Glass or Mesh?

[the cw]

First, I'd like to say I've been a lurker here for some time--hiding in the trees, let's say.

Now, to begin, I've wanted to get a Chameleon for a few years. I feel comfortable with my reptile husbandry at this point, and I know I'm competent enough to care for one of these guys. Part of that competence stems from research: and this is just about the last thing I really need to cover. I'm looking at either a Panther or Veiled(leaning towards the latter).

Glass or mesh? The reason this is important is self explanatory(and I'm sure these reasons have been posted before, but I'll go through them again):
1) Drafts: I live in Michigan, and the winters get cold. *Really* cold. Considering where I'm going to live(apartment), I cannot guarantee that cold air isn't going to get to the cage no matter where I keep it. Mesh seems very scary.
2) Humidity: It seems like it might be really hard to keep the humidity up in, again, my living space if I use a mesh cage.


However, glass I've heard has its own problems. For the record, when I use "glass" I don't mean a Chameleon fitted aquarium but, rather, one of the enclosures with bottom ventilation or more than just top-side vents.
1) Stress: I've read that Chameleons can get stressed by seeing their reflection. I know I've had this problem keeping Anoles before, so it wouldn't shock me here.
2) Not enough air flow: Bottom vents, I've heard, just isn't enough for a Chameleon.


Now, I'm really looking forward to responses. Bear in mind, that a "glass" enclosure of mine would be in the European model. I'm leaning towards that. I'm very fearful of drafts--I've lost lizards to them before--and I'd hate to have my Cham killed due to poor insulation. Your advice is appreciated in advance.

 

[suzi]

I have has success using both. I have used the exo-terra glass enclosure witch has good ventilation, the only thing is that I don't know how easy (or expensive) it is to find large enough ones to accommodate a full grown. Chris Anderson has a thread with some photos of large exo-terra's, here's the thread... https://www.chameleonforums.com/everyone-who-knows-you-cant-keep-chams-glass-31937/
I have also had success with screen living in NJ with some pretty cold winters. You can cover some of the sides of the cage during winter months to help retain heat and humidity, ceramic heaters can help with heat at night if needed a d humidifiers along with mistings and live plants can also help. Use the search engine on here for your research along with everyone here's experience and I am sure you will come up with a lot of info, good luck!

P.s- I personally didn't have a problem with reflection stress ( my Cham didn't I should say lol )

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello, welcome to the forum. I'm sure you can make a good job of either, but the 'European model' of glass Viv is going to be very expensive for a good size. Night time drops in temp are actually healthy. If you go for a Veiled the adults can take a good drop in night time temps (50F is tolerable). I use a converted wardrobe, with a large mesh panel. This is cheap, easy, and big
http://www.youtube.com/user/davebuchan81?feature=mhee#p/u/34/0IJWApNQZ3g

Just to confuse you with further options.....making it yourself is a great option if you want a good size.

 

[jaglon53]

I have one of these cages the 24x24x48 and the front door is acrylic.
http://www.joshsfrogs.com/reptile-cages/screen/reptology-screen-habitats.html

 

[imcurt]

Panthers&Veilds need a good sized enclosure.A 36in high glass terrarium is going to weigh a ton.So moving it outside on those sunny days wont be a option. I live in the pacific NW in the winter my inside temp drops to 60-62 at night and its about 70 during the day and all my chameleons are in screen cages and do just fine.The cages are not near any drafts. I started with a male veiled in a 36x24x18 glass terrarium at about 6 months he started clawing at the glass. it became an obession to the point that he was stressed 90% of the time and stoped eating...I think the glass confused him? I moved him into a 18x18x36 screen cage. He went back to his normal self and seemed much happier! He just turned 6yrs old. I put a female in with him 2 months ago. and the old guy still had it....I have 32 eggs, not sure how old he will live to. He seems to be happy with his SCREEN cage.

 

[Leza]

Would a 55 gallon fish tank be ok as an enclosure on its side, standing straight up?

 

[the cw]

Thank you everyone for the replies. For whatever reason I hadn't ever considered covering sides of the screens during winter. >_>
That could work. Also, I'm not exactly mechanically adept, haha. Girlfriend's father is, however; perhaps worth considering a custom cage?

Would a night bulb for heat be a good idea if I was really worried? Veiled do need cooler temps at night, I understand, but what about something just like 40-60 watt for some night heat.

I like that enclosure from Josh's frogs. It looks good, and seems to combine the best of multiple worlds.

 

[suzi]

Would a 55 gallon fish tank be ok as an enclosure on its side, standing straight up?

The problem with that is the UVB can't pass through glass which makes that a bit difficult

 

[suzi]

Thank you everyone for the replies. For whatever reason I hadn't ever considered covering sides of the screens during winter. >_>
That could work. Also, I'm not exactly mechanically adept, haha. Girlfriend's father is, however; perhaps worth considering a custom cage?

Would a night bulb for heat be a good idea if I was really worried? Veiled do need cooler temps at night, I understand, but what about something just like 40-60 watt for some night heat.

I like that enclosure from Josh's frogs. It looks good, and seems to combine the best of multiple worlds.

I am not handy either, but it can be done pretty easily, home depot can cut pieces of chloroplast ( or what ever ) to size and you can attach it many different ways, screws tape etc.... I start them When they are small in glass then move them to screen and cover the sides in winter.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I suggest the more solid-sided enclosure. It will allow you to control the heat and humidity much better than mesh.

If you are wary of glass for some reason, consider wood, coloured plexiglass, or whatever (all with vents of course)

 

[kinyonga]

I live in a cold climate (Ontario) and I've been keeping veiled and panther chameleons in glass cages since the early 1990's. My female veileds live to be over 6 years old as a rule and the males even longer.

Its important that you don't leave water laying stagnant on the floor of the cage if you use glass.

As for reflection, I have never had a chameleon react to seeing its reflection in the glass. I have also never had a chameleon paw at the glass constantly. I would think that if it is, its not happy with the set-up in its cage.

Regarding air flow, if you place your basking light to one corner over the screen lid you will create a "chimney affect" and thus airflow. I place the UVB along the back or front of the cage as well.

As for a draft, if you don't put the cage near a window/door or near a vent or run a fan directly over top of it there should be no problem.

 

[grimjob]

i keep my baby veiled in a exo terrra glass enclosure and he does fine i can control the heat and humidity perfectly, never seen him react to a reflection from the glass, i rate the glass enclosures

 

[the cw]

Thanks everyone. I work at a Petstore, and the the exo-terra kit is looking pretty good(especially with an employee discount).

I'll keep everyone posted when I get the guy later on(FL Chams, I'm thinking).