Chameleon Academy Podcast with Bill Strand

The natural world holds the answers as to how we should care for our chameleons. But those answers are mixed in with dead ends and wrong turns. So we need to be smart as to how we recreate natural conditions. This is a thoughtful conversation about building environments that are nurturing for our chameleons.

This episode shares what having a pet chameleon is really like and gives you important things to think about before bringing one home. But it also talks about the unexpected ways you are changed after being a keeper for a while!

Your North Star is your personal guiding principle. It isn't a place you end up, it's a direction you go in. In chameleon husbandry, this means identifying what you care about most. Is it replicating nature? Ensuring efficiency? Prioritizing survival rates for breeding? When you know your North Star, it becomes much easier to filter through the noise of online forums and social media. You stop chasing every new trend or feeling like you have to defend your decisions in every debate. Instead, you build a husbandry strategy that aligns with your values and stick to it.

There is a lot to take in when you are planning to care for hatchling chameleons! I give you the five commandments that will get you started on a solid foundation!

There is a lot to take in when you are planning to care for hatchling chameleons! I give you the five commandments that will get you started on a solid foundation!

What size cage should we use for chameleon hatchlings? As we evaluate our husbandry to provide an enriching life for our chameleons we need to start at how we care for them from day 1. I talk about how we should be starting off our chameleons from the moment they leave the egg.

Do you think it would be cool to see chameleons in the wild? In this podcast episode I talk about my top picks to see wild chameleons!

We need to go back to the wild source if we want to move our captive husbandry forward. But there are cautions and dangers in doing so that we need to avoid. Freshly back from Madagascar, I discuss how important wild environmental data is, the dangers in misusing it, and how to change our captive husbandry properly.

We all know parasites are an issue with our captive reptiles, but not all of us have a microscope or would know what to do with one if we did. Today I am going to give you the bare bones, high level introduction to parasites that requires no previous knowledge, but will make you highly effective in fighting the parasites that want to move in on your reptile.

We have always been amazed when we see an enclosure set up naturalistically with thriving plant life. There is a magic in getting lost in the details of one of these environments. It is even more powerful when the chameleon is the last thing you notice because it had so well hidden itself in plain sight (as chameleons are able to do).

Getting ready to buy a chameleon cage? Listen here first! We often don't think about how we are going to set things up once we get our chameleon cage. After years of doing this, I'd like to share five things that can make the difference between annoyance and smooth sailing!

Here are my picks for the next steps for chameleon keepers to level up after they get comfortable with the basics of chameleon husbandry.

Do you love keeping chameleons so much that you are thinking of adding another one to your household? We talk a lot about what you should consider if you are getting your first chameleon, but a favorite topic of mine is what you should consider if you are getting your second, third, or fourth chameleon!

Doing your own parasite checks on your chameleon has long been for advanced keepers. But there is no reason why this cannot be a part of every day chameleon husbandry for anyone with multiple chameleons.Today I am making the argument for adding fecal checks to standard husbandry.

Coccidia is a parasite that can do great harm to your chameleon. By knowing the coccidia  lifecycle we are able to device medications and strategies to eradicate it. by the end of this episode you will have a working knowledge of the coccidia parasite in the context of chameleons.

Evaluate your chameleons cage set-up to find what you could improve. This episode trains you on the Forest Edge 5+5 checklist which will allow you to methodically go through each item that is important to your chameleon. This is the exact system I use when I do my chameleon cage reviews on the Chameleon Academy YouTube channel. I am sharing it with you so you will be able to expertly analyze your own chameleon's cage. This video series is supported by Custom Reptile Habitats and the Dragon Strand Chameleon Caging Company. Purchases of chameleon enclosures from either of these two companies make this series possible. Custom Reptile Habitats offers high end enclosures. I personally designed the Chameleon Academy Arboreal line of enclosures. These wide format enclosures facilitate bioactive and naturalistic environments. You can explore the enclosures here: https://customreptilehabitats.com/collections/official-chameleon-academy-products?sca_ref=4924022.2ddcdVif4X&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=affiliate-william-strand Dragon Strand offers mid-range cages that are fully featured designed specifically for the needs of chameleon keepers including Dragon Ledges for mounting pots/branches, a fitted drainage tray, two hydration mounts for misters, and solid and screen floor panels that can be switched out. Dragon strand cages come in both hybrid and screen versions at https://dragonstrand.com

What do I do to improve pet store standards for keeping chameleons? Not only are chameleons not being cared for correctly, the improper care gives the wrong message to the beginning chameleon keeper. Do we tell the pet store to up their chameleon care? Do we tell the corporation to improve their chameleon care standards? Today I discuss the the ways we can make a difference in creating a better world for captive chameleons.

Rare Genetics, Inc. is opening up a final round of test development for a genetic test for panther chameleon locale. This is a 35 minute conversation with Dr. Ben Morrill, who is actively working on a way to explore panther chameleon local forms using genetic material from their shed skin. We are very excited to see this go to market and future improvements as we put it out there for people to use in their projects.

If you keep chameleons (or any reptile) you might feel like there is change in the air. Yes, there are some major shifts happening and it is wise that we face them head on.

Quality over quantity. TC Houston started taking about small batch breeding on the Animals at Home podcast a few years ago and it started a chain reaction. I am convinced that we can make our community better by embracing these concepts.

Dart frogs are a most incredible creature! And Troy Goldberg of YouTube's Troy Goldberg's garage, joins me to share how to take care of these little guys!

Rus Wilson from Aquarimax (https://www.aquarimax.com/) and I talk about what Isopods I should use for my new Custom Reptile Habitats Arboreal XL Enclosure. It has a special "forest Floor Viewing Window" and I want to have some awesome isopod action down there!!

Breeding chameleons is a resource consuming task if done properly. Burnout amongst chameleon breeders is common. And with that our community experience is depleted. In this episode I look at how we can use Small Batch Breeding concepts to strengthen our community and increase satisfaction for the individual keeper turned breeder.

Michael DiBoneventura joins us today to represent the perspective of a new breeder. He has a ton of experience with various reptiles throughout his life, like most of us, but he got started with Panther Chameleons by raising them individually. We discuss some of the information he used and what he looks for when sourcing animals ethically. He also talks about female management and clutch sizes that he shoots for. Great discussion!

Brian Stewart is one of the long-tenure Panther Chameleon breeders I have worked with for many years. In this episode, he talks about what it was like to attempt to verify a local form in the mail before the internet, and how much easier we all have it today. He also talks about some of his breeding philosophy and preferences after having lived through and seen thousands of animals over the years. I remember when I got started in 2015 hearing about these Brian Stewart babies and how big/healthy they are. He has been a role model and a goal post for many years and it was an honor to sit down with him here.

Jonathan is joined by Robbie Anderson and Bryan Long to discuss the realities of being a panther chameleon breeder and the strategies to be a good one.

Madcham.de is an invaluable website compiled by Thorsten Negro and Dr. Alex Laube. Their efforts have given us insight into the wild conditions for the chameleons that live in Madagasar. Jonathan is joined by Lee and Amanda Ready to gain insight into the locales of Panther Chameleons.

Dr. Chris Anderson joins Jonathan to discuss Panther Chameleons from a scientific persceptive. 

Maybe not save us all, but Small Batch Breeding could be an answer to avoiding breeder burn-out as well as possbily establishing new chameleon species in captivity. Will it work? To be determined. But you are in the right place to watch us try!

Panther Chameleons have become the foundation of the growth of our chameleon community.  This is the inaugural episode of the new iPardalis Podcast produced by Jonathan Hill. He introduces us to the issues and discussions surrounding the panther chameleon community.

The Chameleon Academy is now a network . I have the pleasure of introducing to you iPardalis Podcast! The iPardalis Podcast looks at the various issues facing the panther chameleon community. Host, Jonathan Hill, of iPardalis, explores genetics, natural history, ethics, and the basics of breeding panther chameleons. Through this podcast you will meet a number of community members that further the important conversations we need to have.

One species that gets a constant love is the Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko, Uroplatus sikorae from Madagascar. This is one of the extreme bark mimics and the camouflage is freakishly good! Not only is the coloration perfect, but the frill around their lower jaw serves to ear the typical animal shape and make the gecko appear to meld onto the branch. Yes, definitely a unique lizard that checks the boxes to be adored by people attracted to chameleons! Today I talk with Dave Bagshaw about the Mossy Leaf-Tail Gecko!

Of the more than 200 species of chameleons, none breaks the mold like the Namaqua chameleon. They don't climb and they run across sand dunes. Brett Hanson shares what it is like working with and reproducing Chamaeleo namaquensis, the Namaqua Chameleon.

Dean Missimer wants to help us give our chameleons a more natural diet. To this end he is breeding grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects that match what is found in the gut of wild chameleons. Listen in as he talks about grasshoppers as a chameleon feeder insect!

Kevin Stanford, who bred Carpet Chameleons to the 10th captive generation, joins me to talk about chameleon breeding projects.

We often feel the desire to establish chameleon species in captivity. It should be easy. We know how to breed them. But it just doesn't seem to happen easily. Why not? Today I am going to explain the challenges of establishing a chameleon species in captivity and how we might be inching closer to success. And will our progress be in time to really make a difference?

Have you ever considered becoming an animal influencer? With a growing community there is a  diverse need for communicators and educators across different platforms. Today I'll talk about Animalcon, which is a huge gathering of animal themed content creators, and give some insight into joining this space by becoming an animal content creator yourself.

Jurgen Van Overbeke and I talk about the different ways European and US chameleon communities have grown over the last few decades and talk about where we all are going.

Welcome to the Outer Fringes where we explore reptiles out there that are as cool as chameleons! Today we get introduced to a miniature armored creature that is one of the top five dragonesque reptiles - the crocodile skink! Breeder Christopher Musi joins me to give us an intoduction to this amazing lizard!

I have kept the Machakos Hills Jackson's Chameleon under identical conditions as the Yellow-crested Jackson's Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus) for multiple generation for both subspecies. But should they really be kept under the same conditions. Is it possible that I could do better for one or both? In this episode you can lsiten in as I challenge sonething I thought I knew. Whether I confirm I was right or open up a new understanding, I will have a higher confidence in what I am doing. And you can come along a learn along side me!

Are you thinking about getting a Panther Chameleon egg? There are some things you should know before making that decision! I talk about why "cheap" is not a good motivation and how it isn't "easy" unless you have good information to get set-up. Today i give you the pros and cons of buying a panther chameleon egg to hatch yourself. Education is key. But which ever way you decide to go, you will find the information you need here on the Panther Chameleon Podcast!

It is very easy to get excited about chameleons. And just like everything else that excites us it is very easy to think that more chameleons would be better! Today I am going to explore different ways to keep that excitement going and avoid burn out!

You know how to breed chameleons, but how do you get chosen from the myriad of breeders the customer has options of? Today I take a look at what is important to start your breeding business. On the Panther Chamelen Podcast I released an eipsode on how to choose a chameleon breeder. That was talking to the newcomer trying to make heads or tails of all the names. I replay this episode, but come at it from the perspective of the new breeder. How can you present yourself in the best possible way so that the newcomers will find you and see that you are a great choice?

Chameleons are famous for changing color. As cool as it would be to change color to match a background, chameleon color change is much more useful to us. It gives us a window into what they are thinking. Chameleon colors change with age, temperature, and emotional state. Today I am going to talk about how chameleons communicate through color and what it can do for our understanding of our mini tree dragon! 

The Panther Chameleon Podcast is a tutorial podcast that turns your commute, workout, and chore time into research about panther chameleons. Today I introduce myself and discuss what a Panther Chameleon is like as a pet. Show notes and further educational resources can be found at https://chameleonacademy.com/panther-chameleons-as-pets/ Welcome to the first episode of the Panther Chameleon Podcast!

As of today, the Chameleon Academy Podcast officially becomes the Chameleon Academy Network. This means that you will see other titles come across this feed to enhance your chameleon listening experience. Although this is a big move for me, this really isn't a big change for you. You'll keep getting chameleon podcasts as you usually do! But I explain it all in this episode so you understand what is going on with the next episode you'll receive!

Chameleon keeping is like anything else, there is an easy way to do it and a hard way! I explore decision milestones at various places along the chameleon keeper's journey and share my decades of experience as to what the best decision may be. Learn from me doing it the hard way so you can do it the easy way!

How are Chameleon Academy care guides put together? It is usually based on the experiences of a number of senior members of the chameleon community. This episode gives a behind the scenes look at the creation of a care guide for Calumma brevicorne, the Short-Horned Chameleon!

Should chameleon keepers have a different husbandry than chameleon breeders? It doesn't make sense that they would, but that is a typical situation. We know why this is, but shouldn't it be different? Would you, as a customer, be willing to pay what it takes for breeders to provide the same level of care as keepers do? Jonathan Hill of iPardalis joins me to discuss what we should expect from ourselves as breeders and as customers in the chameleon community.

We want our chameleons to live a long life. But, more thn that, we want our chameleons to live a quality life. Longevity is just the way we measure our success! Today I explore the top things you can do to give your chameleon many years filled with a quality of life

Let's talk about fogging chameleons in captivity! Petr Necas is back for part two of the interview where we turn our attention to the situations facing people who would like to implement fogging in captivity. Petr leads the exploration of fogging with chameleons so it will be educational to catch up with his latest thoughts. We also touch on Petr's ideas on over-hydration. I am still evaluating that concept myself and so I present to you this interview so that you can hear his logic. Whether you agree or not, the only way to be able to make a decision or be able to look at the evidence is to understand the thinking behind it in the first place. I invite you to take a listen and think on the concepts. And I would like to take high level view of this. The one thing that will make us strong explorers of chameleon husbandry is evaluating reasonable ideas and making decisions after careful contemplation. Even ideas that do not, in the end, turn out to be accepted are valuable in that they allowed us to practice deliberate critical thinking. The act of evaluation strengthens us.