Epic Parsonii Enclosure: Part 1

[kinyonga]

Just had to ask to see why it wasn't a concern.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Just had to ask to see why it wasn't a concern.

I was expecting it and it was a very valid question to ask.

 

[kinyonga]

Thanks! Gotta learn as we go!

 

[bluesox68]

Ok, I gotta ask. Whats the longest you've stared looking and not seeing the parsonii?! That set up is amazingly huge and i panic after 3 minutes of looking before I see my panther 3 inches from my face and my set up is only 6x2x2! Oh and this set up is fantastic, cheers

 

[jamest0o0]

Curious, when you say treated plants before adding them, what does that entail? I usually just pull the soil out swish around in white ivory soap/little vinegar and then rinse everything down with water roots and all.

I had problems with aphids at one point, removed the plants and dropped lady bugs all over my plants which worked so far. Are lady bugs very toxic, I'm sure you've thought over everything, but could they just be added to your enclosure without being a threat to your Parsons?

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Lady bugs won't be as effective as the larvae. I think they are distasteful, more than toxic. I sprayed everything before it went into the enclosure, allowed the spray to dry, then rinsed clean, with a soap solution, then plain water. It was labor intensive and the chemicals I use are specific and often expensive.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Ok, I gotta ask. Whats the longest you've stared looking and not seeing the parsonii?! That set up is amazingly huge and i panic after 3 minutes of looking before I see my panther 3 inches from my face and my set up is only 6x2x2! Oh and this set up is fantastic, cheers

10 mins a couple times! The male is the worst for disappearing and reappearing out of nowhere. I know where the female is 98% of the time.

 

[ChamNewbie6540]

That's one lucky cham you have!

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Just some updated shots

 

[CJ's Exotics]

Looks great!!!

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Andrew

The enclosures and Yellow Lip Calumma parsonii parsonii look great! Have you had any breeding activity from the WC Yellow Lip pair yet?

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Extensionofgreen]

No definitive breeding events, but my female is basking more frequently, eating quite a bit, and displays of the male is in proximity. l expect she may be soon to lay her first infertile clutch. l did not cycle them, though the male slowed his eating down considerably, during the Winter and was much less active than he is at present. l plan to cycle them next year, if I’m able with a potential move in my future.

 

[Longhorn1234]

What are all the lights you use for one of the sides of the enclosure? Or a better way of asking is what are the lights you use for half of your enclosure?

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Probably the 6 tube T8 fixtures, retrofitted with 5000k LEDs and 2 Arcadia 14% bulbs. I swapping them with the T5 versions soon.

 

[Longhorn1234]

Are you still using the 220W MV?

 

[Extensionofgreen]

I have 160 watt MV, but will omit them with the addition of the T5 fixtures and the 2 uvb bulbs per T5 fixture will be plenty strong enough.

 

[Longhorn1234]

Is there any particular reason why you're switching to T5s and getting rid of the MV?

 

[Extensionofgreen]

It’s simpler to work with a few fixtures, rather than the mess of wires and coordinated timers I have for the multiple types of lighting. The T5s are safer in regards to them using them for basking, in that they are less hot and don’t have to be positioned so perfectly. My enclosure is 6’7” tall, and for parsons, that’s the minimum to would consider using a MV bulb above 160 watt and I would stick to Arcadia or reptileuv.com’s megaray bulbs, because they are more moderate in their output. T5 put enough heat out for basking, even the LED tubes will create a warmer zone near the fixture as well. The plants really respond to LED lighting, even with diminished output, compared to the T5 bulbs. The light quality and the fact that the light is focused downward and not broadcast out of the sides and tops of the tubes, which wastes a lot of light.

 

[Longhorn1234]

Great to know!
Also if you don't mind me asking, what pump do you use to drain the excess water?

 

[Extensionofgreen]

I use this one. It is very reliable, though not very quiet. DONT LET IT RUN DRY!