Passing of a Giant (Warning- Pictures)

OldChamKeeper

Chameleon Enthusiast
Some of those here know me. Those that do, know a bit about Atlas.

Atlas was my first Parson in nineteen years. Prior to him I worked with and helped rehab a fair number of them way back in the late eighties to early nineties before the importation ban resulted in them not being available at all. It was easily one of the most exciting days in my adult life when I got a box from Garrett containing a tiny male parson weighing less than 70g. Worth every penny too. That was back in early 2015.

I used all my experience (and a chunk of change) to build him a proper indoor habitat along with a nice outdoor one too. He had the best life he could short of just being left in the wild (although he was was captive hatched, 05/16/2014)

It was in March of 2016 I screwed up. I left large hornworm in his cage and completely forgot how strong their grip can be. Instead of the worm flying into his mouth, he had to run to it. The result was a damaged tongue. Think a pulled muscle or a torn Achilles. Regardless, it never healed and he never again could shoot for his food. I spoke with the best among us and utilized the best Herp vet. The simple truth was there was nothing to do but let time heal it. While there was never any visible injury, the animal couldn't shoot more than an inch. He also refused to cup feed. I let him go without food for 10 days once to get him to start cup feeding, but I broke first. So I would get him to open his mouth three days a week and feed him a few roaches. Once in his mouth he ate them on his own without issue.

And so our routine continued for over four years. Multiple times every week. It didn't matter, this was my Parson. He got hurt because of me and that damn hornworm. He grew from 70g to 774g over that time. with over 600 of those grams during the force feeding years. He was growing, it was working. If you can grow a Parson, you're doing something right. Let alone over that many years.

So today, I went in to grab his nose and get a few roaches in him like usual. He was in his sleeping spot which was odd, then I realized his tail was just straight, not holding a branch. When I got around to his face his eyes were sunken in. He was gone. He drank the day before like normal, had one roach too. No issues.

I did not see anything wrong with him. Guessing some type of organ failure. Nutrition wasn't optimal, nor the manner by which he ate. I considered a necropsy, as I have with some past animals, but instead opted to just put him to rest.

Thanks for all the encouragement over the years. This is still the best source for chameleon info out there (even if you are all a bunch of panther and veiled lovers).
 

Attachments

  • Atlas 782g x2.JPG
    Atlas 782g x2.JPG
    377.8 KB · Views: 314
  • Atlas 782g.JPG
    Atlas 782g.JPG
    173.2 KB · Views: 333
  • Last Photo.JPG
    Last Photo.JPG
    326.2 KB · Views: 333
Sorry for your lost ... what a handsome chameleon and thanks for sharing your story ... the relationship you had with him was beautiful and special :)
 
He weighs a a gram less dead, possibly his soul, rip big awesome dude!! You did a great job raising him!!
 
Some of those here know me. Those that do, know a bit about Atlas.

Atlas was my first Parson in nineteen years. Prior to him I worked with and helped rehab a fair number of them way back in the late eighties to early nineties before the importation ban resulted in them not being available at all. It was easily one of the most exciting days in my adult life when I got a box from Garrett containing a tiny male parson weighing less than 70g. Worth every penny too. That was back in early 2015.

I used all my experience (and a chunk of change) to build him a proper indoor habitat along with a nice outdoor one too. He had the best life he could short of just being left in the wild (although he was was captive hatched, 05/16/2014)

It was in March of 2016 I screwed up. I left large hornworm in his cage and completely forgot how strong their grip can be. Instead of the worm flying into his mouth, he had to run to it. The result was a damaged tongue. Think a pulled muscle or a torn Achilles. Regardless, it never healed and he never again could shoot for his food. I spoke with the best among us and utilized the best Herp vet. The simple truth was there was nothing to do but let time heal it. While there was never any visible injury, the animal couldn't shoot more than an inch. He also refused to cup feed. I let him go without food for 10 days once to get him to start cup feeding, but I broke first. So I would get him to open his mouth three days a week and feed him a few roaches. Once in his mouth he ate them on his own without issue.

And so our routine continued for over four years. Multiple times every week. It didn't matter, this was my Parson. He got hurt because of me and that damn hornworm. He grew from 70g to 774g over that time. with over 600 of those grams during the force feeding years. He was growing, it was working. If you can grow a Parson, you're doing something right. Let alone over that many years.

So today, I went in to grab his nose and get a few roaches in him like usual. He was in his sleeping spot which was odd, then I realized his tail was just straight, not holding a branch. When I got around to his face his eyes were sunken in. He was gone. He drank the day before like normal, had one roach too. No issues.

I did not see anything wrong with him. Guessing some type of organ failure. Nutrition wasn't optimal, nor the manner by which he ate. I considered a necropsy, as I have with some past animals, but instead opted to just put him to rest.

Thanks for all the encouragement over the years. This is still the best source for chameleon info out there (even if you are all a bunch of panther and veiled lovers).
Though never meeting him, Atlas was a unique and loyal companion and though he may be at his eternal rest let the memories stay in your heart for ever. R.I.P Atlas
 
I am so sorry.. I go through waves of coming back to this website. Since I saw the beginning of Atlas' story from the building of what I still regard as a perfect setup I have had him in my mind as this is the bare minimum you need if you ever want to raise a magnificent Parsons. Also just reading up about you having to force feed Atlas for a number of years for him to survive goes to show not only the knowledge, the resources, the compassion and the dedication you need to consider before even thinking about purchasing. My deepest condolences, Peter
 
Ralph, I was thinking about you and your Parson’s today and came on CF to see if you had posted about him. I’m sorry to see he passed away. He got quite big in the time you had him. Shauna also has a male from that clutch that is close to the same size. I think it’s quite an accomplishment to get a CBB Parson’s that size, I don’t think I have seen any bigger.

RIP Atlas.
 
Back
Top Bottom