Aquarium used as a chameleon cage

[NCveiled]

Hello,

I’ve done the research but I wanted to know what y’all think...


thank you for your opinions on this matter because I have converted an aquarium to a home for my babe!

 

[leedragon]

it may work as it still small and yemens are more forgiven but that is not suited for anything else tha pygmies. It´s a big risk of RI and other nasty shit. If you want glass get yourself a proper terrarium like exoterras with full mesh on the top plus front ventilation so the air exchange can occur by the chimney effect.

 

[Kamikaze Chameleon]

This is not recommended as stagnent air can harbor bacteria, some keepers have successfully moded them but I would refrain from using it. Your taking a big risk and you can find a decent cage for 100$ it's a worthy investment.

 

[kinyonga]

Many, many years ago in the dark ages, when I first started keeping chameleons, all that was available for caging was aquariums. I kept some common chameleons in them as well as veileds and quads. I do not recommend them these days when there are so many other options.

That being said, there is no need for them to have stagnant air in them....you have to set up the lights so there is a chimney effect. Also, you can not let any water lay stagnant in the cage...bacteria will build up.

Depending on the size it could be ok for a young veiled temporarily ...as long as you follow what I said above....and depending on where you live.

How big is it (don't tell me in gallons...tell me in feet/inches.)

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Horizontal space is good, but chameleons also need some height; they are arboreal, and are more comfortable basking at or above eye level.

The screen top is good, but I don't see any vents at/near the bottom to generate a chimney effect.
Placing a fan on top only draws air back down through the top and out again, without really providing sufficient air-change (fresh air).

IMO, a well-designed & constructed hybrid enclosure is a much better option. The solid sides & door(s) can still be clear if desired.

 

[kinyonga]

You don't need vents to create a chimney effect...if you place the basking light at one end of the lid the warm air produced under the light should create a convection current as the hot air at that end of the aquarium rises and pulls the colder air across.

This will sort of illustrate it...

 

[Quick Draw Mcgraw]

Hello,

I’ve done the research but I wanted to know what y’all think...


thank you for your opinions on this matter because I have converted an aquarium to a home for my babe!

How have you handled drainage? Is your setup bioactive? Imo if it isn't you are asking for trouble using substrate. What are the dimensions? it looks like it will be to small for an adult veiled.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

You don't need vents to create a chimney effect...if you place the basking light at one end of the lid the warm air produced under the light should create a convection current as the hot air at that end of the aquarium rises and pulls the colder air across.

This will sort of illustrate it...

Uh... that's a closed convection loop. It just cycles the water (or air) around and around.
Not a chimney effect, which draws fresh air and exhausts warm (stale) air upward.

 

[kinyonga]

Does this help?

 

[kinyonga]

This one is even closer...

 

[CasqueAbove]

As @kinyonga said, yes possible, but why. It is tricky to get right. There are simply better options

 

[kinyonga]

Definitely better options.

 

[GrayMadder]

Definitely think it's doable especially if you stay home and are able to monitor everything all the time and make necessary mods to it. But I think if you work and are gone most of the day, there are wayyyy better/safer options

 

[Call me Sal]

I don't see why not if you can get the air to flow. Like illustrated above. ^ If that's all you have and don't really want to spend the money on something else to take up more room.

 

[Livingstons Lizards]

Will you get enough ventilation? Granted different species require different levels of ventilation, ie: Why Brookesia can live in an aquarium buy Pardalis cannot. But you figure there much more air movement way up in the trees then down on the leaf litter. And less air movement in more humid air. Thats why I've found the placement of the vents is important. I've seen terrariums with side vents placed in the middle/ top, wich could create a cross breeze but would create poor ventilation towards the bottom.

 

[Goose502]

I would use an aquarium, but it would just be part of a good, watertight, and deep bioactive/drainage layer. Just build a custom screen or screen/pvc cage to sit on top of it. But as the actual enclosure, not so much, maybe for just a Pygmy colony.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Does this help?

A little, yes. At least it's not a closed loop. But it's similar to putting a fan on top.

Placing a fan on top only draws air back down through the top and out again, without really providing sufficient air-change (fresh air).

Ventilation isn't about air movement as much as it's about air change.

Definitely better options.

We're just arguing discussing this academically, right?

 

[suprdude]

It can definately work, but the bigger the aquarium the better.

 

[Quick Draw Mcgraw]

You will have to have environmental conditions just right to prevent complications. There are better options out there imo.