how does it look?

[thacarter]

Getting my 2.5 month old male panther on wednesday, mistking, reptisun 5.0, supplements all coming tomorrow. How does the cage look so far. I need to add some horizontal branches still. I have a ficus and a umbrella tree in it right now. The cage is 18x18x36. water drains into the first drawer and the clean water will be in the second drawer. It the cage too dark at the bottom? what can i do about adding more light to the bottom because there is alot of shade? also adding a grow light tomorrow. Will the plants need to watered or will the drainage from the mistking and dripper be good enough? One more thing, I ordered the panther from chameleons101 and eric told me to put him in a rubbermaid for the first month or so instead of his cage. Should i do that or is this cage fine as long as i see him eating? sorry for all the questions but i just want to be 100% ready! Thanks!

Pics arent the best but they should be good enough hopefully

 

[pssh]

I wouldn't put a 2.5 month old in there. Too much room. You can try but it might not work so have a back up plan ready. (maybe a small reptarium or something. A rubbermaid tote would work well also.)

You don't really want too much light at the bottom, but having the cages in a well lit room helps a little. Looks good for when it's older.

 

[jeanjacket812]

I did the rubbermaid thing worked great. Just make sure he isn't eating random flies like mine was! I used a large tote and bought a 10 gallon aquarium screen lid to lay sideways across the top so my heat lamp would have something to sit on and I just laid the UVB light across the top of the tote. Just make sure you have plenty of stuff for the water you spray to sit on.I would only put him in the tote for a couple of weeks though then move him on to the cage I have a 1.5 month old in a 16 x 16 x 20 and a female in a 18 18 36 right now both doing awesome jus make sure you keep an eye on the tempature in the tote! Did you end up gettin an ambanja?

 

[thacarter]

I did the rubbermaid thing worked great. Just make sure he isn't eating random flies like mine was! I used a large tote and bought a 10 gallon aquarium screen lid to lay sideways across the top so my heat lamp would have something to sit on and I just laid the UVB light across the top of the tote. Just make sure you have plenty of stuff for the water you spray to sit on.I would only put him in the tote for a couple of weeks though then move him on to the cage I have a 1.5 month old in a 16 x 16 x 20 and a female in a 18 18 36 right now both doing awesome jus make sure you keep an eye on the tempature in the tote! Did you end up gettin an ambanja?

yup i got an ambanja, very excited!

 

[SliK JiM]

It looks a little blurry! It does, but other than that it looks great!

Don't worry about the size at all! I had my 3 month old yemen in a 175 flexarium (24" x 24" x 48") when I first got him. I used to hand/cup feed (I say hand feed, strategically place crix/locusts so they would walk into his range). Worked a treat.

Don't worry about the shade, the cham will like it to go and hide in!

But yeah, get a nice basking bracnh and things look good!

Just as a question, what size is your basking bulb?

 

[thacarter]

It looks a little blurry! It does, but other than that it looks great!

Don't worry about the size at all! I had my 3 month old yemen in a 175 flexarium (24" x 24" x 48") when I first got him. I used to hand/cup feed (I say hand feed, strategically place crix/locusts so they would walk into his range). Worked a treat.

Don't worry about the shade, the cham will like it to go and hide in!

But yeah, get a nice basking bracnh and things look good!

Just as a question, what size is your basking bulb?

that bulb is not the one that i am using, the bulb in the picture is just a normal white light bulb, i am getting a 60watt flood today and i will see what the temps look like

 

[thacarter]

any other suggestions? i am getting mixed reviews for whether i should go with the rubbermaid tote or just going right into this cage.

 

[SliK JiM]

It's up to you with the size thing mate. Your cham will require a little extra attention in a larger cage, but nothing too overwhelming! They survive just fine in the wild, so I never really get hung up about the whole size issue! You just go with what your comfortable with!

For comparison, this is what I started my guy in:

 

[jeanjacket812]

a tote is 7 bucks I would get one and use it for a week or so jus to keep an eye on the cham. Better to make sure he is eating after shipping

 

[laurie]

The tote idea is good but if you have the time, and you are able to cup feed or watch that he is eating the big cage should make him really happy, and give him lots of coverage.

 

[renzo0684]

The size is not an issue if you are cup feeding. If you free range crickets he may have problems hunting.... Just throw a cup in there kind of in eye sight from the basking area and you will be good to go!

 

[dmaizer]

yup i got an ambanja, very excited!

did you get that ambanja from chams101??????

 

[thacarter]

did you get that ambanja from chams101??????

yup, he will be here on wednesday

 

[thacarter]

hooked up the mistking today, added more horizontal branches using dowels, got the reptisun 5.0, 50 watt flood giving a basking temp of 94

 

[jeanjacket812]

I would say that basking temp is too high you want between 80 - 85ish

 

[Texas Panther Man]

You do not need a flood light a 60 watt incandescent will suffice as stated keep basking temp between 80-85. I you want more light for plants etc... get another linear tube plant light. 7.00 at lowes really helps keep the plants from dying.

 

[thacarter]

Thanks, I just went from flchams care sheet ". This gradient should range from areas in the mid 70s to a recommended basking temperature in the high 90s. " but I will change the light before he comes tomorrow

 

[jeanjacket812]

Yah I'm using a 40 watt light and I get a basking temp of 86 in my small 16 x 16 x 20. You will probably need a 60 in your larger cage.