Best Cage

[ajmoneyy]

Hello Everyone,

I have a year old Panther Chameleon and he is out growing his enclosure fast! I was wonderng what is the best enclosure size and brand to get for him. I was looking at LLLReptile.com, anyone have any previous experience purchasing from them? I'm thinking about the 24 x 24 x 48 screen cage for him. If anyone knows of a cheaper or a better quality cage, please recomend any and all!! Help! I'd like to order one today!

THANKS!
Merlin thanks you as well!

 

[Texas Ranger]

Yes a 24x24x48 is the size I have my adult in. I highly recommend DIYcages.com Thats where I got all my cages.

Check this thread out:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/diy-cages-bomb-46602/?highlight=cages


Hope this helps

 

[Texas Panther Man]

I have both LLL and DIY cages. There are pros and cons to both designs. But the Diy cages in my opinion are better looking aesthetically. The screen itself seems to be cheaper quality. But the locks and the full sized front door are much nicer and better for viewing your cham. Since you dont have that cross brace right in your line of site. Jmo, you cant go wrong with either choice.

 

[jandie]

we have bought most of ours from LLL and they definitely have the most competitive prices for the same products as some of our other local pet stores... i would recommend looking at the rept-breeze reptariums in comparison with the others they offer....we bought the taller cages vs the "square" cages, but i would compare the screen size.... if the screen is bigger inside the "square" cages, that might be preferable....once they get used to it, it hasn't caused too much of a problem....but i think the small screening on the rectangular cages makes it difficult for them to grip as well. I haven't compared the two, but if the square ones have a bigger screen, I would consider going with those.... I don't know if it's the size of the toes or what, but if they are about the same, I would say it's more a size/fit preference between the two. I think our 3 biggest boys are in that size....they're not full grown yet, but we didn't want to buy cage after cage after cage....and they're all big enough they have no problems hunting/finding food or anything like that....and they all seem to be all over the cages all the time. Just make sure you've got enough "fillers" so they have places to explore and bask. =)

 

[eisentrauti]

I heard that LLLs instead of many others don't rust

 

[jandie]

so far, none of ours have shown any sign of rusting....through misting or cleaning...we've considered adding some of the plastic screening from home depot to see if it helps the climbing (and i think the reptibreeze has the same size screen, just not sure)...other than that, the only thing we've run into is not having a "pre-built" drainage.... i'm actually thinking of just taking out the white bottom board, screening the bottom (or ordering "replacement" panels like the top for the bottom) and then elevating above bins for drainage.....

 

[ajmoneyy]

Thank You!

Thanks for all of your help guys!
I love this site.
Such great info from experienced cham owners and vey fast answers!

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Ive had Diy and LLL cages both of them have no rusted. I think that the reptibreeze cages are the ones that are prone to rust from other posts Ive read on here.

 

[AMGChams]

so far, none of ours have shown any sign of rusting....through misting or cleaning...we've considered adding some of the plastic screening from home depot to see if it helps the climbing (and i think the reptibreeze has the same size screen, just not sure)...other than that, the only thing we've run into is not having a "pre-built" drainage.... i'm actually thinking of just taking out the white bottom board, screening the bottom (or ordering "replacement" panels like the top for the bottom) and then elevating above bins for drainage.....

Do you think you could drill holes in the bottom PVC board to allow drainage?? Small ones thus feeders can not escape.

 

[steelheadchaser]

I have both LLL and DIY enclosures in the 2'x2'x4' size.

The front of the LLL is divided into three sections; a fixed upper panel, the door section and a lower panel.

The lower panel can be opened by pivoting it on the pair of screws which hold it in place. It is held closed by two rotating plastic catches, as is the door. This makes for convenient access to the bottom of the cage, especially if your chameleon is like mine and comes to the front of the enclosure to crawl on your arm at every opportunity. However, I find that the combination of top panel and a shorter door makes moving taller plants in and out tricky. Also, the top panel seems to always be in the way when photographing Feldman, as it covers the elevation where he spends much of his time. The cage is held together by stainless steel sheet metal screws. Hinges are plated steel. The frame and screen material is aluminum.

The LLL has available at extra cost a shallow, fitted tray to catch small amounts of overflow from misting or a dripper. One could install a petcock or other device to drain this shallow pan into a larger container. It's a nice option to have if needed.

The front of the DIY cage has two two sections, consisting of a large door that extend approximately 36" from the top of the cage where it meets the fixed 12" tall bottom panel.

The DIY door has a metal handle and two metal latches. The latches appear to be stainless steel but the handle on mine clearly magnetic, as are the hinges and screws, indicating plated steel. The frame and screen material is aluminum. I find the handle useful and the two hasps contribute to the solid feel of the cage when secured. The hasps can be a bit "grabby" at times when engaging or disengaging them. The lower front panel is attached by seven sheet metal screws, two on each side and three across the bottom front. This solidly mounted panel contributes to the DIY cages more solid feel, in my opinion. It also makes access to the bottom of the cage more problematic. It would be a simple matter to remove one screw on each side and the three across the to make the bottom section pivot as on the LLL. The small plastic closures similar to the those used on the LLL are available at most hardware stores and could easily be fitted to the DIY cage. However, if one removes five of the seven screws to allow the panel to tilt open, much of what makes the DIY feel so rigid would likely be lost. There is no fixed top panel on the DIY to help compensate as the rest of the front is all door.

There is no drip tray available for the DIY cage and the one made for the LLL is too short in one dimension to fit the DIY cage.

Both cages have their share of pros and cons. Both cages are a good value for the money. Neither is perfect. If you want a black cage the choice is simpler - you are limited to the LLL, the DIY currently comes only in gray.

I can't really recommend one cage over the other. For me, there is no clear winner. One will need to decide for ones self which combination of features are the most important for their application.

 

[Vegas Chad]

Any 'norm' cage that LLL and any cham breeder sells wont rust.

Any gen1 DIY and reptibrease WILL rust. IF you get one of these make sure they are gen2 cages.

All and all, same thing; just depends on what you want.

 

[AMGChams]

Any 'norm' cage that LLL and any cham breeder sells wont rust.

Any gen1 DIY and reptibrease WILL rust. IF you get one of these make sure they are gen2 cages.

All and all, same thing; just depends on what you want.

Would it be safe to assume that if you were to order from DIY like yesterday that it would be a gen2 cage?

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Yes all the cages they sell now are def gen2 cages.