Cage is nearly done!!!

[cantgetagoodsn]

Cage is nearly done!!! Your opinion?

I have finally got the cage to the point where I can keep Reptar in there. My friend who has been helping me out just got swamped with Architecture school work, so it might be a while before i put on the finishing touches. But here it is so far...

It's a 2'x2'x4' cage with a 24''x24''x30'' base. Lights are on a timer and I will be ordering a mistking soon. I am replacing the dying hibiscus plant in there with a ficus and hopefully that'll work better with the indoor conditions. I am also going to put more vines higher up in the cage. There is a top beneath the base of the cage to catch the water, then a hole to funnel the water into a bucket that is lying inside of the base.

He's exploring everything, eating, sleeping fine etc., but his color still seems very dark compared to all of the other pictures I see online, He does get much lighter when sleeping, but rarely during the day. Does anyone know why, or could that just be his natural color? I just want him to be a brighter green haha.

 

[Goonie]

Cool! im in the process of figuring out what im gunna do with my chameleon when the winter rolls around, since he lives in my backyard as a freerange, im wondering if i eeven need the mesh around him, i think im gunna have a tree and two hanging plants by the window in my room ( with a heat lamp and uvb bulb above them all out of reach). would that be good?

 

[VeiledOwner87]

nice build buddy. i just finished mine too, take a look and feel free to comment. https://www.chameleonforums.com/cage-pics-46413/

your cham might still be dark for a couple of reasons..
1) the temperatures. are they too cool or too warm? my guess would be they are a little bit cooler. chameleons turn dark to soak up and heat their bodies.
2) if this isnt the case, he may feel uneasy. by the looks of the pic, he looks like a jackson. i would deffinately add some more foliage in the cage to make him feel a little more secure.
3) where is the cage located? is it in a room with "high traffic" the constant presence of humans and other animals may be stressin him out.

just my take at it, if others can chime in im sure the fella would appriciate it.

 

[cantgetagoodsn]

Goonie - I don't know anything about free range. I'm not the best to ask.

VeiledOwner87 - well I just set up his new cage today (pics above) and right now at the very very top right by the heat lamp is 86* and at the bottom it's 72. Humidity 60%. there was a 100W in there, I bought a 75W thinking it was weak and didn't know at the time it was a 100W. Though, the temp is 86* up there, so I dont need the 100W. He's in my room, a person here and there go in and, but mostly me, and most of the time im just chillin.

 

[VeiledOwner87]

does he try and bask alot? your basking branches for the uvb and the heat lamp seem a little far. *EDIT* i just noticed the first pic was the old set up. disregard what i said about the basking branches.

im just trying to pin point commons first.

also what are you gutloading your crickets with and what is your supplimentation schedual?

actually, you know what? just fill this out.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[cantgetagoodsn]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Jacksons Chameleon. Male. 9-12 months (ordered him online from flchams.com) I've had him for about 2 weeks.

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Only a few times, every other couple of days. and it's not a very long duration.

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Crickets and wax worms. 2-3 every day. wax worms as treat. im just using apple for gutloading, i know i need more.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Fluker's calcimhosphorus 2:1 every 2 weeks. (I've only given it to him twice). and RepCal Herpivite with beta carotene once a month. (given it to him once).

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
I am manually misting 2-3 times a day. The humidity stays at about 60-65%. Yes, he drinks.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
Consistent, solid, urine is white. No, he has not been tested. I got him recently from a breeder.

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
He has been in an 18x18x36 cage since I got him. Last night I transferred him into a 24x24x48 in cage, that you see above. The plant inside is a JAPANESE ARALIA (Fatsia japonica).

Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
24x24x48 screen cage

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
wood/screen.. zoomed 75w basking bulb. linear reptiglo 5.0 uvb bulb. 12 hours on, 12 hours off.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
72-86 during the day, 86 being 2-3 inches away from light, he has 6+ inches. digital thermometer.

Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
50%-65% mostly 60%. digital humidity reader.

Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
I had a hibiscus plant, but it died. I replaced it today with a JAPANESE ARALIA (Fatsia japonica), in the pic last 2 pics.

Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Sort of near the fan, only on at night thought. but it is off to the side. im usually the only one in my room, every once and a while someone else would come in. the cage itself is 30" high off the ground, and 4 ft for the actual cage.

Location - Where are you geographically located?
Lubbock Texas. Mid-West Texas.

Current Problem - Stays brown during the day. He has seemed to explore more today, eat just fine etc. just really dark.

 

[cantgetagoodsn]

I came home from work today and he was a much brighter green, though it may be because he was under the huge plant leaves...

any more opinions though?

 

[ruru]

when i got my cham she was a dark color for about a week then she lightened up ...give him a few days to get used to all the changes in his home & he should lighten up.

 

[Silkyslim]

when i got my cham she was a dark color for about a week then she lightened up ...give him a few days to get used to all the changes in his home & he should lighten up.

Same thing happend to me, I was concerned as well. But just like ruru said, a week or so and he was much lighter and comfortable in his new casa

 

[cantgetagoodsn]

Ok, He seems to be getting a little lighter since his new cage. I've had him for about 10 days, but then again I did just move him to his new cage. So I'll give him some time. I really hope he warms up to me and starts actually approaching me.