project is spearheading the effort to bring back the founder genetics. In this episode we learn about the natural environment of Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus, the yellow-crested Jackson's Chameleon, from world renown chameleon expert and author, Petr Necas who is, at the moment of this episode release, in Kenya studying Jackson's Chameleons in the wild.

Ep 82: Holding Angry Chameleons Feb 02, 2018

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Today we are going to talk about a special handling case and that is when the chameleon is scared – or angry- enough to bite you. The only time you should ever handle a chameleon who is scared enough to want to bite you is if it is required for medicating them for their health. There may come a time when you will have to deal with a chameleon who has gone way beyond annoyance with your antics. Should that time come, you'll need to know how to handle this fiery tree dragon.

Ep 81: Chameleon Facebook Roundtable Jan 26, 2018

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Today we have a roundtable discussion on Facebook and its effect on our community. I have asked Elise Stein, Dru Reeves and Nathalie Norris to join me and share their views. Elise built up our largest group The Reptile Enthusiasts. Although it is a general reptile group we chameleon people have pretty much claimed her as a citizen of our community. She also has an offshoot called The Chameleon Enthusiasts. Dru is the head admin for the community's largest chameleon specific group, Chameleon Central USA. Nathalie is one of our most active moderators and can be found on a number of different groups including Elise's and Dru's listed above. All three are supported by a large group of admins and moderators that are here to help you. And I feel it is time to revisit chameleons on Facebook. I invite you to listen in on our roundtable discussion.

Ep 80: Handling Your Chameleon Jan 19, 2018

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Chameleons are tricky things to hold in that we don't actually hold, them, but allow them to sit on our hand. Today we talk about handling your chameleon.

Season 3 Introduction Oct 22, 2017

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Good morning Chameleon Wranglers! It is time for an update as to what is going on with the podcast!

Good morning Chameleon Wranglers! It is time for an update as to what is going on with the podcast! This isn't an episode per se. It is just a short update to let you know I am working hard on season three! I haven't just migrated to Madagascar for the winter! We have this break because I am substantially increasing what this podcast will offer. In season three I will have video companion episodes to the podcast. You will still get the podcast which can keep you company into work or during the cage cleaning days, but you will also be able to come home, and see a companion video which gives a visual to the topic. I am estimating that the new season will launch in January. I have been having a great time recording interviews and video for this new season and look forward to sharing them with you. We are going to be taking a close look at handling your chameleons, the ecology of the veiled chameleon, and chameleon anatomy. We'll get a better feel for supplements, plants in the chameleon cage, and even how we in the hobbyist community can effectively perform some citizen science to push our collective knowledge further. I intend for this new format to be well worth the wait!

So, while I am arranging simultaneous interviews across three continents, massaging those video transitions, and trying to coax the why out of these topics, enjoy the holidays, your family, and that mini-tree dragon that makes our lives border on the fantastic! I'll have something special for you when 2018 plops itself on our doorstep! It will be a great year to learn, understand, and pass it on!

Ep 79: Mourning Your Chameleon Jul 14, 2017

Show notes

Today we talk about dealing with the loss of our chameleon. Chameleons have so much personality and character that they easily become considered part of the family. And when the time comes for them to pass we can get confused as to how we should feel.

Today I share my thoughts on losing a beloved chameleon.

Ep 78: Chameleon Fecal Exams with Alec O'Brien Jul 07, 2017

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Good morning chameleon wranglers, Today we are going to talk about how to do your own fecal exam for your chameleon. Of course, there is much more to it than I can go over here, but it really isn't that hard and we will give you a very good start. I have brought back Alec O'Brien who is a vet tech and chameleon breeder!

Ep 77: Incubating Chameleon Eggs with Carl Cattau Jun 30, 2017

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Today Carl Cattau and I discuss incubation of chameleon eggs. Incubation can be intimidating and I know I gravitated towards live bearers for the longest time. But hatching eggs really isn't that bad once you understand how to pull it off. Listen in and try it yourself!

Ep 76: Chameleon Egg Laying Sites with Carl Cattau Jun 23, 2017

Show notes

Welcome, chameleon wranglers, to a two part series on egg laying and incubation. For these topics I have brought back Carl Cattau for a an interview type discussion. When it comes to a female chameleon successfully laying eggs your job is to provide a sufficient site that meets with your chameleon's approval.

Unfortunately, Their only way of communicating to us is either to lay eggs… or not. I have chosen Carl to join me in this discussion because he is on the forefront of getting rare species to lay eggs and hatch. Getting a species to hatch that has books written about it and Facebook pages dedicated to it is certainly an achievement, but when a species is first imported and we have to figure out how the females think. Or what combination of temperature, moisture, and diapause to incubate at we rely on pioneers like Carl who spend their time at the edges of what we as a community know. And that is one reason why this is a discussion rather than a tutorial. We are talking about a subject where the body of knowledge is scarce and the answers are oh so slowly being coaxed out. This is the exciting stage. This is where the common knowledge of tomorrow is created. It is happening in real time. Let's listen in as Carl and I discuss laying sites and what it takes to create a space where the female will give us those precious eggs.

Ep 75: Cleaning Your Chameleon Cage with Dr. Rob Coke DVM Jun 16, 2017

Show notes

Today we are going to dive into cleaning products. We chameleon keepers are acutely aware of the value of cleanliness. We maintain a constant vigilance against parasites, bacteria, and fungal bizarreness. It is time we explore the cleaning agents available to us. I am bringing back Dr. Rob Coke who is the head of veterinary medicine at the San Antonio Zoo.

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