I chose a Round cage (Usually made from two "lids" and mesh - like in the example: Round Cage) for my first Chameleon as a cage, because I didn't know much about chameleons at first and this was very cost efficient.
Pro's
1. It's easy to make and costs about a third of what a normal homemade cage will cost. Not to mention a store bought one.
2. Depending on the type of mesh used, your friend will get all the fresh air he/she needs.
3. The cage is lightweight and can be moved around if you want the cham a day out in the sun, or in the cage's normal place. I, not the strongest person, find it easy to carry the cage even with a Ficus plant in it.
4. The cage can be made stronger by using zip locks (Cable ties) and sticks for support.
5. Even my wild caught chameleon took to hand feeding easily by simply holding the food item through the cage so that the chameleon can see it.
Cons:
1. Depending on the mesh, live food cannot be thrown into the cage to dwell as they escape easily. A feeder cup can be placed in the cage.
2. Lighting is an issue. Lights cannot be placed on top of the cage to shine in, and compromising this by placing the basking bulb in the top side of the cage does not have the heating effect as it should have, Also I have been lucky that my cham has not been hurt during misting sessions; as it has now happened twice that when I mist, small water droplets would get on the hot bulb and cause the bulb to burst.
Also, A tube UVB bulb just cannot be used. As placing the tube on the side of the cage lessens the hiding space should the cham want to hide from it.
3. Drainage: This can be handled, but the cage has to be modified, as the current way to get accumulated water would be to clean the cage.
While trying to hand feed our cham, the live food item would often drop out of our fingers and drown in the accumulated water below.
Not to mention, that if the cham ever saw this insect squirming in the water and decided to eat it, the insect most likely would be covered in bacteria, as the water below also has feces.
4. Opening the cage. Period. Every time I opened the cage I would have an endless struggle to get my cham back into the cage, as she would bolt up. The cage has to be opened for everything, collecting feces, etc you have to stick your hand all the way down to the bottom, and this stresses the cham profusely.
Adding food into the feeder cup mentioned above also requires the cage to be opened.
Conclusion:
This cage is great as a basking cage to be used outside, but I would not suggest this to be a permanent housing option for both the convenience of the owner, and the stress levels of the chameleon itself.
Pro's
1. It's easy to make and costs about a third of what a normal homemade cage will cost. Not to mention a store bought one.
2. Depending on the type of mesh used, your friend will get all the fresh air he/she needs.
3. The cage is lightweight and can be moved around if you want the cham a day out in the sun, or in the cage's normal place. I, not the strongest person, find it easy to carry the cage even with a Ficus plant in it.
4. The cage can be made stronger by using zip locks (Cable ties) and sticks for support.
5. Even my wild caught chameleon took to hand feeding easily by simply holding the food item through the cage so that the chameleon can see it.
Cons:
1. Depending on the mesh, live food cannot be thrown into the cage to dwell as they escape easily. A feeder cup can be placed in the cage.
2. Lighting is an issue. Lights cannot be placed on top of the cage to shine in, and compromising this by placing the basking bulb in the top side of the cage does not have the heating effect as it should have, Also I have been lucky that my cham has not been hurt during misting sessions; as it has now happened twice that when I mist, small water droplets would get on the hot bulb and cause the bulb to burst.
Also, A tube UVB bulb just cannot be used. As placing the tube on the side of the cage lessens the hiding space should the cham want to hide from it.
3. Drainage: This can be handled, but the cage has to be modified, as the current way to get accumulated water would be to clean the cage.
While trying to hand feed our cham, the live food item would often drop out of our fingers and drown in the accumulated water below.
Not to mention, that if the cham ever saw this insect squirming in the water and decided to eat it, the insect most likely would be covered in bacteria, as the water below also has feces.
4. Opening the cage. Period. Every time I opened the cage I would have an endless struggle to get my cham back into the cage, as she would bolt up. The cage has to be opened for everything, collecting feces, etc you have to stick your hand all the way down to the bottom, and this stresses the cham profusely.
Adding food into the feeder cup mentioned above also requires the cage to be opened.
Conclusion:
This cage is great as a basking cage to be used outside, but I would not suggest this to be a permanent housing option for both the convenience of the owner, and the stress levels of the chameleon itself.
