parsons

[naich]

so i got the chameleons of madagascar vid a while ago and sinse then have been absolutly facinated with the parsons...they are soo cool. They are the worls largest, have sweet natural colors, and can eat cicidias, which i find awsome sinse the ones in new jersey have wicket skelotins and can get 3 inches long!, what a meal. so just a few ?'s.....

any one here have one?
What size cage do you keep them in?
and please show pics...lol

there awsome and why do they cost so much? they are like 1500...thats cheap too!

 

[Syn]

I'm sure a ton of people have them - they are probably expensive because they are hard to take care of and maintain.

 

[royden]

PamChams is selling them right now - she's got 4 or 5 I think.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

What size cage do you keep them in?

Seven x Seven x Seven foot enclosures. The bigger the better.

 

[coultrain]

Seven x Seven x Seven foot enclosures. The bigger the better.

seven x seven x seven FOOT Cage that is huge. where do you get a cage that big.

 

[Titan]

Just Make your office or extra room into a large cage. Much easier than building a large cage? Just a thought for ya.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

seven x seven x seven FOOT Cage that is huge. where do you get a cage that big.

Custom job. How my weekends are spent, when I'm not feeding, watering, or cleaning.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Just Make your office or extra room into a large cage. Much easier than building a large cage? Just a thought for ya.

I go through 55 gallons of water everyday on the 3 dripper and misting system. Some how I get the feeling the office or extra room would be in jeopardy of some serious water damage. Picture shown is of when I was frist putting together. Now it a full blown jungle inside.

 

[Chamaeleoeo]

cant see the pic but would love to!!! daaaaammmmnnnn 55 gallons!? and i thought 2 was a lot!!!:

 

[Titan]

I was gonna say the room must have a concrete floor and good drains. With rubber coated walls and such. It is possible if someone were to go that far.

 

[royden]

I'm sure a ton of people have them - they are probably expensive because they are hard to take care of and maintain.

I'm quite sure that tons of people do not have them.

 

[Kent67]

I'm sure a ton of people have them - they are probably expensive because they are hard to take care of and maintain.

It's actually because the vast majority of them had to be smuggled to get where they are. Parson's chameleons have been suspended from being exported from Madagascar since 1995 but yet, somehow, people keep getting wild caughts. Smuggled animals cost more because of the risk. It's the same with tigers, Fiji iguanas, Komodo dragons, etc.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

It's actually because the vast majority of them had to be smuggled to get where they are. Parson's chameleons have been suspended from being exported from Madagascar since 1995 but yet, somehow, people keep getting wild caughts. Smuggled animals cost more because of the risk. It's the same with tigers, Fiji iguanas, Komodo dragons, etc.

True! I hold my head in shame. with what happens in the pet trade on a daily basis. I'm committed to this species. And with patience ( lots of patience ) and research, hopefully comes progress.

 

[Chameleon Company]

It's actually because the vast majority of them had to be smuggled to get where they are. Parson's chameleons have been suspended from being exported from Madagascar since 1995 but yet, somehow, people keep getting wild caughts. Smuggled animals cost more because of the risk. It's the same with tigers, Fiji iguanas, Komodo dragons, etc.

BINGO ! Gravid females and/or eggs are smuggled to Indonesia, where they then pick up legal paperwork, and from there forward its "legal". As true captive breeding and successful hatch has occured less times than you have digits (includes the extra one for guys), you've got to be ready to sink $1500 + into something that may give you a million bucks in pleasure, or bragging rights, but is a fool's pursuit otherwise ... just IMMHO.

Years ago, I had a dozen.

 

[ciafardo 4]

I like so many people have no experience at all with parsons i was wondering if they can bet kept solitary or is it better to keep them in pairs or trios and can males tolerate one another?

 

[Kent67]

Male/female pairs can be kept together in large cages. Males will not tolerate each other, but some have had success having a couple males square off with each other to induce breeding behavior in the conflict's victor.

Years ago, I had three and I'd love for them to some day again be legally exported under CITES quotas. As for really thinking I could breed them then, I agree with Jim, but I'd probably try.

 

[Chameleon Company]

As for really thinking I could breed them then, I agree with Jim, but I'd probably try.

We share a good laugh over this ! Of course you or me would try ! We'd also have a plan B for getting the bills paid "just in case".

Cia. My experience was as Kent describes. I housed pairs together with no adverse effects. Maybe its just me, but parsons always reminded me of the Quantas koala bears ... not that they can't have their moments, but otherwise seemingly disinterested in so much. They are magnificent unlike any other chameleon, IMMHO, and do meet the requirements of being a true trophy. Will not harp on the ethics, as to each his own, and they are here with documents, and probably always will be. If you got the bucks ..... I think P.T. Barnum had a quip for it ..... kidding aside, they are majestic.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

I like so many people have no experience at all with parsons i was wondering if they can bet kept solitary or is it better to keep them in pairs or trios and can males tolerate one another?

Pairs will tolerate each other given lots of space, but stress will occur between the opposite sex. I feel like most chameleon species, keeping separate is best.
I have kept Males of varied ages together minus the presents of a female. And a pecking order is established. Dominate male gets to perch where he wants, usually on the highest most visible branch, and all other males move with caution around him at lower mid to low areas of the enclosure.

 

[naich]

wow this post boomed...lol what great info on these monsterouse magical beast..thanks for all the help...but what do you feed the adults like, adult roaches?

 

[Pams Chams]

Ya know after reading some of the posts I think people might be under the assumption that most of the Parson entering the US are from WC females. I want to let you know that I do know of a few facilities over seas that are breeding them just fine. Just because people here in the US have such little to work with do in part to the cost of getting them here. Most breeding groups in the US are 3.3 at most and You will always find a female that will not breed. And do to the fact that the Female picks the male this lessens the possibility. unlike having a breeding panther male that will do anything you put in his cage. I know a guy that kept Parsons in the US for 13 years and hatched out a clutch. Also some of the stories of how some of the Parsons have died here in the states were do to husbandry not the health of the Parsons, saying All that I personally did not find them hard to keep.