Dumb Question, but is there such thing as a "too big" enclosure?
- Thread starter Benclark
- Start date
Thatwizard420
Chameleon Enthusiast
Not as long as you cup feed him and he has plenty of hiding spots
Benclark
Member
Thank you! I set up the enclosure yesterday and he will for sure have plenty of hiding spots. I really appreciate the advice on cup feeding, I will defiantly get that going beforehand.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
No. A 3 month old of any of the top 3 species (panther, veiled, Jackson's) will even do fine in a 48x24x48 (double-size) or indoor free-range, as long as all their needs are provided for.
And it's not a dumb question. The sage advice for any reptile enclosure is as big as you can afford, but not less than....
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eat2muchrice
Avid Member
"Dumb Question, but is there such thing as a "too big" enclosure?"
Yes, Its called Florida.
Yes, Its called Florida.
Shanar808
Avid Member
I love the free range setups for chameleons! However, with a young chameleon (who is more prone to clumsiness and falls) may end up in a place you will not expect, like underfoot or behind a door where they can be easily squashed or injured. Just something to keep in mind, from devastating past experienceNo. A 3 month old of any of the top 3 species (panther, veiled, Jackson's) will even do fine in a 48x24x48 (double-size) or indoor free-range, as long as all their needs are provided for.
And it's not a dumb question. The sage advice for any reptile enclosure is as big as you can afford, but not less than....
A large enclosure will be awesome for them, just make sure to do the cup feeding since the concern will be if they can find/access food. Is your chameleon eating fruit flies? I ask because they love the light and will often fly to the top of your enclosure so make sure your baby won’t get too close to the heat bulb and risk burns.
Benclark
Member
Thank you for the advice! I do plan on cup feeding, and I was actually considering flightless fruit flies. The Jackson’s I was looking at is about three to four inches in length. Are fruit flies suitable for a Cham that size?I love the free range setups for chameleons! However, with a young chameleon (who is more prone to clumsiness and falls) may end up in a place you will not expect, like underfoot or behind a door where they can be easily squashed or injured. Just something to keep in mind, from devastating past experience
A large enclosure will be awesome for them, just make sure to do the cup feeding since the concern will be if they can find/access food. Is your chameleon eating fruit flies? I ask because they love the light and will often fly to the top of your enclosure so make sure your baby won’t get too close to the heat bulb and risk burns. ☺
Shanar808
Avid Member
Flightless fruitflies, thats great. Honestly, I catch my adult female Jackson going for a large fruit fly every now and then, but not often. I’ve read a study done on the stomach contents of wild Jackson’s and a majority of their diet were very small insects, but all chameleons are different and yours may not like them for much longer, so I would give the option and see if he/she likes them and adjust to your chameleons preferences.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
No offense, but IMO both those scenarios are foreseeable and preventable.I love the free range setups for chameleons! However, with a young chameleon (who is more prone to clumsiness and falls) may end up in a place you will not expect, like underfoot or behind a door where they can be easily squashed or injured. Just something to keep in mind, from devastating past experience
A large enclosure will be awesome for them, just make sure to do the cup feeding since the concern will be if they can find/access food. Is your chameleon eating fruit flies? I ask because they love the light and will often fly to the top of your enclosure so make sure your baby won’t get too close to the heat bulb and risk burns. ☺
I don't know how many times I've read—and passed along—the admonition that if you can't tolerate the touch of the screen beneath a basking lamp, it's too hot and must be raised or exchanged for a lower wattage. That's the way you "make sure your baby won’t get too close to the heat bulb and risk burns."
PoseidonTheChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yeah I cant do that because my screen has way too big of holes lol a couple crickets have gotten out of my feeder and ended up in the next room over
ERKleRose
Chameleon Enthusiast
Get a cat!Yeah I cant do that because my screen has way too big of holes lol a couple crickets have gotten out of my feeder and ended up in the next room over
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
That's smaller than Madagascar—just sayin'...
Florida = 65,758 sq mi
Madagascar = 226,658 sq mi
ERKleRose
Chameleon Enthusiast
I think they were talking about how panther and veiled chams are invasive there?That's smaller than Madagascar—just sayin'...
Florida = 65,758 sq mi
Madagascar = 226,658 sq mi
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
I know. Some chams are invasive in Hawaii too. Jes' playin'
Shanar808
Avid Member
If they didn’t invade Hawaii I wouldn’t be able to have a chameleonI know. Some chams are invasive in Hawaii too. Jes' playin'
panthers and veileds are illegal here, I guess I owe a lot to the guy that put that first batch in his backyard.
CasqueAbove
Chameleon Enthusiast
If they didn’t invade Hawaii I wouldn’t be able to have a chameleon
LOL growing up I never wanted to go to Hawaii because they did not allow snakes "OF ANY KIND" and at the time no chams or day gecko. I was like who wants to go where there are no reptiles to find ??
I see it a bit different now.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
Please correct me if I'm mistaken. My understanding was that feral populations of Jackson's have established in HI. Were the other 2 species made illegal because of that—because they didn't want more becoming invasive?If they didn’t invade Hawaii I wouldn’t be able to have a chameleon
I can see their point. What invasive species have done to the everglades is IMO heartrending.
CasqueAbove
Chameleon Enthusiast
As far as too big. Of course there has to be a limit but you are no where near it. For feeding I strongly suggest primarily cup feeding. Having some prey run around free is fine. The primary reason for this is 2 fold.
1) They quickly become accustomed to a cup and it is a great way to interact without stressing your Cham. They will learn cup=food.
2) More important is monitoring how much they are eating, particularly with supplements. A cricket or Dubia walking around a cage will quickly dust off the supplements. In a cup we can be more sure of what and how much they are getting.
1) They quickly become accustomed to a cup and it is a great way to interact without stressing your Cham. They will learn cup=food.
2) More important is monitoring how much they are eating, particularly with supplements. A cricket or Dubia walking around a cage will quickly dust off the supplements. In a cup we can be more sure of what and how much they are getting.
Shanar808
Avid Member
I cannot tell you if the ban was due to the Jackson’s chameleon or a combination of invasive species having negative effects on the local insect and animal populations. I can say that the initial Jackson’s introduction was traced to a single shipment to a seller that put them outside to recover from shipment.
