Enclosure sizes?

H

Hdale85

New Member
I'm getting prepared and reading up on info for Chams. I'm getting ready to start building an enclosure. I wanted to just build a nice sized one that will work when it's an adult sized as well but is that ok? If I put enough crickets in there for it to eat and what not that they are all over will there still be an issue with the cham finding them? I read somewhere that they won't be able to find their food if the enclosure is too big is why I ask.

I was thinking about something like 24x36 and 40-50" tall.
 
That size could be good, but for adult chameleons. I wouldnt put a baby in a cage that big. But many people cup feed here because the crickets dont get out :p But if you wanna free range your bugs, you can as long as he actually looks for them. You'll have to check on it
 
I made my cage 24X36X48 and I love the size. If you only want to build 1 cage and plan to get a little guy, you can always place a divider in to block off 1/2 of the cage until he gets big enough.
 
That's a good idea on the divider, I may also just get one of the small premade enclosures and use that for a couple months until he's big enough for the big one. I'm not sure how old it will be I'm guessing 4ish months as I'll likely order online. Pet stores around here don't carry them and I haven't found a source anywhere else really either.
 
Hdale85 said:
That's a good idea on the divider, I may also just get one of the small premade enclosures and use that for a couple months until he's big enough for the big one. I'm not sure how old it will be I'm guessing 4ish months as I'll likely order online. Pet stores around here don't carry them and I haven't found a source anywhere else really either.
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I got Memphis at 4 months and he went right into that cage. I would not place anything smaller that in there with out a divider though.
 
Hmm, so maybe I won't need something smaller? I think I'm going for a panther but not entirely sure.

I'm quite confused on the lighting thing. I saw the one guy said to use a 6 bulb T5 fixture, and others say it's over kill, and others say to use a T8 dual bulb. Also seems to be so much variance on mesh as well! Is the charcoal aluminum screen mesh ok to use? That's what I bought is why I ask.
 
The charcoal aluminum screen is exactly what I use. I personally have a 36" 5.0 T-8 bulb and I use a mercury vapor bulb for basking and an increase in UV intensity. But again I have a cage that's larger than average. This is by no means a standard. Its just the setup that is working for me so far. And my guy is pretty active and appears happy.
 
Hdale85 said:
So you just have a single bulb fixture?
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Oh no, I have 1 36" florescent and 2 twin Deep domes. For 2 hours mid-day I turn on a second MV bulb. ANd I have 2 ceramic heaters for night time for when the room temp drops lower than I want it. But I don't mention these because they are rarely, if ever used. I don't suggest going with that setup unless you have a bunch of cash laying around to spend on something that you may not use.

Last year we had massive power outages for several days (weeks for some) in the entire Chicago land area. If that happens again I at least have everything on hand to keep the cage warm using the power from my diesel truck.
 
So do you think if I got a single 4 bulb T8 or T5 fixture I could pretty much take care of most of my lighting needs with different bulbs?
 
Hmm, It seemed like people were using fl bulbs for heat as well? I guess I'm a bit confused! I thought lighting for salt water tanks was confusing.......
 
I actually have a huge 300 gallon saltwater reef tank. I agree the lighting for that is completely different. My fixture for that has twelve 5'long bulbs. None of what I know about that lighting is applicable to this hobby.
 
Hmm, I guess I'm not used to Cham sizes and what not but laying out the base of my cage on the floor even the size you have blackhawk doesn't seem that big lol. Can an adult have TOO much space? Maybe 48wX36dX48t I could build? Of course then I'd likely need to get a wider light fixture and what not. Maybe I should just do 36x36x48?
 
Hdale85 said:
You mean like foliage?
Click to expand...

Foliage for him, but now matter what he has to be able to locate food. Bugs are small and can hide well. The larger enclosure the more places they can hide. Personally, I cup feed only so I don't have this issue. But it all depends on the individual setup.
 
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