DIY cage

[pacificwynd]

Hello!!

Began building Fiona's new cage yesterday and it is going to be HUUUGGGEEE!! couple questions...

1) Is there such a thing as too much space for a veiled chameleon? 6' tall X 2' X 2' is what we've got now! Worried about her "getting lost" in such a big space. forgetting where her water source is, etc.

2) we are using pvc coated garden fencing but i don't think we can use this on the top of cage because the lights will sit on top of it and i'm assuming will burn it. what can we use for the top that is safe for chams and won't burn/rust, etc.?

3) am i going to need another heat lamp?

4) any suggestions for a large tree type plant? i'd really like to get a big fig tree but i'm having a hard time finding larger indoor plants.

5) what kind of woods are safe? could i just go to the beach and grab a piece of driftwood to put in her cage?

6) any other suggestions for things to put in her cage would be much appreciated. i don't want it to look too bare.

thanks for your replies!

 

[Pure]

1) Is there such a thing as too much space for a veiled chameleon? 6' tall X 2' X 2' is what we've got now! Worried about her "getting lost" in such a big space. forgetting where her water source is, etc.
I don't know how old your cham is but for an adult, no there is no such thing as too big. If this cham is under 5-6 months old you may want to wait for the bigger cage. Very young chams can have a hard time finding food and expending too much energy (for the very very young) looking for food.

2) we are using pvc coated garden fencing but i don't think we can use this on the top of cage because the lights will sit on top of it and i'm assuming will burn it. what can we use for the top that is safe for chams and won't burn/rust, etc.?
Simple aluminum mesh screen found at the hardware store will do just fine.

3) am i going to need another heat lamp?
No, not as long as the basking spot is 6-8 inches from the lamp.

4) any suggestions for a large tree type plant? i'd really like to get a big fig tree but i'm having a hard time finding larger indoor plants.
Large ficus or Sheffs (umbrella plant) trees are among the favorite choices. If you can't find one large enough to fill the enclosure, set them up on a plant stand or take a large pot and turn it upside down to be used as a stand.

5) what kind of woods are safe? could i just go to the beach and grab a piece of driftwood to put in her cage?
As long as it's been sterilized and isn't seeping sap most wood with a few exceptions such as cedar are fine. To sterilize the wood bake it the oven at about 200 degrees for an hour or so. If it's too large to bake you can make a strong solution of bleach and water in the bath tub and soak it. But if you do use bleach, let the wood sit in the sun for a couple of days to evaporate any bleach the wood may have soaked up

6) any other suggestions for things to put in her cage would be much appreciated. i don't want it to look too bare.

I personally like to use ferns in the lower regions of the enclosure to fill up the empty bottom space. Boston ferns are safe and readily available at your local garden center

What I do is put the plants I want in and don't worry too much about the plant being able to support the cham. After the plants are in where I want them I build a scaffolding type structure out of bamboo or dowel rods, using zip ties to hold it together.

 

[jamncristian]

this website tells you how u can build a cage

http://melleridiscovery.com/index.html

search tutorials

 

[pacificwynd]

thanks pure! heading out to buy plants and the last of the needed materials now. fiona has spent the last few hours climbing to the very top corner of one side that is already meshed and staring out the window. i think she likes it

thanks Jamn. that site didn't really answer any of my questions but my cage is almost exactly like that!! smaller though.

i'll post a few photos when it's complete.

any other input is greatly appreciated

 

[pacificwynd]

i've been having a hard time finding a bottom for the cage. i was hoping to be able to find a storage bin measuring at least 2' X 2' but haven't been able to. any suggestions?

 

[SliK JiM]

You can get some pretty big under bed boxes, they'll do! It sounds silly, but a 'pond' is pretty good! Just make sure its square! Although, the contours on the inside dont matter too much! Or, you couldjust build something out of ply!

 

[jamncristian]

you can make a bottom for your cage with this but i bet you dont need that much so try to find a smaller size

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[pacificwynd]

i found a place near my house that supplies pvc sheeting!! which is (i think) in the bottom of most manufactured cages.

if i use plastic sheeting on the outside of the screen of 2 sides of my cage to prevent water spraying on the walls will this defeat the purpose of having an all screen cage? or will airflow still be ok? would having the sheets of plastic up actually help me with humidity levels?

 

[DRED]

sorry to bring this back from the dead, but can someone answer that last question?... I'm contemplating getting a cage with glass on two sides and screen on the other sides and top.

will that make it too humid for a veiled?... or should I go with an all screen cage?

thanks, everyone.

 

[xanthoman]

that would be a great cage for a jackson, but whether it would be a good cage for a veiled would depend partly on other husbandry practices, your misting schedule would play a big part of that. bear in mind that if you attach black pvc to the sides of your cage, it will make your cage really dark, i prefer to use something that lets a little more light in. you can get light panels that are meant as a cover for 4' flourescent light boxes for about $5, if they are not big enough to use vertically you can just cut them to length and stack them horizontally (they are usually about 18-20" wide x 48" long), you dont have to go all of the way up, if you just go 2/3-3/4 of the way up, it improves airflow greatly