Glass Cages Why is everyone against them?

[MissSkittles]

I have to thanks this group so far. I see honest and understanding answers, and have not seen any angry, belittling of new owners. I asked this question on some Facebook forums and got hammered and seemed like I was being talked down too. This helped with my enclosure, I trusted the People who we thought were experts at the stores. Unfortunately they weren’t and learned from my mistakes “which happens”. I may not have perfect enclosure but definitly trying to build it up right. Yes we could have researched what was best before purchasing our Cham, but I also saw what he was in at the store and couldn’t wait. I will attach a pic of the tank he was in. Which would be better keep him at the store till I got right one or get him out and make him more comfortable till we have a 100% ideal one. I have the glass enclosure with the vent at the bottom and switching out plastic for real plants and should have correct lighting by morning. Thanks again for making me a little more comfortable with my glass case. View attachment 343483

Hi and welcome. Just an fyi - this thread is nine years old. That’s ok though…resurrecting old thread isn’t that uncommon. I haven’t read thru this thread, but I can say that the material of the enclosure you use, whether it be glass, screen or hybrid, should depend on the environmental conditions of not just where you live but if inside your home. If you live somewhere very arid, glass or hybrid would be good to help maintain humidity. However, I’m not as concerned about that as I am about the general set up of your enclosure. Please don’t think my criticism is out of anything other than a desire to offer help in getting your enclosure improved for your little green friend.
What you have is very similar to how some of the chain pet stores keep their chameleons, except you are lacking the vines. Chameleons are arboreal and need vertical space more than horizontal. With your current set up and enclosure, your chameleon is doing the equivalent of living on the ground, which is only going to cause chronic stress. Height is safety and comfort for chams. The current standard enclosure for adult veiled chameleons is a 2x2x4’ or equivalent. I use and like these. https://www.diycages.com/collection...ducts/sc4-48x24x24-jumbo-vertical-screen-cage Screen is easily modified,if needed, into hybrid. If you have a more generous budget, https://dragonstrand.com/product/tall-hybrid-chameleon-cage-system/ or https://www.zenhabitats.com/products/2-x2-x4-meridian-pvc-panel-reptile-enclosure are really nice options. Then you want to set it up along the lines of it being a tree at a forest edge with lots of branches and vines for your chameleon to travel along and lots of safe live plants to drink off of, take shade or hide under and for our veileds, take an occasional nibble of. Rather than go thru every aspect of keeping a chameleon, let me guide you to https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-basics/ which will go over it all in depth. We are here and more than happy to help you improve your set up and husbandry, answer any questions you may have and just share in the joy of your beautiful little baby. I’m very glad that you have found your way here.

 

[GrannyK]

I have to thanks this group so far. I see honest and understanding answers, and have not seen any angry, belittling of new owners. I asked this question on some Facebook forums and got hammered and seemed like I was being talked down too. This helped with my enclosure, I trusted the People who we thought were experts at the stores. Unfortunately they weren’t and learned from my mistakes “which happens”. I may not have perfect enclosure but definitly trying to build it up right. Yes we could have researched what was best before purchasing our Cham, but I also saw what he was in at the store and couldn’t wait. I will attach a pic of the tank he was in. Which would be better keep him at the store till I got right one or get him out and make him more comfortable till we have a 100% ideal one. I have the glass enclosure with the vent at the bottom and switching out plastic for real plants and should have correct lighting by morning. Thanks again for making me a little more comfortable with my glass case. View attachment 343483

So glad you found the forum! Everyone here is wonderful, good luck with this new adventure.
I use this enclosure below, yes it cheaperly priced but does the job as long as you are gentle and can be easily modified to become a hybrid. I do hope to upgrade my boys some day to a dragon strand but they are currently happy, healthy with the repti breeze and I get to enjoy the beautiful sites an enclosure can create with many branches plants and our little chams. https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/ha...MIjI2UgL-sgQMVmfOUCR3kawgEEAQYAiABEgIGR_D_BwE
I must agree with miss skittles about the diy but sometimes they are unavailable due to the better construction and decent price.
Good luck and stick around, we’re glad to have you.

 

[GrannyK]

Also, I just thought of, be careful with the pet store judgement of male or female. If it’s truly a boy it will have a spur on its back foot heel, like a little nub, so be sure and check that out or your setup needs adjustment for our girls.

 

[Beman]

I have to thanks this group so far. I see honest and understanding answers, and have not seen any angry, belittling of new owners. I asked this question on some Facebook forums and got hammered and seemed like I was being talked down too. This helped with my enclosure, I trusted the People who we thought were experts at the stores. Unfortunately they weren’t and learned from my mistakes “which happens”. I may not have perfect enclosure but definitly trying to build it up right. Yes we could have researched what was best before purchasing our Cham, but I also saw what he was in at the store and couldn’t wait. I will attach a pic of the tank he was in. Which would be better keep him at the store till I got right one or get him out and make him more comfortable till we have a 100% ideal one. I have the glass enclosure with the vent at the bottom and switching out plastic for real plants and should have correct lighting by morning. Thanks again for making me a little more comfortable with my glass case. View attachment 343483

Hey there welcome to the forum. Do us a favor and start a thread just for your stuff... This way we don't get your info mixed in with the old thread info. Go here https://www.chameleonforums.com/forums/general-discussion.6/ Click Post thread. I want to make sure you get the most info you can for your situation.

If I understand you this is the cage baby is in at the store. MANY issues with this one and not even the glass is my concern. So the faster we can help you with your set up the faster baby can get out of this bad set up that will cause health issues. So post pics of your set up your working on in your new thread you make. We can give you feedback and get you on the right path.

Also I can not tell you for sure. But this baby looks female to me. I am looking at the tail base only since I can not see the back of the back feet for tarsal spurs. But the tail base at this angle is not showing a bulge that a male would have. So it may very well be a little girl. So slightly different husbandry as a female ages and a lay bin is needed but otherwise husbandry is the same. Which we can also help you with if it is a little girl.

 

[Richrod18]

Hey there welcome to the forum. Do us a favor and start a thread just for your stuff... This way we don't get your info mixed in with the old thread info. Go here https://www.chameleonforums.com/forums/general-discussion.6/ Click Post thread. I want to make sure you get the most info you can for your situation.

If I understand you this is the cage baby is in at the store. MANY issues with this one and not even the glass is my concern. So the faster we can help you with your set up the faster baby can get out of this bad set up that will cause health issues. So post pics of your set up your working on in your new thread you make. We can give you feedback and get you on the right path.

Also I can not tell you for sure. But this baby looks female to me. I am looking at the tail base only since I can not see the back of the back feet for tarsal spurs. But the tail base at this angle is not showing a bulge that a male would have. So it may very well be a little girl. So slightly different husbandry as a female ages and a lay bin is needed but otherwise husbandry is the same. Which we can also help you with if it is a little girl.

Yes as far as we can tell it’s a girl, no spur. I e got the correct lights In today and looking for plants I have a list of acceptable. But first I heard about a lay been is that even if you don’t mate it?

 

[Richrod18]

Hi and welcome. Just an fyi - this thread is nine years old. That’s ok though…resurrecting old thread isn’t that uncommon. I haven’t read thru this thread, but I can say that the material of the enclosure you use, whether it be glass, screen or hybrid, should depend on the environmental conditions of not just where you live but if inside your home. If you live somewhere very arid, glass or hybrid would be good to help maintain humidity. However, I’m not as concerned about that as I am about the general set up of your enclosure. Please don’t think my criticism is out of anything other than a desire to offer help in getting your enclosure improved for your little green friend.
What you have is very similar to how some of the chain pet stores keep their chameleons, except you are lacking the vines. Chameleons are arboreal and need vertical space more than horizontal. With your current set up and enclosure, your chameleon is doing the equivalent of living on the ground, which is only going to cause chronic stress. Height is safety and comfort for chams. The current standard enclosure for adult veiled chameleons is a 2x2x4’ or equivalent. I use and like these. https://www.diycages.com/collection...ducts/sc4-48x24x24-jumbo-vertical-screen-cage Screen is easily modified,if needed, into hybrid. If you have a more generous budget, https://dragonstrand.com/product/tall-hybrid-chameleon-cage-system/ or https://www.zenhabitats.com/products/2-x2-x4-meridian-pvc-panel-reptile-enclosure are really nice options. Then you want to set it up along the lines of it being a tree at a forest edge with lots of branches and vines for your chameleon to travel along and lots of safe live plants to drink off of, take shade or hide under and for our veileds, take an occasional nibble of. Rather than go thru every aspect of keeping a chameleon, let me guide you to https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-basics/ which will go over it all in depth. We are here and more than happy to help you improve your set up and husbandry, answer any questions you may have and just share in the joy of your beautiful little baby. I’m very glad that you have found your way here.

Sorry if you missed in my comment, but that’s a picture of what the store had her in. It thank you for the info

 

[GrannyK]

Yes as far as we can tell it’s a girl, no spur. I e got the correct lights In today and looking for plants I have a list of acceptable. But first I heard about a lay been is that even if you don’t mate it?

Yes ladies lay eggs even if not mated. I’ve added the laybin setups that work for many keepers, this will be a permanent fixture in her enclosure ( removable but will be in for her whole life) and when she gets bigger her feeding will be limited to 3-4 feeders every 3days I believe, and basking temp no higher than 80.
This is not until around 6mons so you have a little time to prepare. Girls give us a challenge for sure but they are such beautiful!

 

[GrannyK]

I do not know if you have checked out chameleon academy yet but it is a wealth of information. I’ve attached the link to the plant safe information from there. You want to be extra careful with veileds, they are plant eaters. It is a wonderful resource for owning and keeping up on chameleon keeping in general.
https://chameleonacademy.com/plants/

 

[GrannyK]

Oh and like Beman recommended, I would start your own thread as well it will be easier for you to reference when needed

 

[MissSkittles]

Sorry if you missed in my comment, but that’s a picture of what the store had her in. It thank you for the info

Oops! Sorry! Sometimes I read too quickly for my own good.