Cheapest Cage Setup

[Kyrill91]

Hello,

I am planning on getting a veiled chameleon come spring time and was wondering if anyone could create, for me, a list of the most inexpensive cage setups. This list would be ideal for a sub adult veiled chameleon; located in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

[deadhd5]

Nothing about owning a chameleon is cheap and it will be impossible to skimp on supplies without having a negative impact on your chameleon's health. In this hobby you really get what you pay for.

 

[dom1959]

some of that is true, however, i would say look for everything you
need "online". buy as little as you can at a pet store.
as an example i wanted a ladder or similar thing for a mini freerange area.

i went to michaels put on my thinking cap
and spent about $30 on suplies to make a "tree"
they were selling a fake ficus for $200

 

[nick barta]

Buy your setup on the Chameleon Forums classifieds, when someone gets out of the hobby, that is the best way to save money on your setup, and still get the right equipment.
It is worth the shipping costs...

 

[Jaycesickchild]

some of that is true, however, i would say look for everything you
need "online". buy as little as you can at a pet store.
as an example i wanted a ladder or similar thing for a mini freerange area.

i went to michaels put on my thinking cap
and spent about $30 on suplies to make a "tree"
they were selling a fake ficus for $200

I agree DIY is the way to go if you want to keep your wallet fat!
EVERYTHING in my chams set up i built myself. From the cricket keeper to the ladder to the bamboo hut even the screen canopy. And saved a Ton doing this. But im afraid there is no way to cheap out when you are dealing with lighting and heat. :/

 

[dlegare]

Hello,

I am planning on getting a veiled chameleon come spring time and was wondering if anyone could create, for me, a list of the most inexpensive cage setups. This list would be ideal for a sub adult veiled chameleon; located in Pittsburgh, PA.

I definitely wouldn't skimp on housing. A good quality screen cage may cost about 100.

You'll need

A good cage

Basking and uv lighting

Plants and vines

Watering device (Automated misters are great but thats another 100 to 150) You could possibly go with hand misting and a dripper but you MUST do it several time a day and not skip or you cham skips drinking.

The more of an investment you make in good quality equipment will make it far easier in the long run.

If you try to skimp and cut corners you're setting yourself up for disaster.

Good luck.

And make sure you get all you caging, misting, watering, lighting set up before you bring a cham home.

Oh heck and don't forget the food (Crickets, roaches, etc.)

Good luck.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

If you look online you can find some nice screen cages less than $100. There is a HUGE online pet store who operates out of PA, and they are the least expensive that I have found to purchase screen cages. If you send me a PM I can tell you where to find it

One of the best part about chameleon ownership is the creativity it inspires within you. You begin to look at everything differently. Every cabinet becomes an enclosure in your mind, every plant/tree/branch is a potential piece of enclosure furniture, every container becomes a potential drainage bin.....it never, EVER ends

 

[Kyrill91]

Here was my plan.

List of materials:

Enclosure
Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Open Air Screen Cage, Medium, 16 x 16 x 30-Inches

Lighting
Zoo Med ReptiSun 15 Watt 18-Inch T8 Fluorescent Lamp
Zoo Med Reptile Basking Spot Lamp 75 Watts 2 Bulb Value Pack
Zoo Med Red Infrared Heat Lamp
Timer For Automation of Day/Night Lighting

Furnishings
Exo Terra Jungle Vine
Fluker's Bend-A-Branch - Medium
Schefflera Trinette
Hanging Pothos

Diet
Rep-Cal D3 Calcium (3 times a week)
Rep-Cal Calcium w/o D3 (every day)
HERPTIVITE Multivitamin (2 times a month)
Gut Loaded Crickets - 4 or 5; twice a day
Meal Worms - Use as a treat to replace crickets occasionally.

Humidity Control
I would have a Dripper running throughout the day and mist by hand twice a day; once in the morning, and once at night.

Setup
- Paper towel lining the bottom, changed often throughout the week.
- Live potted plants with large stones covering the organic soil.
- Create a temperature gradient using plants.
- Set perching points with the vines and branches throughout the enclosure.

All in all, I figured it would cost me around $300 for this setup alone. probably $350 including the chameleon itself. Can anyone tell me what I missed? Or what I should consider?

 

[xxzmmorexx]

I believe lll reptiles has a 65 gal screen cage package for 99 including shipping. It grts you a nice little bundle of stuff to start and I think its an alright price

 

[Olimpia]

Here was my plan.

List of materials:

Enclosure
Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Open Air Screen Cage, Medium, 16 x 16 x 30-Inches (If you want to save money, I would go for the big-boy cage immediately, as a sub-adult can more than hunt for himself. DIYcages.com sells a 4' x 2' x 2' for $70-80 shipped. It's $30 more dollars now but $0 down the line. Also, reptibreeze brand cages have an awful reputation, LLLReptile or DIYcages are better cages.)

Lighting
Zoo Med ReptiSun 15 Watt 18-Inch T8 Fluorescent Lamp
Zoo Med Reptile Basking Spot Lamp 75 Watts 2 Bulb Value Pack (Save your money, go to any Home Depot or Walmart and get a pack of incandescent light bulbs instead. For $6 you can get a multipack of them, so you always have spares on hand.)
Zoo Med Red Infrared Heat Lamp (Completely unnecessary. Unless your house is getting below 60-65F at night, you do not need additional heat at night. It is beneficial for chameleons to have a drop in temperature at night.)
Timer For Automation of Day/Night Lighting

Furnishings
Exo Terra Jungle Vine
Fluker's Bend-A-Branch - Medium (I would not waste money on pre-made vines when branches from outdoors are a phenomenal and free material to decorate cages naturally. It will provide chameleons with rigid, stable support but provide a variety of thicknesses to climb on, which is good for their feet. Any safe tree will do, just trim some branches to taste and use those instead.)
Schefflera Trinette
Hanging Pothos

Diet
Rep-Cal D3 Calcium (3 times a week) Do not provide vitamin D3 that often, this vitamin is easy to overdose via diet therefore we only recommend using it about 2-3 times monthly. You will want to use the plain calcium every other day, like you noted below.)
Rep-Cal Calcium w/o D3 (every day)
HERPTIVITE Multivitamin (2 times a month)
Gut Loaded Crickets - 4 or 5; twice a day
Meal Worms - Use as a treat to replace crickets occasionally.

Humidity Control
I would have a Dripper running throughout the day and mist by hand twice a day; once in the morning, and once at night.

Setup
- Paper towel lining the bottom, changed often throughout the week.
- Live potted plants with large stones covering the organic soil.
- Create a temperature gradient using plants.
- Set perching points with the vines and branches throughout the enclosure.

All in all, I figured it would cost me around $300 for this setup alone. probably $350 including the chameleon itself. Can anyone tell me what I missed? Or what I should consider?

My comments are in red. Otherwise, I think you have everything!

 

[ForrestJungle]

Ebay has amazing cages for 50 bucks and free shipping I would jump on it before they are gone!!!!!

 

[Kyrill91]

Thanks Olimpia! With the extra money I save from your tips, I would be much more inclined to buy a larger cage.

 

[purplebiotch]

This is what i got its not terribly expensive and it's VERY large. I will have it next week sometime.

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...cage-packages/-/260-gallon-chameleon-package/