Help me plan things out.

[Etunes]

Alright i do alot of rescue work with exotic pets. I keep a few and adopt out most that i can. So i got a large adult veiled chameleon that was and still is pretty skinny. But too the point my cat thought it would be fun to climb on the top of the cage the other night to take a snooze and the top of the cage kinda... u know... cave in. SOOOOOOO needless to say i need to make a new one. So this weekend that is what i am doing. No worries cham is all right. He was sitting ontop of the cage this morning staring at me like he is better then me. No issues. So i had him in a very basic set up. Mist king, in 24x24x48" cage basic requirements. I just have some basic questions as i am gonna start planning for the cage i am gonna build this weekend. What sort of lighting do you keep in a cham cage for lighting that will keep plants alive. This is the current problem i am having to deal with i am still learning what works best in the tank. So that what my big question is what plants do you find that work best and what the lighting you use is.

Also i was wondering what you guys use for drainage at the bottom of the tank? Do u modify a drip pan, or maybe use something else? Also do you prefer all screen cages or do you use a custom built cage? If so could u maybe describe what u prefer a bit? I usually deal alot with desert dwellers and some tropical species as well and have experience making cages for all of them.

And last but not least i am having issues finding some climbing branches and perches. Were can i find them. And what plants you would suggest? Thanks and thank you for reading the long read.

 

[lttype]

I have a Veiled Chameleon and we bought Arboricola and Golden Pothos. We just have the uvb bulb that runs the length of her cage in the back and then we have the basking light in the front. The plants are growing like crazy. We are getting ready to build her a bigger cage but this is the one she is in right now.

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[Etunes]

Alright, thank you for your reply. Do you have any problems with puddling water from your mister or anything? That is my biggest problem so far.

I think the problem is the current place we live in is sorta like a cave. No natural light of any sort goes into that room. He is getting moved into a room with lots of it though (i live in FL). What do you use to prop the pothos up out of the pot? Also do you know any orchids or any perching plants like that i can find in the big box stores like home depot or lowes?

The big thing is i need to decide if i am just gonna buy a cham cage that is all screen or build my own i am having issues deciding on.

 

[lttype]

I have puddling problems but I use a drippier right now. When we build the new cage we are going to build a misting system in the cage. I bought both plants at lowes and the pothos came the way it is with the board I just replanted it in a bigger pot. If you build a cage you can make it the way and the size you want. My husband has built 2 gecko stand for my geckos that turned out good so now we are going to build a stand for my Chameleon and my crested geckos. We are going to build hers on top and theirs below hers.

 

[Carlton]

So i had him in a very basic set up. Mist king, in 24x24x48" cage basic requirements.

What sort of lighting do you keep in a cham cage for lighting that will keep plants alive. This is the current problem i am having to deal with i am still learning what works best in the tank. So that what my big question is what plants do you find that work best and what the lighting you use is.

A double tube hood with 2 ReptiSun linear fluorescents should work, but more and more of us are switching to the Arcadia lighting. I haven't yet, so don't know which work better for plants. To keep the plants from getting leggy and dropping their shaded lower leaves, I've also placed a "regular" or a "spent" ReptiSun in a single fixture vertically down one side of the cage as well.

Also i was wondering what you guys use for drainage at the bottom of the tank? Do u modify a drip pan, or maybe use something else? Also do you prefer all screen cages or do you use a custom built cage? If so could u maybe describe what u prefer a bit? I usually deal alot with desert dwellers and some tropical species as well and have experience making cages for all of them.

I'd say, if you are going to build the cage yourself, you can first find a drip pan, large sweater box (or 2 side by side), a hydroponics flood table, cement mixing tray, or appliance drip pan that comes close to the size you want, and build the cage frame to fit IT.

And last but not least i am having issues finding some climbing branches and perches. Were can i find them. And what plants you would suggest? Thanks and thank you for reading the long read.

Can you collect branches from outdoors? If so, you can get a real variety, leave the bark on, but scrub them down with a 1:10 bleach water solution, rinse, and dry before use. Any non-toxic ornamental tree (alder, oak, willow, fruit trees and nut trees, ash, pine, fir, etc) will work. If you cut them green, let any sap dry or wipe it off if there's a lot. Some people try using grapewood, but if its sanded it will mold fairly fast as it will absorb moisture all the time. Some people use bamboo, but if your cham is an adult who's claws are not that sharp he may have trouble climbing the slick hard surfaces.

 

[Etunes]

A double tube hood with 2 ReptiSun linear fluorescents should work, but more and more of us are switching to the Arcadia lighting. I haven't yet, so don't know which work better for plants. To keep the plants from getting leggy and dropping their shaded lower leaves, I've also placed a "regular" or a "spent" ReptiSun in a single fixture vertically down one side of the cage as well.

By Arcadia lighting you mean this? http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/
Do you know anyone i can maybe hit up to see how they like it?
Ive been using repti sun 5.0 in a dual fixture because it is what i had and i havent gotten around to getting something else because it dosent light the tank for nothing just hadn't gotten around too it.

I'd say, if you are going to build the cage yourself, you can first find a drip pan, large sweater box (or 2 side by side), a hydroponics flood table, cement mixing tray, or appliance drip pan that comes close to the size you want, and build the cage frame to fit IT.

great idea will do and i happen to have a extra drain that i can use for this occasion that would work wonderfully.

Can you collect branches from outdoors? If so, you can get a real variety, leave the bark on, but scrub them down with a 1:10 bleach water solution, rinse, and dry before use. Any non-toxic ornamental tree (alder, oak, willow, fruit trees and nut trees, ash, pine, fir, etc) will work. If you cut them green, let any sap dry or wipe it off if there's a lot. Some people try using grapewood, but if its sanded it will mold fairly fast as it will absorb moisture all the time. Some people use bamboo, but if your cham is an adult who's claws are not that sharp he may have trouble climbing the slick hard surfaces.

O i am from florida i can do lots of collecting. Any good websites for collecting on what is ok to get and not ok to get? I have alot of extra wood from when i started this project. We cut down a large sea grape tree that i got alot from know if that is any good? Also do you know any good sites to reference too?

Thanks a ton will post my plans when i have made them.

 

[lttype]

Here is a website for plants that you can use. There is also a thread on here that has plants that you can use.
http://www.flchams.com/safe_plant_list.asp

 

[Etunes]

Ok, my next question i need answered is do you prefer a all screen cage or a wood cage? I need to decide if i am gonna build it or buy it. Also if i were to build it would you use screen for the sides or acrylic sides? I need to start planning,