GrandJean
Established Member
Hi,
I am creating this thread to track a very long term project. And leave my experience as a guide for others long term, success and failures!
I have been keeping and raising reptiles for about 20 years, this will probably be my last project.
I have recently received a young pair of WC OE Parsonii, it is currently possible to get Them in Canada, I see more and more keepers posting them in forums. At 1400$ Per Chameleon, the good news is most keepers are serious hobbyist and they are in good hands. Hopefully in a few years we start seeing A CB community grow.
So for my part, over the next 10-15 years I wish create a breeding program. Big mission I know but passion is the force behind it.
With that said, here is where I am at today.
Enclosure:
pair is currently housed in a hybrid 8 x 6 x 4 cage ( i know I know , this is temporary while i build the second, I have already found a few things to change in the next one) it has 3 full sized trees in it and they cannot see each other when not basking. I am also monitoring with a webcam.
Temps and water:
There are 3 basking spots, 2 watering spots (big dripper at each end) and a full misting system with 4 nozzles. These guys drink a LOT
The UVB and heat comes from 3 160w powersuns outside of the cage. Sounds like a lot but I built the cage specifically with the right distances and made it so they can’t climb to the top and be upside-down right under. Current temps and calibrated UV meter measurements in basking area are 28 - 32 degrees depending on room temp, max UV is currently 5 on Ferguson zone, average is 1.5 in the middle where they hang out most of the day. When wandering on top part of the cage UV will vary from 2.0 to 5.0 depending on angles. I have always worked with MVB and that’s what I prefer.
My basement has a heated floor so I have total control of ambient temperatures, this heats the actual foundation so it’s very stable. Current temps during day in cage 24 degrees @ 50% humidity with spikes to 90% when mister goes on. I currently drop to 20 at night, working on getting that down to 16 with my floor timer. My basement gets really cool when not heated.
Feeding:
Every morning I put 3 dishes of crickets out, they currently eat around 30 per day. I offer a variety of worms and such directly from my hand.
I used standard dusting schedule. Calcium every feeding and vitamins + D3 every 2 weeks.
Everything is gutloaded.
Currently turning hornworms into Moths and just hatched 100s of praying mantises for extra variety.
Current experience:
Two weeks in Male is very easy to deal with, eats non stop and has already grown and understands there is food in dishes. (Goes to them) he is also well hydrated.
Female is difficult and fussy eater. Doesn’t understand the dishes yet, so during the day I monitor and if she doesn’t cross path with the dishes, she doesn’t eat and i have to feed in the evening, good news is she eats from my hands no problem. Also refuses to eat worms except butters and silks. This sucks cause hornworms are a great hydration tooI. I had to manually re-hydrate her twice. I trigger her “drinking position” with the mister and spray extra water in her mouth. Works great.
The issue I am having with her hydration is it takes her a very long time to start drinking when the mister is on and I can’t leave it on too long cause it would flood.
Have a vet appointment for fecal test in 2 weeks.
That’s it for now! Here are pictures of their first day when they came in!
I am creating this thread to track a very long term project. And leave my experience as a guide for others long term, success and failures!
I have been keeping and raising reptiles for about 20 years, this will probably be my last project.
I have recently received a young pair of WC OE Parsonii, it is currently possible to get Them in Canada, I see more and more keepers posting them in forums. At 1400$ Per Chameleon, the good news is most keepers are serious hobbyist and they are in good hands. Hopefully in a few years we start seeing A CB community grow.
So for my part, over the next 10-15 years I wish create a breeding program. Big mission I know but passion is the force behind it.
With that said, here is where I am at today.
Enclosure:
pair is currently housed in a hybrid 8 x 6 x 4 cage ( i know I know , this is temporary while i build the second, I have already found a few things to change in the next one) it has 3 full sized trees in it and they cannot see each other when not basking. I am also monitoring with a webcam.
Temps and water:
There are 3 basking spots, 2 watering spots (big dripper at each end) and a full misting system with 4 nozzles. These guys drink a LOT
The UVB and heat comes from 3 160w powersuns outside of the cage. Sounds like a lot but I built the cage specifically with the right distances and made it so they can’t climb to the top and be upside-down right under. Current temps and calibrated UV meter measurements in basking area are 28 - 32 degrees depending on room temp, max UV is currently 5 on Ferguson zone, average is 1.5 in the middle where they hang out most of the day. When wandering on top part of the cage UV will vary from 2.0 to 5.0 depending on angles. I have always worked with MVB and that’s what I prefer.
My basement has a heated floor so I have total control of ambient temperatures, this heats the actual foundation so it’s very stable. Current temps during day in cage 24 degrees @ 50% humidity with spikes to 90% when mister goes on. I currently drop to 20 at night, working on getting that down to 16 with my floor timer. My basement gets really cool when not heated.
Feeding:
Every morning I put 3 dishes of crickets out, they currently eat around 30 per day. I offer a variety of worms and such directly from my hand.
I used standard dusting schedule. Calcium every feeding and vitamins + D3 every 2 weeks.
Everything is gutloaded.
Currently turning hornworms into Moths and just hatched 100s of praying mantises for extra variety.
Current experience:
Two weeks in Male is very easy to deal with, eats non stop and has already grown and understands there is food in dishes. (Goes to them) he is also well hydrated.
Female is difficult and fussy eater. Doesn’t understand the dishes yet, so during the day I monitor and if she doesn’t cross path with the dishes, she doesn’t eat and i have to feed in the evening, good news is she eats from my hands no problem. Also refuses to eat worms except butters and silks. This sucks cause hornworms are a great hydration tooI. I had to manually re-hydrate her twice. I trigger her “drinking position” with the mister and spray extra water in her mouth. Works great.
The issue I am having with her hydration is it takes her a very long time to start drinking when the mister is on and I can’t leave it on too long cause it would flood.
Have a vet appointment for fecal test in 2 weeks.
That’s it for now! Here are pictures of their first day when they came in!
They’re beautiful 
not eating much. Was taking Dubias horned worms and grasshoppers from tongs now refuses .The way I have feeders free rangeing in the habitat I have only seen her Take one . Only put on 1 g in the last week .
. This another thread itself, but pretty interesting.
