Enclosure Ideas???Help.. Maine (USA)

A

acyr

New Member
Hello Friends,
I'm in need of some ideas on what type of enclosure would suite me best for a Panther Chameleon. My main concern is that I live in Northern Maine we have all four seasons. Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring. I'm more so worried about holding the perfect humidity levels. Just undecided if a screen enclosure would be best! I want to make sure everything is perfect and I'm not missing anything.
 
Welcome to the forum-
Being from Maine you should have that much problem with humidity. What your looking for is peaks and lows not constant. With your furnace running you may have more problem in the winter than the summer months - I use a cool mist humidifier with my jackson who needs more than a panther - you can cover sides with a shower curtain . If it's your first chameleon I would go for a screen cage - as they are easier to regulate. Experienced keepers are just better able to figure out drainage and water issues and to notice problems. I'm saying this as someone who doesn't have a lot of experience - and has had to make adjustments - I think it's easier with screens.
 
Welcome to the forum.

Here's a start: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/

Read through all those sections in that guide and the panther caresheet.

Now there is debate on this but a majority say that a screen cage is best. This is for air flow and to reduce the risk of an respiratory infection. And respiratory infections get really expensive...trust me.

A glass terrarium can be done...but it's usually best to start with a screen cage.
 
I do believe a screen cage would be best. I'm most concern about winter months as they are pretty dry and cold. Would any of you have any good recommendations on the best place to purchase a 18x18x36 or 24x24x48 cage?
 
Hello, for what it is worth, I live 30 miles south of Canada, in Montana. I have 4 seasons, but spring and fall are short.

The thing about screen cages - most of us end up covering 3 sides with plastic. One of the forum sponsor's, Dragonstrand, makes a cage with 3 sides solid. I bought 8 of the baby cages. Now I am thinking I will change all the big cages over. A terrarium allows less airflow and drainage issues. I would say take a look at all available options and see which would fit you the best, for climate, looks, easy maintenance, and and most of all, your chameleon.

After you have a look around come on back and maybe we can help with specific questions. I have all 3 types of cages, ( currently I am using wrapped screen)so feel free to shoot me a pm with any think I can help with.
 
Reptile show if there's one coming up. I always get my cages there for way cheaper than normal price. I bought a XL reptibreeze for 80 and I usually get my L Reptibreeze for 70. How soon do you need a cage and how old of a cham are you buying?
 
I'm looking to buy Mid August. I'm in no rush however. I'm also looking to purchase no younger than 5months depending.
 
Seeing how you live in Maine, I really wouldn't worry too much about the humidity. It will be fine. I live in Salt Lake City, and my Panthers are all kept in screen cages. As long as they have dripping water to drink, they will be fine. Putting them in a glass cage makes it much more difficult to get the humidity down and to give them the space that they need.

Temperature may be more of an issue, as it is for me. I solve this by changing out the wattage on the basking lights from season to season to keep the basking temperature from fluctuating a tremendous amount.
 
I guess it's gonna be all in a matter of tweaking hear and there. Would if be worth set up an enclosure and running it for awhile just to see what would work best for temps and humidity?
 
acyr said:
I guess it's gonna be all in a matter of tweaking hear and there. Would if be worth set up an enclosure and running it for awhile just to see what would work best for temps and humidity?
Click to expand...

You are so on track! That is what we tell new people to do. You sort of need to decide on what kind of Cham you want, as that will dictate the size cage you will need. Getting a Cham at least 5 months old is also smart. A Cham is most fragile when they are young. You are thinking this out before hand, and are going to make a super Cham owner.
 
You are looking at about the easiest chams, and what we often tell people to buy for a first cham. Go with which ever you really like the most.
There are people on here who breed and sell quality chameleons. Try not to buy from a pet store like petsmart or petco. They do not care for their chameleons very well. If you need some people I personally consider excellent just let me know.
 
I would go with the Panther. It seems that that is what you want, seeing as how the first line of the is thread was asking about a panther set up:)
 
I AM A @)%)%)%! That being said. If you need, i will have both at exactly 5 months old mid august. They will have spent the summer outdoors soaking up every possible vit d they can get. They all eat hornedworms, silkworms, crix, orange head roaches, praying mantis, moths, butterflies, bumblebees, only freshly molted superworms, etc... NO MEALWORMS. These will all be my holdbacks on both. As soon as summer ends and i need to move the little ones inside, i will unload the ones i cannot keep. I am selecting one male and two females from the blue bars, and one male from my veils. I already have my future females, so i won't keep any of those. Keep it in mind, as sure everyone will be unloading at summers end. You will be able to dictate your own terms for the one you really want, pretty much. Basically, the only husbandry difference in the two, will be a little warmer and little less needed rh for the veil. Other than that, caging, lights, supplements, insects, etc... will all be the same.
 
acyr said:
I'm stuck between the veiled cham, but I'm more drawn to the Panthers.
Click to expand...

I have not purchased a Charm yet but that's my dilemma , Ive been bouncing back and forth between the two, I really want a Panther because of the color but im still unsure
 
SolidSnake1 said:
Yeh, sure, you don't care how you spend my money....LMAO:)
Click to expand...

Dude prices have dropped drastically when I bought my cham and supplies it ran me just short of 800 and that was a deal. Now people are selling males for like 200, and some times, in a bundle.

But my tip is rather than believing the sites are 100% accurate email the breeders and ask them when they'll have more of whatever species available. Plus a lot of them have holdbacks they keep a secret from their sites. ;)
 
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