Martine Desjardins

Contact

I started with chameleons in 2014 with Trioceros melleri. In my early days, it was a shock to realize that the vast majority of chameleons were captured in the wild (except for veiled and panthers). My method of learning with chameleons has been learning from my mistakes, based on my observations. To encourage observation and learning, I built a free-range in my working room. This gave me the freedom to be a constant observer in order to target their needs by considering each escape attempt as an indicator of discomfort (and therefore, as a problem to be resolved). While free-ranging was a great learning experience, it requires constant supervision, working from home, and a significant financial investment, and I have since given up free-ranging.

My current passion is for fully bioactive terrariums. All of my bioactive terrariums for my chameleons are a homemade mix of a classic glass terrarium for the bottom and a mesh terrarium for the top. I am a person who enjoys sharing and exchanging knowledge and who knows how to be very open-minded. My priority with chameleons is to offer healthy animals, building knowledge and learning from them and from their biotope.

My present long-term projects are the Bradypodion thamnobates, Brookesia thieli and Trioceros cristatus. I also have one Trioceros jacksonii jacksoni from the Machakos hills, and a female T. petteri. If I have babies from either, I intend to prioritize exchanges with breeders to increase the probabilities of establishing a decent population in Canada. I've now had my fourth litter of Bradypodion thamnobates and have 3 distinct genetic lines. My goal is to be able to keep in touch with other breeders in Canada. The Brookesia project is progressing well, but I had some issues with incubating the eggs last summer. I hope for babies for 2021! I currently have 3 Brookesia and plan to expand with the next import from Madagascar. The cristatus project is new and dates from December 2020. It is a project for which I have been waiting a long time, and I have a fascination with the species. This species is originally from Cameroon, and I am currently in contact with people directly in the field who can teach me more about their habits and their territories. I currently have incubating eggs and 3 females (including a potentially pregnant female). Wish me luck with this one!