Excessive screen climbing (damaged nails)

[Santi4407]

Helo all, just some opinions if anyone got any. My male nosy be made a yr and a half this month. I know male chams are known to roam their territory but my boy is a an excessive roamer and his preferred method of climbing is on the screen. He has either lost, damaged or filed down all of his nails at this point. And today I noticed he damaged one of the spines on his back. He's a great cham really mellow and doesnt seem bothered by much and doesnt seem territorial. But he rarely sits still and seems unsettled, its a pain to even feed or do anything with him in his cage cause his first reaction is to climb out or climb all over me. Its not like hes missing any climbing spots or places to hide. Even on a short attempt at free ranging when we lost power and out of need I tried to get him some window access he refused to stay on the plant provided.
Any ideas on cham proofing the cage so he doesnt do anymore damage or why he's might be so unsettled.
Heres some pics of him;

 

[shaunaroxanne]

Could he be too hot? Is his cage big enough? Just trouble shooting.

I like my adult males in bird cages. It sucks that you have to cup feed because of feeders escaping, but their nails never get damaged and it is really good for their grip. There is never a shortage of climbing surface.

 

[Santi4407]

Really doubt it would be too hot were in a basement it's more of a struggle to get it over 80 and his basking which he doesn't use isn't all that hot either. And he's in a 4' x 2' cage. And a new cage really isn't an option. I wouldn't mind building a split cage eventually for both my chams but that won't be for a while. Thanks though @ shaunaroxanne

 

[Olimpia]

I think you could do a couple things:

1. I would add a lot more branches, twigs, and plants to the cage so he has more to climb on that isn't the screen.

2. I've seen people attach the plastic-coated chicken fencing type fencing to the walls of their screen cage, along the inside, so the chameleon climbs on that when he's roaming the walls instead of the finer mesh. You may have to get creative on how you attach it without ruining the screen but perhaps just sewing it to the frame would work, since chameleons don't weigh very much.

 

[pssh]

I second olimpia's suggestions. The plastic chicken fencing or plastic hardware cloth is very helpful for heavy duty climbers. A little bit of thread or some fishing line can hold it in pace. It does help if you attach it so that it is a little bit off the screen so they can really grab it or they may still use the screen because they cannot fully hold it. Their nails can also get caught on the screen if the fencing is right up against the screen. I dont know how you would attach it in an aluminum cage that way though. I've only used it in wooden cages so there was a ledge to tie/staple it to.

 

[Santi4407]

Plastic chicken fencing I'm gonna look into that I have 2 plants with branches vines all over he never gives up!! Even though he can barely hang on that long with his stump claws. I feel bad for him! But the fencing sounds good and will look into where I can get some ASAP! Thanks!

 

[Meow Kitty]

ive seen green mesh made of plastic (the stuff that people use at construction zones or garden walls) line the walls attached at the top and bottom where its a little loose for grip in the middle
I think thats the chicken wire, but this stuff is like a really strechy thin plastic

 

[pssh]

I don't really know what the green stuff is, so I just kind of group it in with plastic hardware cloth. Perhaps some one who knows the name will post. I found some at a yard sale and I think the spacing is like 1" or so. A hardly used roll was $1.50 so I never learned what it was actually called. I did find real plastic hardware cloth at home depot. The spacing of mine is about 1/2" and pretty stiff, so it's big enough to get their little hands through, but it's not as thick as the green stuff (which I like better for heavy or large chameleons.)

 

[Meow Kitty]

http://www.boddingtonsonline.com/pr...ting/garden-netting-multi-purpose-netting.php
this is what i was talking about maybe it is chicken fencing, i know its not the really stiff plastic covered wire though.

 

[pssh]

It looks very similar! If it can be used for chickens, then it is stiff enough to put in the cage without it flopping over and trapping the chameleon under it if something happens.

 

[KatieSimmo]

my lill man loves wandering around his cage spesh on the screen so weve now covered them in willow stick from a garden centre keeps him of it then and it loooks cool