VeiledOwner87
New Member
There have been a great deal of questions about glass cages lately, so I've done my best to try and help you guys with things to consider and glass cage sizes. The only glass cage that seem acceptable, are the Exo-Terra styles. This also includes Zoo-Med's naturalistic terrariums, and Protean Cages as mentioned in a recent post. Aquariums should be avoided as they only provide a top vent, which allows air too rise. Exo-Terra styles are designed with front door vents as well allowing for air flow circulation and heat escape. They are also beautiful as well 
Some Things to Consider:
1) The bigger the glass (EXO TERRA STYLE) cage, the easier it is to regulate.
2) Small cages could sometimes not even need a bask light at all.
3) You must have a constent room setting that will constantly keep your glass cage requirments steady.
4) You shouldn't keep these cages in a bed room for your comfortability as at times, the "cage room" will be too warm or too cool for your liking.
5) Are you providing an isolating fan to create a sufficient air flow in your "cage room"
6) Is it necessary to provide a humidifire? Too much constant humidity could lead to respiratory infections. This is why a "dry out" period is necessary.
7) Will you provide your reptile "cage room" and glass cages with digital thermostates?
8) You should avoid a room with windows to prevent unwanted drafts and over heating from sun rays.
9) Are you providing adequent height for aboreal species?
Species able to habitat size cages.
1) Smaller cages like a 12x12x18 are for your smaller species, a pair of Rieppeleon or Brookesia. It could even house a smaller species of true chameleons like Chamaeleo Sternfeldi.
**These cages are not so wide, but these chameleons can handle well at mid to higher room temperatures, a basking light in most cases would not be needed, rather the heat in the cage could most likely be achieved with your uvb source.
2) Another small cage but in a different dimmension would be a longer cage measuring at 18x18x18. I believe this could comfortably fit a single smaller species like Chamaeleo Senegalensis.
** For small true chameleon species that require a basking spot, but nothing drastically hot. These longer cubed tanks could achieve the length of temperature gradients, where a small wattage incandecent bulb could be elevated on on side.
3) 24x18x18 is a size that could house a single species like Furcifer Lateralis. It is again wide, with a 1'5 of height. I'm honestly not knowledgable about Carpet Chameleons, but just using size as an example. From what I do know, F. Lateralis aren's so much aboreal, as the tend to be more near brush. A size like this could be nicely planted, hold in the humidity it needs, and have the length to again have a small wattage incandesent basking bulb.
This size could also fit small montane species like Chamaeleo Cristatus, who loves the lower temperatures and loves dence brush. The cage again could comfortably be live planted, substrated and hold all the requirments tender montanes like this need.
4)24x18x24 would be a size working well for your montaine species ie. Chamaeleo Jacksonii, Bradypodion Fischeri Multituberculatum and Chamaeleo Deremensis. Again, heavely planted, comfortable size and humidity requirements easily reached, length efficient for small wattage basking bulbs.
4) The largest size in height that Exo-Terra makes is 24'' (2 feet high). This size could always be a debatable topic seeing as in true chameleons, and for larger species "bigger is better". Exo-Terra has a size that is usually a special order cage that is 36x18x24. Which would not give the chameleon as much height as desired, but would deffinately be able to have temperature gradients with the 3 foot length.
*These are just examples - Some may beg to differ.
I hope this helps, I did some research on the size of each animal listed, and a brief habitat check. These are my opinions and of course the animal's comfortablity is the first thing I take into consideration. This is why I have left the larger sized chameleons blank. It is your discression. Comfortability in the chameleon will eliminate a great deal of "confindment stress". If any other members want to add or suggest changes, feel free too. If you guys feel this should be a blog of some sort let me know as well.
Some Things to Consider:
1) The bigger the glass (EXO TERRA STYLE) cage, the easier it is to regulate.
2) Small cages could sometimes not even need a bask light at all.
3) You must have a constent room setting that will constantly keep your glass cage requirments steady.
4) You shouldn't keep these cages in a bed room for your comfortability as at times, the "cage room" will be too warm or too cool for your liking.
5) Are you providing an isolating fan to create a sufficient air flow in your "cage room"
6) Is it necessary to provide a humidifire? Too much constant humidity could lead to respiratory infections. This is why a "dry out" period is necessary.
7) Will you provide your reptile "cage room" and glass cages with digital thermostates?
8) You should avoid a room with windows to prevent unwanted drafts and over heating from sun rays.
9) Are you providing adequent height for aboreal species?
Species able to habitat size cages.
1) Smaller cages like a 12x12x18 are for your smaller species, a pair of Rieppeleon or Brookesia. It could even house a smaller species of true chameleons like Chamaeleo Sternfeldi.
**These cages are not so wide, but these chameleons can handle well at mid to higher room temperatures, a basking light in most cases would not be needed, rather the heat in the cage could most likely be achieved with your uvb source.
2) Another small cage but in a different dimmension would be a longer cage measuring at 18x18x18. I believe this could comfortably fit a single smaller species like Chamaeleo Senegalensis.
** For small true chameleon species that require a basking spot, but nothing drastically hot. These longer cubed tanks could achieve the length of temperature gradients, where a small wattage incandecent bulb could be elevated on on side.
3) 24x18x18 is a size that could house a single species like Furcifer Lateralis. It is again wide, with a 1'5 of height. I'm honestly not knowledgable about Carpet Chameleons, but just using size as an example. From what I do know, F. Lateralis aren's so much aboreal, as the tend to be more near brush. A size like this could be nicely planted, hold in the humidity it needs, and have the length to again have a small wattage incandesent basking bulb.
This size could also fit small montane species like Chamaeleo Cristatus, who loves the lower temperatures and loves dence brush. The cage again could comfortably be live planted, substrated and hold all the requirments tender montanes like this need.
4)24x18x24 would be a size working well for your montaine species ie. Chamaeleo Jacksonii, Bradypodion Fischeri Multituberculatum and Chamaeleo Deremensis. Again, heavely planted, comfortable size and humidity requirements easily reached, length efficient for small wattage basking bulbs.
4) The largest size in height that Exo-Terra makes is 24'' (2 feet high). This size could always be a debatable topic seeing as in true chameleons, and for larger species "bigger is better". Exo-Terra has a size that is usually a special order cage that is 36x18x24. Which would not give the chameleon as much height as desired, but would deffinately be able to have temperature gradients with the 3 foot length.
*These are just examples - Some may beg to differ.
I hope this helps, I did some research on the size of each animal listed, and a brief habitat check. These are my opinions and of course the animal's comfortablity is the first thing I take into consideration. This is why I have left the larger sized chameleons blank. It is your discression. Comfortability in the chameleon will eliminate a great deal of "confindment stress". If any other members want to add or suggest changes, feel free too. If you guys feel this should be a blog of some sort let me know as well.
