Calumma parsonii parsonii

[rantotro]

We are using one mobile UV lamp for all chameleons here and exchange it by a new one every year. All front sides of the cages are of mesh, or of nothing if it is a free range.
So we can use it through the front.
But the Osram Vitalux isn't a real spot, it's more a flood light. So it can shine on 2 or more cages in one moment.

In summer we give them natural sunlight outside with a chance for shadow. No lamp can be more natural than the sun.

 

[rantotro]

Close to Andasibe we met a good piece downhill at 500-m height about the sea level on an other color form of Calumma parsonii parsonii.
The male had orange eyes, how ours orange eyes. However, instead of white lips and white face it was radiant yellow there. Even the throaty area was yellow dyed. This Parsonsform seems to be big extremely.
They were introduced to me as a Yellow Giant. An apparently appropriate name.
Also here we had to do it again with a remaining stock spatially rather crowded together in a precipitous slope on the edge of a village.
The male had to deny in his life obviously already many fights.

 

[rantotro]

Also these animals were to be found in this hot and dry season only in the shadow under the high majority-leafy trees of this area.
The air temperature amounted there 29°C and 25 cms in the ground were to be measured 22°C.

 

[MSAquatics]

Andreas,
During the colder months, do you free range your adults inside on the trees you posted pictures of or do you have large cages for them as well? If so can you post a picture of the large cages? Im debating on building large cages for my melleri, and only free ranging them seperately to minimize stress from the male. He doesn't want to eat much if he can see the female, he just stares at her and tries to follow he everywhere. The female doesn't want to go under the misters if the male is there, which he likes to stay under them for most of the day.

I think if I separated them, I could have better success breeding them, by only introducing them together in a free range during their normal breeding months, and it would be easier to keep the humidity up in the cages vs. the whole room they free range in currently. It obviously would be better for their individual feeding.

Im thinking of building large 3'x4'x8' plywood cages with metal screen on the front and top, very similar to the cages you're keeping your 1 year juveniles in.

Thanks,
Leland

 

[rantotro]

Only our adult males are sitting in free ranges in winter.
Females have to bury their eggs then and should not have other animals in sight.
We are using cages of 76x76x122cm for the egglaying job.

But you better should ask someone who is a specialist for T.melleri.
I think when you keep a melleri in a too small cage it will lose the horn. Or it will damage the snout maybe.

 

[rantotro]

But when we are again at egglaying, here are some pics of this procedure.

 

[MSAquatics]

So impressive, you have this down to a science. What do you do for drainage in your free ranges and cages? I noticed nice wood floors beneath the males, with no plastic or catch trays.

Leland

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

That is great Andreas!

 

[jannb]

I hope all goes well for your female and the egg laying. The very best of luck with the eggs.

 

[rantotro]

Thanks, but this was an egglaying of Walhalla last winter. She only had buried a lot of unfertilized eggs. All of them were gone after 2 months. But I still have 7 fertilized eggs from her sister Wanda.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/calumma-parsonii-parsonii-84839/index12.html

So Walhalla and Hannes were lend out as singles to other breeding projects in europe last year to meet other partners. It's not easy to find the right one in the right environment.
Sometimes I think they are like us in this problem.

No drainage in the wood floor. I'm dripping above and catch the water again with a bowl in my other hand below the chameleon . This water in the bowl is good for the Ficus after this.

 

[jack29]

But when we are again at egglaying, here are some pics of this procedure.

Great shots of egglaying! congrats man

 

[rantotro]

Here you can find the climatic data of the natural habitats of this species.
Thanks to the team of Tanalahorizon.
http://madcham.com/?p=854

 

[Garrett]

This is invaluable information, thanks Andreas!

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I second thanks for the link Andreas!

 

[clacky1993]

Hi Andreas
Very interesting post, i love it!
can you post some pics of the incubation system that i dont understand very well ?
thank you !

 

[rantotro]

Hello Clacky,
sorry for my late reply.
I had hoped that Chris publish my article in his e-zine earlier to make a link here. But here are some pics. Maybe it helps.

 

[Action Jackson]

Hello Clacky,
sorry for my late reply.
I had hoped that Chris publish my article in his e-zine earlier to make a link here. But here are some pics. Maybe it helps.

Nice Andreas, I was looking at the same thing this morning.

 

[Action Jackson]

Is that you final temperature or are going higher?

 

[rantotro]

No, this is high enough.

Remarkable, Heikes last eggs what she had laid when she was nearly 10 years old. So I hope for offsprings from her again.

 

[Montium]

Very nice, best of luck with them.