Mountain Dragon
Chameleon Enthusiast
That’s what happened with me to
How high is too high?
- Thread starter Horaceunit
- Start date
Horaceunit
Established Member
Last shot for tonight! Dragon Strand drain pan is installed now. I'll give the drain piece I installed a chance to dry overnight before I put a tube on it. Superglued it and once that was dry I silicone it inside and outside to keep it from leaking.
What is the wood board under pvc sheeting?
Horaceunit
Established Member
To raise the front to make sure the water drains back properly. It is a 1×3 which may be over kill. 1/2 inch rise would probably be fine.
Lindasjackson
Chameleon Enthusiast
Beautiful set up!
Horaceunit
Established Member
Thanks!
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
It depends (what doesn't?) Minimum pitch for surface drainage is 1%, which comes out very close to 1/8" per foot or 1/4" for a 2' deep enclosure. That's what I set up, and it drains fine.
Horaceunit
Established Member
Just got to find something that will work! What did you use?
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
Horaceunit
Established Member
Don't have any leftover plywood around, unfortunately!
Lindasjackson
Chameleon Enthusiast
Fold up some cardboard and put it under the legs!
Horaceunit
Established Member
While it wouldn't be in the water I'd imagine it would be pretty humid! Might be an alternative but we'll see.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
Whatever you can find. 1/4" is all that's necessary, but a tad thicker wouldn't be a killer.
Got an old cardboard from the back of a pad of paper? I wouldn't fold it, but cut into squares several layers thick to equal 1/4". Ceramic tile? A couple/few washers taped or glued together?
Look around.
Horaceunit
Established Member
Yeah I'm sure I'll come up with something! I'm only hand misting the plants right now so not much is making it to the pan anyway. I think I'm going to rearrange things a bit this weekend and add some branches. Then I'll get the front tilt back addressed and then get the mister set up and the basking light as well.
Horaceunit
Established Member
Lots more climbing sticks now! I raised the pathos and the raindrop plants up more and added a lot more climbing branches especially at the bottom.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
IDK that you need so many at/near the bottom. My cham makes use of pots & verticals to climb up & down. Most of his exploring occurs in the top half. It may also impede addition of another pot or 2 at ground level.
It's up to you. I'd leave it the way it is for a bit and see what your cham utilizes and how, then make adjustments if warranted.
Horaceunit
Established Member
I did pull one. I read ( actually re-read) on chameleon academy to make sure to include a way for the chameleon to get to the bottom and realized I didn't have anything going to the bottom. No cham yet, probably not for at least a month if not 2 so still plenty of time to tweak.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
It's probably more of an issue when they're little. Mine never ventured into the lower half until he was 6 months old, then began exploring more in earnest, and hunting down errant crickets. Now I find him on the floor probably once per day checking things out, but he's long/tall enough to climb up an 8" pot, or any of several vertical dowels/sticks along the perimeter.
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Horaceunit
Established Member
Makes sense for a small one. I imagine their risk tolerance gets larger the bigger they get!
Horaceunit
Established Member
Done for tonight. Didn't get the mister set up but I'll get that tomorrow. Built a 1x3 frame for the top and the light is on that for now. I was getting 85-88 degrees at the basking branch just from the florescent lights so I figured I should get it up off the screen top. Getting about 80 now. Not sure how this will affect the UVB. Still need to get a Solar meter 6.5.
