A few Questions from a beginner.

[BradGouldY]

Hello everyone!!

Im currently planning my first ever reptile pet, this being a Nosy Be Panther chameleon (male). I haven't got him yet as im making sure i have everything right first. I'm finding so much conflicting information online so i thought id just start my own thread for the questions i cant get the right answers for.
Firstly:

• Screen Vs Glass? I live in the UK & my house will get relatively cold, we will often have windows open as such. So im trying to decide what should take priority the air circulation from a screen enclosure of the warmth from a glass?

Secondly:

• Will a chameleon be fine being kept in a bedroom? The biggest thing here being if i decide to go to bed late at night after his light has been switched off for his night cycle, would a T.v. being switched on effect him? The last thing i want is to stress him out.

Any help is much appreciated

Just as a footnote:
A little background on myself, im 23 years old & currently studying animal management in the Essex area. Some people have said a chameleon is not an easy pet to care for being a beginner, however I have a great theory knowledge on a range of animals already, just wanting to put this into a practical sense now.

 

[Decadancin]

Many use glass enclosures successfully. You will get a lot of feedback about screen enclosures, but there is no one right answer. I currently have an enclosure with just 2 sides and the top with screen. Just make sure to monitor conditions.
I would personally cover the enclosure if the TV is on. It won't hurt to be careful.

 

[MatthewGregory]

Dragonstrand has these solid side enclosures which are good. Similar to glass butbthe solid side gives the pet some more privacy. My Quad is in my bedroom and he is doing fine. Two thing tho, make sure your cage is as high up as possible. He should be able to look down at you at the higher parts of the cage. Also make sure you can create some airflow for the cage.

 

[BradGouldY]

I would personally cover the enclosure if the TV is on. It won't hurt to be careful.

My feeling is I will get a Reptibreeze screen enclosure, as I can get a larger size for cheaper than a glass enclosure. Then take a trip to a DIY store & get some material to cover maybe 3 of the 4 sides.
What would you suggest on covering the enclosure at night?

 

[MatthewGregory]

I have never covered he cage at night. He falls asleep even when my tv and lamp are on. Even when i turn my room light on he will wake up but go back to sleep once its off.

 

[BradGouldY]

I have never covered he cage at night. He falls asleep even when my tv and lamp are on. Even when i turn my room light on he will wake up but go back to sleep once its off.

Thats awesome! I think im going to go for the Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Screen Cage 61 x 61 x 122 cm, Then buy some material and cover 3/4 sides to keep in some warmth while keeping airflow up.

 

[MatthewGregory]

That will work. I have see ppl use bamboo which looks really good and natural

 

[BradGouldY]

That will work. I have see ppl use bamboo which looks really good and natural

That sounds pretty awesome! I'm so excited to get it all up and running!

 

[jajeanpierre]

@BradGouldY It depends, it always depends.... There is no clear-cut answer.

The biggest drawback with glass enclosures is the lack of air circulation and weight. A suspect a 36" x 36" x 18" glass Exo-Terra would be fine for a panther. I have seen some adult wild caught panthers in them and it is adequate. A 36" tall with an 18" x 18" (or 24" x 24") footprint will not be big enough. They don't do well in glass enclosures that are small as the air tends to get stagnant. Heat build up is also a worry.

Glass is also a challenge for drainage. I've tried a variety of ways to deal with drainage in my glass enclosures. Here are some of my solutions:
Drilling the glass and installing drains;
Putting in a layer of hydroballs, weed-suppression cloth and a deep layer of safe soil and planting fully;
Drains plus fully planted;
No drainage with plants put on top of towels;
No drainage and nothing other than potted plants to take most of the water on their leaves.

The benefits of glass are that the enclosure holds heat and humidity well, plus they are not screen. I HATE screen cages as most chameleons will climb the walls or top and damage their toes and feet. I have a variety of cages from screen to three-sided glass/plastic and Exo-Terras with glass doors. I have not been able to get my screen cage warm enough this winter no matter how many lights and ceramic heat emitters I put on top.

I do believe an automatic mister is necessary to keep chameleons successfully so you will always need to deal with drainage and water. You won't need to mist as often in a glass enclosure since the animal won't be losing as much hydration through respiration because the cage with its live plants will be much more humid to begin with.

I don't find chameleons hard to keep at all. One must pay attention to details and have a good understanding of where the animals come from and the climate they thrive in. Good lighting is critical as is hydration, two components many keepers fail to provide. You can't go cheap with them. Arcadia lighting is probably the best and it is made in Europe so you will be able to find it easily. (For Americans, Light Your Reptiles @Venutus1 is a site sponsor and an Arcadia distributor, plus Todd is very knowledgeable about lighting and how it affects reptiles.) And of course, nutrition is critical. Your animal is what it eats so your animal won't get much nutrition eating poorly nourished feeders regardless of what you dust with.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Dragonstrand has these solid side enclosures which are good. Similar to glass butbthe solid side gives the pet some more privacy. My Quad is in my bedroom and he is doing fine. Two thing tho, make sure your cage is as high up as possible. He should be able to look down at you at the higher parts of the cage. Also make sure you can create some airflow for the cage.

You did read that the OP is in the UK didn't you? DragonStrand cages have ridiculous shipping costs in the US. I would dread to think how much shipping would cost to Britain.

 

[jajeanpierre]

My feeling is I will get a Reptibreeze screen enclosure, as I can get a larger size for cheaper than a glass enclosure. Then take a trip to a DIY store & get some material to cover maybe 3 of the 4 sides.
What would you suggest on covering the enclosure at night?

Look at the ExoTerra screen cages that are very wide. A 24" x 24" footprint isn't very big. They really do like more horizontal space.

 

[WAMBO]

Thats awesome! I think im going to go for the Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Screen Cage 61 x 61 x 122 cm, Then buy some material and cover 3/4 sides to keep in some warmth while keeping airflow up.

PETCO has the big cages on sale
http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcos...ures/zoo-med-reptibreeze-open-air-screen-cage
I just cover two side with plastic to hold in humidity and prevent the misting from hitting escaping too.

 

[BradGouldY]

Look at the ExoTerra screen cages that are very wide. A 24" x 24" footprint isn't very big. They really do like more horizontal space.

I am considering it, however im thinking going with the reptibreeze first & seeing how i get on, as the price increase for the size between screen & glass jumps quite a lot. Then with the reptibreeze Ill grab some Poly carbonate sheets & cover 3 sides.

 

[WAMBO]

Some just cover a side or two with a shower curtain.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I am considering it, however im thinking going with the reptibreeze first & seeing how i get on, as the price increase for the size between screen & glass jumps quite a lot. Then with the reptibreeze Ill grab some Poly carbonate sheets & cover 3 sides.

Look at the ExoTerra screen cages.

You can line a screen cage with Coroplast. I don't know what that is called in the US, but it is basically corrugated plastic. Measure carefully so it is a super tight fit and the crickets won't find a way to get in behind the plastic. Cut into the outer layer and it will give you a perfect crease to fit into the corners. I have yet to succeed with the one cage I did this with, but I've been assured it can easily be done.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Look at the ExoTerra screen cages.

You can line a screen cage with Coroplast. I don't know what that is called in the US, but it is basically corrugated plastic. Measure carefully so it is a super tight fit and the crickets won't find a way to get in behind the plastic. Cut into the outer layer and it will give you a perfect crease to fit into the corners. I have yet to succeed with the one cage I did this with, but I've been assured it can easily be done.

Sorry @BradGouldY: I meant, I don't know what it is called in the UK.