Enclosure Location

[pipelayer]

Hey All,

First off, this is a great forum, tons of useful info and friendly, helpful people.

So im looking to start with my first cham and think I've gotten the basics down, been reading for the last couple weeks.

Only concern I have at the moment is, I would like to keep this guy where I can see him most often, which would be in our living room.

Only thing is, that being where we spend most of our time, there will be people, TV and music from 6pm to, say, 11pm every day.

Will this be too much for the chameleon? Do most people keep these guys that far out of the way? I could put him in the basement but then I would not see him nearly as often.

I know this really would depend on the temperment of the individual cham but was hoping I could get some idea of where you guys keep your enclosure.

Thanks! Looking forward to this!

 

[Decadancin]

I have my enclosure in the living room. Try not to have it next to a entryway where your chameleon will constantly get startled by people coming and going. If the lights from the room or TV become an issue you can put up a blanket or towel to block it out. The sound should not matter.

I like having my chameleon out where he can be seen, and he has plenty of foliage for when he wants to hide. He has actually started watching TV with me in the morning! He comes right up to the front door and watches. I think he likes catching up with the day's news.

 

[Decadancin]

Oh, and...


Welcome to the forums!

 

[pipelayer]

Well thank you!

That is great to hear, very reassuring.

So another question, I realize I should probably keep him away from the window for temp reasons, but has anyone used any type of reflective on the back to enable them to do so safely?

At first I thought the window would be great! Real sunlight, then i found out glass blocks all UVB, so now temp would be my concern.

I plan on setting up the enclosure weeks ahead of time, so I may play around with locations and monitor temps.

 

[Craig94089]

My setup is in a room where I watch tv until 10 or 11pm regularly. The cage is next to a 7' entertainment stand, so there is light from the tv but not directly at him. To boot Jaeger sleeps on the branch closest to the front of the cage were there is the most light exposure.

His lights go out at 7pm...my room lights go off at 9pm...he is usually up still until that point. Once the room lights go out he's out pretty fast. I have four lights in the ceiling...one went out last night and he was asleep shortly after, about 8pm.

Sound is usually not an issue, but vibrations could be from what I've read. TV is a non factor at normal volume in my case. I found the following:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-good-chams-hearing-12454/

 

[Decadancin]

Well thank you!

That is great to hear, very reassuring.

So another question, I realize I should probably keep him away from the window for temp reasons, but has anyone used any type of reflective on the back to enable them to do so safely?

At first I thought the window would be great! Real sunlight, then i found out glass blocks all UVB, so now temp would be my concern.

I plan on setting up the enclosure weeks ahead of time, so I may play around with locations and monitor temps.

As for putting something on the glass, it would likely not work for what you are talking about. Many windows are Low E type that will reduce some radiant transfer, but I would still not want to have direct sunlight this way.

 

[pipelayer]

Craig, great stuff. Sounds pretty similar to the way it will operate at my place.

Decadancin, I may just keep the curtains closed then. Hopefully insulate against cold drafts as well as keeping the sunlight off the enclosure.

 

[DeremensisBlue]

One hint: Chameleons feel secure when they are above it all. If you place the cage so that your chameleon's favorite perching branch is higher than all the traffic in the room you will drastically reduce its stress when other creatures (you, your family, friends, dogs, cats, bandicoots, echidnas, and whatever else) happen by.

Bill Strand

 

[pipelayer]

Perfect. The enclosure will top out at about 70" above the ground which seems like it should be tall enough. If I can add a little more height I will.