Thank goodness for 9-ft ceilings...

Lathis

Chameleon Enthusiast

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• Jun 1, 2013

• #1

My Jackson's Chameleon Ferdinand is crazy active. I currently have him in a 2x2x4 screened enclosure, and he uses every inch of space! Two weeks ago I started building him a new custom enclosure, wanting to double his space and give him some more height. Since I can't drop $3K on a glorious Cages By Design unit (some day, sigh), I am making it myself.

The structure is done, and I am extremely pleased with how it's turning out, given that I have never built anything before and have no power tools... it's just MUCH bigger than expected

Solid oak, stained and sealed. Stain on the double casement doors is drying tonight and will get the clear coats tomorrow. Screens are going in next weekend, and then I start on the faux stone backdrop.

It comes apart in 3 pieces - cabinet stand, drainage base, and screened frame. Chameleon space is 24x36x72 and the whole thing is over 7-ft tall. I keep assuring the hubby it will look GREAT in the living room.

Can you ever give your cham too much space, lol? Maybe I will keep him where he is and get a baby Godzilla for the new enclosure

 

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Zen

New Member

• Jun 1, 2013

• #2

one spoiled little chameleon man i got mine and gave him a new cage and he hasnt moved that much as i thought try putting in some vines for that cage seeing that its so big. will collect the moisture

 

LazardLizard

New Member

• Jun 1, 2013

• #3

Very nice!!! How did you cut the wood without power tools and attach the wood pieces to each other? Please don't say hand saw and screw driver, if thats the case.........................THATS HARD CORE!

Awesome looking cage

 

Lathis

Chameleon Enthusiast

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• Jun 1, 2013

• #4

I did have an electric screwdriver, but everything was cut by hand

 

laurie

Retired Moderator

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• Jun 1, 2013

• #5

No, that cage needs to be for your sweet boy. You know how it works, Cham will be happy, so you will be happy and that will make hubby hobby. That is how I got away with one of my chams getting his own bedroom. Husbands are not as dumb as we sometime think.

 

Lathis

Chameleon Enthusiast

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• Jun 1, 2013

• #6

Just one more step in my evil plan to become the crazy cham lady

I can't wait to have it complete.

 

Lathis

Chameleon Enthusiast

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• Jun 16, 2013

• #7

All done!

Here is the finished product. I am so happy with how it turned out. I am still planning to make a faux-rock background but with work being so busy, it will probably have to wait until later this summer.

Ferdinand is less than enthused about his new home, but he just needs time to adjust

 

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maxttu

New Member

• Jun 16, 2013

• #8

That's insane! And by hand?? Very, very nicely done!

 

chameleonowner32

Avid Member

• Jun 16, 2013

• #9

That's awesome man it looks like an actual jungle.. i wish I was ssmaller so I could explore it

 

Lathis

Chameleon Enthusiast

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• Jun 16, 2013

• #10

You don't have to be smaller! Three grown people can stand inside

 

RangoRelapss

New Member

• Jun 16, 2013

• #11

That looks amazing great work!!

 

dom1959

New Member

• Jul 28, 2013

• #12

wow!
what a fantastic environment for a cham!

just can't call that a cage

 

Klink

New Member

• Jul 28, 2013

• #13

That actually looks really, really nice. Well done!

 

HolyToledo

New Member

• Jul 28, 2013

• #14

Fantastic enclosure!

Is he happier with it now? Hope so. Mine hates anything any shade of red anywhere around. But I love the color of your room and the cage looks wonderful in it.

Great job!

 

Oliviabryant

Member

• Jul 28, 2013

• #15

Very nice! I love to see when people make a large enclosure for their Cham.
It's great looking too!

 

Lathis

Chameleon Enthusiast

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• Jul 28, 2013

• #16

Thank you very much! I freely admit that all my best ideas for the new enclosure were stolen from NorCalAnthony's post. Although his is much fancier than mine

https://www.chameleonforums.com/diy-chameleon-mansion-build-102657/

After he got settled in, Ferdinand is extremely happy in his new cage and makes use of every square inch of space, so I am glad to be able to provide him more room to roam. I have a sheet behind the cage, so you can't see the red wall (although the color doesn't seem to bother my cham). My stone backgrounds should arrive next week.

The pothos, crotons, and dracaena are doing very well (with a grow light), but the umbrella plants still struggle. I try to rotate them, but they just aren't thriving.

 

Saldarya

Established Member

• Jul 30, 2013

• #17

Concerning the umbrella plants, I have found that they will go through a process where they will drop leaves and otherwise appear to be dying off. Then once they adjust to the new lighting, they will begin to sprout new growth.

I would give them a little time before you give up on them.

Great cage BTW,

 

melble68

Established Member

• Sep 28, 2013

• #18

Lathis said:

The structure is done, and I am extremely pleased with how it's turning out, given that I have never built anything before and have no power tools... it's just MUCH bigger than expected

Click to expand...

For someone who has says they've never built anything, OMG JOB WELL DONE. Talk about looking like a pro. Holy moly that is awesome.

You should build stuff more often. You husband has to be happy with how it looks.

 

Lathis

Chameleon Enthusiast

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• Sep 28, 2013

• #19

Thanks! I am inordinately proud of myself. I am refurbishing a chandelier now, so we'll see how that goes

 

ahood

Member

• Feb 28, 2015

• #20

that's beautiful! I wish I had one! I'm not very handy lol