Beginning my chameleon enclosure...work in progress

[formidableone14]

Well I have started to make my enclosure, keep in mind this is custom made in my own house lol, so be nice. Ill slowly be adding to the cage before purchasing my cham, and will update if possible. But please, any feed back given would be greatly appreciated. Oh and this is not the light ill be using. Just an old one from a fish tank I dont use anymore. The cham I plan on buying will be a veiled. Dimensions are 48wx40tx20d

 

[jamncristian]

what are you planning to house in their?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

what are you planning to house in their?

The OP stated that he will be obtaining a veiled chameleon.

The enclosure looks good!
You can use that hood for a UVB bulb.

-Brad

 

[jessica]

Looks good!! Now the fun of filling it up begins!

 

[jamncristian]

what are you planning to house in their?

oops..... my bad

cant wait for the pics

 

[bigcappa]

Your enclosure looks great, welcome to the forums. Definitely post more pics when you get it set up and your cham in. Like Brad R. mentioned you can get a bulb for your aquarium hood. Here is a great place to look LL Reptile, the most common uvb bulb used is the Repti-sun 5.0.

Good luck

 

[stokelyw]

That looks awsome how did you go about making it what materials did you use where did you get the materials (i.e Home depot0 i like the way it looks and would like to build on like it could you give me some info also how much did it set you back

 

[chameleonman57]

Can't wait to see the finished pics.

 

[formidableone14]

Yeah everything i bought was from Home Depot and ran about 155 bucks, but i had to buy some tools that I dont already have that i should have lol. I bought the screen in rolls of 48x84 in which i needed i believe 5 rolls of and those run about 12 bucks each, and about 4 window frame kit sets 60 inches tall (includes 4 frames, 4 frame corners and spline) that are about 12 bucks each as well. A spline roller ($3) zinc plated screws ($5) to avoid rusting, a few brackets($7) and hinges ($5) oh and a knob($2). I had alot of left over material and probably could have measured a little better and saved a little money. I can post some better pictures of the two ways i secured the frame.

 

[stokelyw]

Yes yes please do

 

[formidableone14]

Again, Im not the best handy man ever lol. Im sure there are much better alternatives to bracing these frames i just went with what came to my head first. Most of the support comes from the screw on the outside, as they drill through 3 separate pieces of metal, the inner brackets are for added support only as they only drill through one piece of metal. But along the edges of the frame ive tacked about 3-4 screw on all joints that i could.

 

[Leilaskeeper]

Well I have started to make my enclosure, keep in mind this is custom made in my own house lol, so be nice. Ill slowly be adding to the cage before purchasing my cham, and will update if possible. But please, any feed back given would be greatly appreciated. Oh and this is not the light ill be using. Just an old one from a fish tank I dont use anymore. The cham I plan on buying will be a veiled. Dimensions are 48wx40tx20d

Looks great! What are your thoughts on regulating humidity once the enclosure is complete with accessories? Are you going to use real plants? Also, where do you live? (I'm asking because climate can affect the enclosure's humidity)

 

[formidableone14]

Im in Tx, so yeah. LOL. But I'm definately going real plants due to the humidity question you asked, besides nothing looks better imo. I planned on buying a few pothos for filling the cage in, and a hawaiin umbrella plant for the main peice. Would this plant be ideal for filling in the top of the enclosure? Almost as a tree top (id like for my cham to enjoy the ability to climb up and be among leaves and branches).

 

[Leilaskeeper]

Im in Tx, so yeah. LOL. But I'm definately going real plants due to the humidity question you asked, besides nothing looks better imo. I planned on buying a few pothos for filling the cage in, and a hawaiin umbrella plant for the main peice. Would this plant be ideal for filling in the top of the enclosure? Almost as a tree top (id like for my cham to enjoy the ability to climb up and be among leaves and branches).

Ya, your climate is perfect for that kind of enclosure Humidity will be fine with a few potted plants. Pothos look phenomenal along with schefflera's .. so you're well on your way. I'm excited to see your final product! It's a great looking enclosure.
PS. if you want to hang the vines from your pothos along the top of the enclosure, try using twist tie wiring. Works like a charm!

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Get yourself some grape vine wreaths. They are great for highways for cham to move around on. Also a jasmine plant is awesome for a cham cage. Its safe, it flowers, and it will grow easly indoors and wrap around the cage like a pothos.

 

[formidableone14]

repost, didnt attach pic

 

[formidableone14]

Got a plant, sense i had a few extra bucks, Croton found it on safe plant lists on a few different website. Could someone please verify.

 

[Juxocyde]

This may be just me but depending on the size of the chameleon your planning on getting the gapping of the door seems as tho smaller crickets would be able to squeeze through, if its an adult there should be no problem tho. Any tips on how to do screening, i have been building a screen enclosure myself and i find it really difficult to get the screen to stay put when im beveling it into the creases. any tips? Awesome cage tho, looks great and i like the gaping on the side as opposed to the bottom, allows for an easier clean up later

 

[Juxocyde]

I have heard that those plants are safe to use as well, came across them a bunch when i was searching for plants as well, just make sure it gets cleaned out incase insecticide was used or is present in the soil, could be fatal.

 

[formidableone14]

If the screen isnt staying in the frame then its more than likely the spline is to thin, and you need to get thicker spline, also i used a wood and metal spline roller that way i can get alot of power and weight behind the tool without damaging it or it bending. I think i need to adjust the hinges to get the hole along the door to close, but should be easy.