Too quiet!

Chuck G

Avid Member
A Parsons always attracts a crowd!
 

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Yea, besides the veiled, I like this type the second most. Well, not really the male, but female. I like the overall size and colors but I don't like the thing on the males nose. Anyway, how much to one of these run?
 
The prices lately have been 1500.00 for babies to 3000.00 for adults.
Pretty pricey.About 12 years ago you could get one for 50.00.
 
How do you measure the amount of experience you need in order to keep one?
Would you say a keeper would need at least two years experience in keeping a healthy cham? What qualifies as a worthy keeper?
 
Besides needing a large enclosure i wouldnt think they would be much different than a panther.
I hav never kept them before so.....
From the reseach I have done they dont move a lot and need a large feeder.
Big silkworms and hornworms.
 
so basically they cost as much to feed as they are to buy one lol. jk. I think theyre gorgeous chams and i love their sunken skin. Theyre just alittle out of mosts price range.
 
There must be something difficult about them because there is no one in the US or really in the world who is breeding them consistantly...(some in EU using drugs to enduce labor). The hard thing about them is there is not many people with experience and not much written down, so much of what you hear is speculation.

-chris

PS Beautiful orange eye male you have there Chuck
 
There is not alot of info on these guys like panthers,veiled etc but there is a great Calumma Parsonii forum like this sharing experiences and info.
There are alot of Europeans that post on there.I have only been working with Parsonii a couple of years and I am constantly learning.
There are some old time Parsonii keepers that keep most of the info to themselves.They don't believe people should have them in the first place.
If there isn't alot of sucess with keeping them,who wants them?right?
My feeling is they are here and occaissionly available so any info should be shared to ensure they are around.
 
I've been wanting one since I first saw them over a year ago. But I resist my urge to get one until I get enough time, money, and experience. From what I researched is that they can be really tricky to keep. I know that a couple of german breeders have been very successful with them.

1) They have a hibernation period.
2) Temps and humidity are harder to control
3) Incubating eggs can take over a year's time
4) They require a lot of cage space
5) They are very shy and get stressed easily
6) Feeding them can be tricky especially if you are a beginner who doesn't know about their hibernation cycle. (Can be easily mistaken for an illness)

I'm sure there is a whole lot more to this. That is why I'm asking, what qualifies a keeper as experienced enough to care for one?
 
In my experience compared to my panthers, my Parson's male actually is quite active and moves around the enclosure a lot. They are not as idle as one may think. I also notice that he loves to hunt aggressively. Could be a personal trait, but they are amazing hunters and will actively stalk a prey. Mine in particular will choose to chase down feeders and actually take a direct bite instead of shooting sometimes. I actually feed out of a large shallow bin (routine) and also will let some free in the enclosure occasionally (don't want strays).

More noticeably, they LOVE water and will bath and soak as much water as you can give them. While my panthers run away from water when they have had enough, my Parsons will bath and actually raise itself to catch the mist. It's an amazing thing to see.

In terms of challenges, I would have to say habitat size is a normal concern, and also maintaining the temps and high humidity. Because they love water and high humidity, problems can easily arise from mold and airborne infections. If your enclosure is small and doesn't allow proper aeration, problems will definitely arise. Large enclosures will aid in creating a great temperature and humidity gradient while allowing for better circulation and aeration.

As for being shy and easily stressed. I find that to be completely true. More so than other chameleon species I have, however they do gain the trust of the keeper. Over time I have seen him to be more calm and less afraid of me. I can pick him up occasionally with no physical signs of stress. But I seem to be the only person who can do this. He acts very differently towards my partner, again I am the sole keeper and interacts with him daily through feedings and cleaning. He is now at the point where he will feed directly from my hand (both shoots and also picks food up with his mouth).

One thing they do that I don't usually encounter in panthers is that they tend to want to "hide" before making a scene. When you reach in, most panthers will puff up and flash colors if they don't want to be bothered or picked up. In the case of Parson's, the first reaction is to tuck itself into a tight mass, and angle itself laterally with the branch showing as little surface as possible. They definitely fit the term "timid."

Just my personal observations.
 
Do Parsons liking chomping on plant material?

Hi Nate,
Do Parsons like to munch on vegetation matter like ficus leaves or Collard Greens placed in their cage similar to Veils??

Christine
 
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