OldChamKeeper
Chameleon Enthusiast
I was planning to edit the original thread. Looks like I can't so I had to create this one.
I'm not sure how many photos I can post, However I'll do my best.
To start with I kept Parson's back from 1988 while in high school to 1996. I came across a huge lone male back in 88 and saw he needed some help. I had been keeping smaller species of chams going back to 1976 and felt I could could help this critter. He lived in my care for 8 years, ate like a king, and despite having a serious bone infection that resulted in him losing all four quadrants of his teeth, he did well until he passed in 1996. He was named Hormone simply since he would endlessly pursue my females. When he passed away the ban on them was in effect. I re-homed the females since I couldn't get another male and quietly waited for the day I could again acquire one. Not being rich by any stretch I knew it would be a long time.
Time passed.
I got married, had kids ( which suck the $$$ out of the Parson savings like you wouldn't believe), bought a house, and still couldn't afford a Parson's.
However after being in the pet industry for nearly 15 years I knew that if the chance came along, it would just happen, and that meant being prepared for that moment. So back in 2002 when we created our reptile room I looked ahead to when I would find that chance to get a Male Parson's once again. No other reptile compares to this one animal and I've owned more than my share of species. I had to be ready. It only took 13 years..
The bedroom that we converted to a reptile room had a built in closet. It was stripped to the walls and concrete and became my canvas. I had professionally created terrariums for businesses and luxury homes over my time and now it was my turn.
The resulting opening was 10' long, 8' tall and 30" deep.
First we used bathroom tile sheets for the walls. All this was sealed with silicone. For the floor we used high quality ceramic tiles and sealed those as well.
Second since I didn't want any animal to be able to reach the lighting so a custom screen was made and once installed created a 1" high space between the ceiling and the screen where lighting could safely be hung.
Third we installed a set of glass patio doors, double paned, with a screen door. I can use either the glass door or the screen door depending on my needs for humidity or air flow.
Fourth I then spoke with Bill over at Dragon Strand cages and took his dragon ledge idea to a larger scale. With his help he taught me how to use the black expanding foam he loves so much to sculpt some damn nice background that also allowed me to anchor in a dozen pots for plants while making it all look nice. Drainage was easily made by not sealing the bottom of the pots. Only took six of the 20 oz cans.............
I then picked up a standard 4' long metal shelving unit so many of us use. I made one shelf and the height was adjusted so I can easily keep a 5 gal bucket under it. The entire shelf was then lined with a plastic tarp and a hole made in the center above the bucket, it is now a single huge trip tray you see.
A simple reed garden fence was purchased for $8 and cut down to where I could encircle the shelf and camouflage it and the bucket.
With the help of a local weird gardener who runs a high end nursery a variety of plants were picked up. Mostly common types like the ficus and porthos, some bromeilads too.
I contacted Todd over at LightYourReptiles.com and explained my needs. Now you have to understand, I can remember when a "Vita-Lite" was all we had to work with in the hobby. So for me to reach out and want a zoo quality lighting set up was a big deal. Todd did not disappoint in the least. I bought a 48" Tropic Blaze Quad light fixture and he set it up with a plant bulb, an Arcadia 6% bulb, two of the 6.5K monsters, and let me just add that when I turned it on light poured forth from all my house windows and the neighbors thought a police helicopter had lit up the street. I had a tan instantly. Totally awesome and couldn't be happier. Good price too. I highly recommend him for questions about lighting and products.
I hooked the whole thing up to my Mist king, three nozzles cover it well.
I added in my Zoomed fogger. It goes off at 6am for 45 mins and again 12 hrs later for another 45 mins. It doesn't add much humidity considering the size of the habitat however it does create pockets of higher humidity and lower temps. I've tested it now for a few weeks and it is a neat effect.
I purchased a green chameleon cantina sometime back and tested it with one of my Quads. Dammed if she didn't use it. I like the compact design, makes it hard for feeders to die in it and if well placed the cham can't drop a load in it. Mine is mounted under an outcropping of the black sculpted foam so the cham can't bomb it. It's also located right next to the entrance for easy removal for cleaning. A drip system is still going to be used as my main watering system, the cantina is just there for a little extra if needed.
A ceiling fan was installed to that pulls out any excessive heat and blows it into the attic.
A small 4" desk fan was placed along the ground inside a specially made container that would prevent the cham from coming into contact with it for the sole purpose of making sure any excess water or moisture evaporates from the ground areas. Being on a timer it will help create the occasional breeze. Stagnant air doesn't exist in my reptile room let alone this habitat.
Temps near the top of the cage are 82F and temps lower down go to 76F during the day. Night temps drop about 5 degrees in the house.
A screen has been mounted that only allows the cham access to two thirds of the length of the habitat, as it grows it will get the entire space as well as bigger branches.
That all said.... enjoy the photos. Never mind the one with the imprisoned child for a size reference.
I'm not sure how many photos I can post, However I'll do my best.
To start with I kept Parson's back from 1988 while in high school to 1996. I came across a huge lone male back in 88 and saw he needed some help. I had been keeping smaller species of chams going back to 1976 and felt I could could help this critter. He lived in my care for 8 years, ate like a king, and despite having a serious bone infection that resulted in him losing all four quadrants of his teeth, he did well until he passed in 1996. He was named Hormone simply since he would endlessly pursue my females. When he passed away the ban on them was in effect. I re-homed the females since I couldn't get another male and quietly waited for the day I could again acquire one. Not being rich by any stretch I knew it would be a long time.
Time passed.
I got married, had kids ( which suck the $$$ out of the Parson savings like you wouldn't believe), bought a house, and still couldn't afford a Parson's.
However after being in the pet industry for nearly 15 years I knew that if the chance came along, it would just happen, and that meant being prepared for that moment. So back in 2002 when we created our reptile room I looked ahead to when I would find that chance to get a Male Parson's once again. No other reptile compares to this one animal and I've owned more than my share of species. I had to be ready. It only took 13 years..
The bedroom that we converted to a reptile room had a built in closet. It was stripped to the walls and concrete and became my canvas. I had professionally created terrariums for businesses and luxury homes over my time and now it was my turn.
The resulting opening was 10' long, 8' tall and 30" deep.
First we used bathroom tile sheets for the walls. All this was sealed with silicone. For the floor we used high quality ceramic tiles and sealed those as well.
Second since I didn't want any animal to be able to reach the lighting so a custom screen was made and once installed created a 1" high space between the ceiling and the screen where lighting could safely be hung.
Third we installed a set of glass patio doors, double paned, with a screen door. I can use either the glass door or the screen door depending on my needs for humidity or air flow.
Fourth I then spoke with Bill over at Dragon Strand cages and took his dragon ledge idea to a larger scale. With his help he taught me how to use the black expanding foam he loves so much to sculpt some damn nice background that also allowed me to anchor in a dozen pots for plants while making it all look nice. Drainage was easily made by not sealing the bottom of the pots. Only took six of the 20 oz cans.............
I then picked up a standard 4' long metal shelving unit so many of us use. I made one shelf and the height was adjusted so I can easily keep a 5 gal bucket under it. The entire shelf was then lined with a plastic tarp and a hole made in the center above the bucket, it is now a single huge trip tray you see.
A simple reed garden fence was purchased for $8 and cut down to where I could encircle the shelf and camouflage it and the bucket.
With the help of a local weird gardener who runs a high end nursery a variety of plants were picked up. Mostly common types like the ficus and porthos, some bromeilads too.
I contacted Todd over at LightYourReptiles.com and explained my needs. Now you have to understand, I can remember when a "Vita-Lite" was all we had to work with in the hobby. So for me to reach out and want a zoo quality lighting set up was a big deal. Todd did not disappoint in the least. I bought a 48" Tropic Blaze Quad light fixture and he set it up with a plant bulb, an Arcadia 6% bulb, two of the 6.5K monsters, and let me just add that when I turned it on light poured forth from all my house windows and the neighbors thought a police helicopter had lit up the street. I had a tan instantly. Totally awesome and couldn't be happier. Good price too. I highly recommend him for questions about lighting and products.
I hooked the whole thing up to my Mist king, three nozzles cover it well.
I added in my Zoomed fogger. It goes off at 6am for 45 mins and again 12 hrs later for another 45 mins. It doesn't add much humidity considering the size of the habitat however it does create pockets of higher humidity and lower temps. I've tested it now for a few weeks and it is a neat effect.
I purchased a green chameleon cantina sometime back and tested it with one of my Quads. Dammed if she didn't use it. I like the compact design, makes it hard for feeders to die in it and if well placed the cham can't drop a load in it. Mine is mounted under an outcropping of the black sculpted foam so the cham can't bomb it. It's also located right next to the entrance for easy removal for cleaning. A drip system is still going to be used as my main watering system, the cantina is just there for a little extra if needed.
A ceiling fan was installed to that pulls out any excessive heat and blows it into the attic.
A small 4" desk fan was placed along the ground inside a specially made container that would prevent the cham from coming into contact with it for the sole purpose of making sure any excess water or moisture evaporates from the ground areas. Being on a timer it will help create the occasional breeze. Stagnant air doesn't exist in my reptile room let alone this habitat.
Temps near the top of the cage are 82F and temps lower down go to 76F during the day. Night temps drop about 5 degrees in the house.
A screen has been mounted that only allows the cham access to two thirds of the length of the habitat, as it grows it will get the entire space as well as bigger branches.
That all said.... enjoy the photos. Never mind the one with the imprisoned child for a size reference.
Attachments
Last edited:
