Finding the right cage
- Thread starter Jackman11
- Start date
laurie
Retired Moderator
It really isn't that the screen cages aren't good for chams. It is that they are not good for cham owners. If you have a screen cage, you end up wrapping 3 sides of it, to hold in humidity and water from misting. I used shower curtains for wrapping, a real pain!! But they are cheaper and it is your choice.
Now I use DragonStrand cages as they are hard sided on 3 sides. They also have a system so the bottom can be easily slid out for quick cleaning.
Here is a link for you to see what I am talking about.
http://dragonstrand.com they are one of the forum sponsors.
Now I use DragonStrand cages as they are hard sided on 3 sides. They also have a system so the bottom can be easily slid out for quick cleaning.
Here is a link for you to see what I am talking about.
http://dragonstrand.com they are one of the forum sponsors.
Screen vs. Solid Side Cages
Metal screen cages have the potential to cause problems if the chameleon is of the right size that their claws go through the screen opening and can get jammed in enough that they get stuck. Straining my memory, I don't think I have actually ever seen this happen myself.
The bigger picture on this is that if your chameleon is crawling on the side of the cage that is a pretty good sign that something is off. A content chameleon with proper food, water, and visual cover will sit on its various perching branches within the cage. A chameleon scaling the walls is a chameleon who wants to change his environment.
As for ventilation, yes, chameleons need ventilation. You are trying to avoid stagnant air. The Breeder series cages are solid sided, but the whole front and top is screen so there is no place inside the cage where air can stagnate. There is more than enough ventilation even with the three solid sides. (You can read a more detailed response on this here Screen vs. Solid Side Cages)
So, screen vs. solid side…
Advantages of screen cages : lower cost and higher visibility from all sides of the family pet.
Disadvantages of screen cages: mist will spray outside onto walls and furniture, there is no real hiding place for your chameleon to retreat. Challenging to horizontally branch the cage without compromising the screen side.
Advantages of Breeder Series cages: solid sides keep in the mist, give visual isolation in case you want to have more than one chameleon, allow the creation of a true hiding spot, have solid anchors for mounting horizontal branches, and are optimized for fitting on common baker’s racks to promote organization in a large collection. The Breeder series also allows the more advanced keeper to put together a naturalistic vivarium for chameleons.
Disadvantages of the Breeder Series Cages: More expensive and the three solid sides limit the viewing angles from outside the cage.
They both have a place and it really is up to you to decide which fits your needs. Both work well.
Bill
Metal screen cages have the potential to cause problems if the chameleon is of the right size that their claws go through the screen opening and can get jammed in enough that they get stuck. Straining my memory, I don't think I have actually ever seen this happen myself.
The bigger picture on this is that if your chameleon is crawling on the side of the cage that is a pretty good sign that something is off. A content chameleon with proper food, water, and visual cover will sit on its various perching branches within the cage. A chameleon scaling the walls is a chameleon who wants to change his environment.
As for ventilation, yes, chameleons need ventilation. You are trying to avoid stagnant air. The Breeder series cages are solid sided, but the whole front and top is screen so there is no place inside the cage where air can stagnate. There is more than enough ventilation even with the three solid sides. (You can read a more detailed response on this here Screen vs. Solid Side Cages)
So, screen vs. solid side…
Advantages of screen cages : lower cost and higher visibility from all sides of the family pet.
Disadvantages of screen cages: mist will spray outside onto walls and furniture, there is no real hiding place for your chameleon to retreat. Challenging to horizontally branch the cage without compromising the screen side.
Advantages of Breeder Series cages: solid sides keep in the mist, give visual isolation in case you want to have more than one chameleon, allow the creation of a true hiding spot, have solid anchors for mounting horizontal branches, and are optimized for fitting on common baker’s racks to promote organization in a large collection. The Breeder series also allows the more advanced keeper to put together a naturalistic vivarium for chameleons.
Disadvantages of the Breeder Series Cages: More expensive and the three solid sides limit the viewing angles from outside the cage.
They both have a place and it really is up to you to decide which fits your needs. Both work well.
Bill
Screen cages have been the caging staple for a very long time. They work great and there are volumes of care sheets and forum posts that you can reference to help you set one up.
chillwill007
New Member
Umbrella tree plant also known as shefflera arboricola and ficus. I use the umbrella tree plant
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Schefflera arbicola (often called an umbrella plant) work well for many people as does ficus benjamina (often called a ficus tree
. These will eventually get too big for the cage, but it will take a while.Bill
repdog
Member
I to have been looking at cages. I do love the dragon stand ones and have had the site bookmarked for some time. I keep going back to them but the cages are just not big enough for me. I love the cages to be very large. Any ideas on something like that would be great. Besides building one as I don't think I can get my other half to build a third cage.
chillwill007
New Member
On lllreptiles they sell a 24x24x48 cage and then you can buy the extender which is another 24x24x24 so will make it a total 24x24x72. I think that's the biggest I've seen besides making your own cage
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[/URL]chillwill007
New Member
Anything that branches off that the chams can cLimb will out grow any of the cages. You just have to trim them down. Only things that won't our grow the cages are small ground covering plants like the plies that is next to my umbrella plant on the bench. But they are not really any good for the chams cause they grow our and not up. That's why I left that and got a Pothos instead. At least with the Pothos when it gets bigger I can hang it done how and the chams can cLimb and hide in vines. Cause that will grow out and down.
chillwill007
New Member
generally any branching plants is going to outgrow the cage. The umbrella tree plant is a slow grower so they last pretty long before your have to trim them down. You can enven get them as a bonsai which will grow slower. Home depot web site has nice kits that cow with a humidity tray which will help our with humidity in the cage. But they are like $40 and up. I bought my umbrella plant for $5.49. Only thing that won't our grow the cages are little ground cover plants like the plies that is pictured next to my umbrella tree plant on the bench. But they grow out not up. So they are pretty useless for chams. Now Pothos grows or long vines that the chams can hide and climb in. But then you have to hang them to really be useful. Now mind you I'm no gardener or green thumb just what I found doing my research.
chillwill007
New Member
Sorry for double post. Doing this from and it shows error so I didn't think the first one posted.
Djturna4thakidz
Established Member
All plants will work just fine. Just keep your plants pruned and trimmed and they will never outgrow your cage . Keeping your plants trimmed is very important to maintaining a aesthetically pleasing enclosure.
But back to your question, any of the aforementioned plant species will work. You can also try hibiscus, but they require more light than the pothos, arbicola or ficus. I stick with those three. The ficus and arbicola provide my branches and the pothos provides vines. They all look great together.
. Keeping your plants trimmed is very important to maintaining a aesthetically pleasing enclosure. But back to your question, any of the aforementioned plant species will work. You can also try hibiscus, but they require more light than the pothos, arbicola or ficus. I stick with those three. The ficus and arbicola provide my branches and the pothos provides vines. They all look great together.
