Cage help?

R

ravynwriter

New Member
I am at this time considering a male ambilobe. Would a 16x16x30 reptibreeze be a good cage for him as a juvenile?

Also, I would like an 18x18x48 as his adult cage but can't seem to find any premade or manufactured in these dimensions. Does anyone have any idea where to purchase a good one? Keep in mind I have no skills or means to build my own.

Thank you for your time!
 
im pretty sure the minimum suggested adult cage is 24x24x48. im sure www.cages.net could make one for you though.

i dont think very many people here suggest getting reptibreeze cages, you should look at the LLL cages or the diy cages (both places are in the sponsor links)
 
I will check out DIY cages :)

I will have to measure my stand/floor space again. Hopefully I can squeeze a 24x24 in there. Thank you!
 
Well, I would rather just get the big final cage and have done with it, but I've read/been told repeatedly that a juvie panther will have a very hard time finding its food in too big a cage, and that having a smaller cage at first until they grow is a wiser idea. Thoughts on that?

Also, so I don't start yet another thread...mistking versus exo-terra monsoon? How do each perform, which is most versatile, personal experiences with each? Do either create a problem with water 'escaping' the cage (droplets spraying on a wall or furniture beside/behind the cage, for example)?

Also, I've been eyeballing the zoo med reptile fogger. Worth buying?

I do appreciate all the help. I just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row and do things right from the starting gate!
 
ravynwriter said:
Well, I would rather just get the big final cage and have done with it, but I've read/been told repeatedly that a juvie panther will have a very hard time finding its food in too big a cage, and that having a smaller cage at first until they grow is a wiser idea. Thoughts on that? I'm not sure how big your guy will be, they all grow at different rates. If you have the time and observe well, just go ahead and buy the large cage. You can always hand feed and/or cup feed, just make sure your guy is eating. I always put my crickets half way up the screen towards my cham, crickets tend to levitate towards heat.

Also, so I don't start yet another thread...mistking versus exo-terra monsoon? How do each perform, which is most versatile, personal experiences with each? Do either create a problem with water 'escaping' the cage (droplets spraying on a wall or furniture beside/behind the cage, for example)? It's really just personal preference, so just decide what you like

Also, I've been eyeballing the zoo med reptile fogger. Worth buying? It's not really worth buying especially since you'll have a mister.

I do appreciate all the help. I just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row and do things right from the starting gate!
Click to expand...

Congrats on soon getting a cham and AWESOME job for doing your research before buying!
 
ravynwriter said:
I've read/been told repeatedly that a juvie panther will have a very hard time finding its food in too big a cage

Do either create a problem with water 'escaping' the cage (droplets spraying on a wall or furniture beside/behind the cage, for example)?

Also, I've been eyeballing the zoo med reptile fogger. Worth buying?
Click to expand...

You can confine his food in a plastic storage box in the larger cage and give him access to the rim of the box with perches. I do this anyway, adult chams or not.

Any type of misting will cause some water droplets to escape the cage unless you are using extremely fine mesh. Just count on a bit of overspray. Plan to move things you don't want to get damp. Or, you can either hang some plastic sheeting on the outside of the cage (this also helps confine the humidity too), pin up a piece of sheeting on any wall or drape some over other items.

As for cage size...get the largest one you can fit. Your cham will thank you for it! 18" sides are just not big enough and make it harder to get sturdier plants to fit it.

Small "terrarium" type foggers tend not to last very long in my experience especially if you have hard water. You will need to keep the nebulizer disk clean with vinegar. If you want to fog the cage to help raise humidity and not run the mister a lot you can get the same or better effect with an ultrasonic room humidifier from a drug store or home improvement store. They often cost the same or less and are built for longer term use. Control the fogging cycles with a plug in multi setting lamp timer.
 
Thank you all so much for your help. I'm afraid I'm going to be a bundle of questions until I get everything squared in my mind.

I've read that the best substrate is no substrate. On cages that have slide out trays on the bottom, how do you manage them without disturbing any potted plants that are, presumably, sitting on the bare cage floor? Do you just wipe around them once or twice daily and then remove all the plants (and cham) weekly for a better clean? Is there a way to make some kind of sling or 'cup holder' device that will hold the potted plants just high enough off the cage bottom to be able to slide the tray in and out without having to remove them each time?

With a mistking, does the bottom of the tray fill with water? What methods does everyone use to clear out the water? Is it just enough that wiping it down with a rag will do, or does the entire tray need removed and dumped? How often, daily? every other day? I assume no one leaves standing water in the bottom of their cages.

I guess if I have to slide the tray out every day to clean/wipe it down I don't want to be moving potted plants each time while I do it. Stressful for me and for the cham, I would think.

Just so you know I've all but decided on a 24x24x48 from DIY cages.
 
Nevermind, I have read up on drainage systems and have a plan in place.

Narrowing down my final cage layout. How does this sound?

24x24x48 cage from DIY
Reptisun 5.0 bulb (or would 10.0 be better with those cage dimensions?)
Pet-Tech large worm feeder ledge for cup feeding worms
Pet-Tech magnatural reptile dripper
Mistking starter
Digital thermometer and humidity guage
Large live ficus
Various other safe plants, mostly real but with some fakes
Vines well anchored for climbing
Basking bulb with dome fixture
Earth Magnetic rock wall from Pet-Tech to cover the center back of cage (plastic sheeting behind that to help hold in humidity/keep sprayer off wall)
Tiki Tiki reptiles drip tray for drainage, cage slightly lifted on one corner to tilt toward drain hole drilled in the bottom of the cage in order to drain into the drip tray. The hole will be covered with a piece of screening.

Small bin with vines and other access points for crickets and dubias.

I already have a timer for the lights, and from what I understand the Mistking comes with a timer for itself. Anything I'm forgetting or can improve upon?
 
An 18x18x36 inch cage is good for an adult male panther. And will work just fine seeing u said u have limited space. Do you plan to free range when your home if so then get it. I hear people that have problems with reptibreeze but i never had one. Best of luck who r u getting yours from. They r awesome pets and a joy to have post lots of pics:D
 
Kammers is a great place, many people on the forums have stunning chams from them :)

Unless you plan on free ranging him and bringing him out daily, get a 24x24x48cage. DIY has some of the best deals including the price of shipping.

$95 shipped for a 24x24x48 is quite good.
http://www.diycages.com/15201/15243.html

Good luck on your addition. Make sure to post pics when you get him!
 
ravynwriter said:
Right now I'm mostly eyeballing Kammerflage Kreations for where I may purchase my baby :)
Click to expand...

The kammers are awesome people with some of the best looking panthers around and liddy is a joy to work with. But know right now shipping might be a problem cause they r having a remodel done but call and find out. Just becareful cause i planned on buying one nosey be from them and ended up with 3 in the end:D you just cant go wrong with them at all. Do u know what sire you are wanting from i love soa poaka and hope to get one of his offsprings
 
Seeing as it's a baby, use a 5.0 bulb. You can either use Repti-Glo or Repti-Sun, I use the Repti-Glo with no problems what so ever. Just make sure to change the bulbs every 6 months.
 
mbondy, should I use the 5.0 until he's matured, and then switch to the 10.0, or just stick with the 5.0?

Sires I'm looking at are Ny-Anankiray, Goka-fajiry, Vinahina-manohina, Lahimatoa-tigra, and Odre-Ahy. It's still not going to happen for a while, probably not until after christmas. I have a stand to build and a lot of things to buy and set up before I order a baby, and I have to do it a bit piecemeal right now :)
 
Just stick with the 5.0, some people use a 10.0 but have the bulbs raised quite a few inches from the cage. the 10.0 is designed for desert reptiles such as bearded dragons, etc. So a 5.0 is your best bet :)

That'll be quite a good Christmas present, I'll be getting another one too in about January :D Good job on coming on here first and getting all your information. You'll have a very healthy and happy cham!
 
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