How is my setup? Critiques welcome!

[amfire125]

Hey guys! My juvi veiled chameleon is coming tomorrow from FL Chams! How does my enclosure look?

Current numbers:
Humidity is 62%
Basking temp 78°F (going to buy a higher wattage bulb... even though I'm already using a 100 watt bulb already...to get that up to 85)
Ambient temp 68°F
Real plants: Schefflera and pothos (currently cleaning the rocks to cover the soil! I promise they're going in!)
Few fake leafy vines in back corners.
T8 5.0 24'' linear UVB

*I'm nervous about a higher wattage basking bulb. I need to get that temp up but I read juvis like to climb on the top of their enclosure and I don't want a burn!*

Also still working on my Mistking installation, but I have a hand mister for backup.

Any votes for the following names: Jorge, Javier, or Felipe? haha

Going to buy 75ish 1/4'' crickets and a few worms to gut load tonight. (I made a DIY container from advice on the forums and blogs - yall are super helpful!)

Anything else for newbie jitters? THANK YOUUU!!!

 

[amfire125]

Update: I've been moving the basking bulb around and it's getting warmer. Is 90°F too hot for a juvi basking?

 

[JacksJill]

85˚F tops for juveniles. Raise the bulb up a bit higher for safety and to adjust temp. Just prop the fixture up on anything that won't scorch or transfer heat.
I think it's unlucky to name them before you have them but any name off your list will be nice.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Hey guys! My juvi veiled chameleon is coming tomorrow from FL Chams! How does my enclosure look?

Current numbers:
Humidity is 62%
Basking temp 78°F (going to buy a higher wattage bulb... even though I'm already using a 100 watt bulb already...to get that up to 85)
Ambient temp 68°F
Real plants: Schefflera and pothos (currently cleaning the rocks to cover the soil! I promise they're going in!)
Few fake leafy vines in back corners.
T8 5.0 24'' linear UVB

*I'm nervous about a higher wattage basking bulb. I need to get that temp up but I read juvis like to climb on the top of their enclosure and I don't want a burn!*

Also still working on my Mistking installation, but I have a hand mister for backup.

Any votes for the following names: Jorge, Javier, or Felipe? haha

Going to buy 75ish 1/4'' crickets and a few worms to gut load tonight. (I made a DIY container from advice on the forums and blogs - yall are super helpful!)

Anything else for newbie jitters? THANK YOUUU!!!

I have a very straight to the point style, please don’t mistake it for rudeness!

How big are the rocks your putting in?

Take a temp reading at the very top of the viv, as close to the lights as you can get. You might need a spacer between the light and top screen depending on the reading. This is to prevent burns.

There is a lot of empty space in your viv, empty space = wasted space. Fill it up with some branches so your Cham isn’t stuck in the same few spots.

Other than those small tweaks and As long as you follow up as mentioned with your rocks, basking bulb, and mistking you are off to a pretty good start!

 

[amfire125]

I have a very straight to the point style, please don’t mistake it for rudeness!

How big are the rocks your putting in?

Take a temp reading at the very top of the viv, as close to the lights as you can get. You might need a spacer between the light and top screen depending on the reading. This is to prevent burns.

There is a lot of empty space in your viv, empty space = wasted space. Fill it up with some branches so your Cham isn’t stuck in the same few spots.

Other than those small tweaks and As long as you follow up as mentioned with your rocks, basking bulb, and mistking you are off to a pretty good start!

Oh no I love this feedback!! Thank you!!

The rocks are large, there's no way he'll be able to even pick them up. They're wider than golf balls, at least an inch thick as well.

I've thought about a spacer because the top of the viv is reading extremely high (around 120!!) and obviously very scary! Maybe just a wire mesh organizer from the store to place in between the top of the cage and light fixture? Or do you mean something else as a spacer?

I did think about more branches, but this is definitely why I posted. I felt like I put a ton in there, but this is good to know! I'll get some more!

 

[amfire125]

85˚F tops for juveniles. Raise the bulb up a bit higher for safety and to adjust temp. Just prop the fixture up on anything that won't scorch or transfer heat.
I think it's unlucky to name them before you have them but any name off your list will be nice.

I guess a wire mesh organizer would still transfer heat to the viv and possibly still be a source for burns? I'll do some research and keep looking into raising the bulb.

Also, great point about the name, haha

 

[amfire125]

Thanks guys!

 

[Graves923]

Its refreshing seeing New members come asking for advice and feedback BEFORE they receive their new chameleon!

All great advice from the peeps above! Definitely try to keep the basking bulb off the screen since youll notice that young chameleons will often climb on the top screen and hang upside down. As they get bigger and heavier they will do this less often and you wont have to worry about the screen heating up as much.

Best of luck!

 

[amfire125]

Its refreshing seeing New members come asking for advice and feedback BEFORE they receive their new chameleon!

All great advice from the peeps above! Definitely try to keep the basking bulb off the screen since youll notice that young chameleons will often climb on the top screen and hang upside down. As they get bigger and heavier they will do this less often and you wont have to worry about the screen heating up as much.

Best of luck!

Thank you so much! Good to know I'm right to worry about him climbing on the top of the cage. This young little rascal already has me worrying and he's not even here yet, haha!

 

[random user name]

Hello, fellow newbie as well. Something I did was buy a temperature controller. It lets me set a temperature that I want the heat bulb to max out at, and a minimum as well. It will stay in between those zones automatically so no stressing of it getting too hot. Specially as summer days vary in ambient temp. (copying and pasting name so you can do the same on amazon):

Inkbird Digital Outlet Heat Temperature Controller with Day Night Control for Brewing, Aquarium, Breeding, Reptiles, Hatching, Heat Mat (No Cool Control)

 

[random user name]

Hello, fellow newbie as well. Something I did was buy a temperature controller. It lets me set a temperature that I want the heat bulb to max out at, and a minimum as well. It will stay in between those zones automatically so no stressing of it getting too hot. Specially as summer days vary in ambient temp. (copying and pasting name so you can do the same on amazon):

Inkbird Digital Outlet Heat Temperature Controller with Day Night Control for Brewing, Aquarium, Breeding, Reptiles, Hatching, Heat Mat (No Cool Control)

I put my basking spot about 5 inches from the enclosure ceiling and the temp controller to max at 82.

When I measured the ceiling, it got to 90 which is warm but doesn’t seem to cause burns. This took away that stress as well. Hope this helps!!

 

[amfire125]

Hello, fellow newbie as well. Something I did was buy a temperature controller. It lets me set a temperature that I want the heat bulb to max out at, and a minimum as well. It will stay in between those zones automatically so no stressing of it getting too hot. Specially as summer days vary in ambient temp. (copying and pasting name so you can do the same on amazon):

Inkbird Digital Outlet Heat Temperature Controller with Day Night Control for Brewing, Aquarium, Breeding, Reptiles, Hatching, Heat Mat (No Cool Control)

I put my basking spot about 5 inches from the enclosure ceiling and the temp controller to max at 82.

When I measured the ceiling, it got to 90 which is warm but doesn’t seem to cause burns. This took away that stress as well. Hope this helps!!

SUPER helpful! Thanks so much! I'll definitely look into this to ease the worry. I seem to have it really stable and at proper temperatures right now. Plus I added some more vines and branches, woohoo!

I think I'm ready for him! Cannot wait to post pics!

Thanks again to everybody! (for ALL the help lately!)

 

[Tucklander]

You’ve had the advice you need...Great job! I just think it’s awesome you put so much into it before he came...your leaps and bounds ahead of lots of newbies...happy shipping day ...take an unboxing pic...it’ll be your first glimpse...it was really cool when mine came from FLCHAMS ...I really hope you have a fun experience. Here’s my two cents, my guy was HELL BENT on getting anywhere but that box he was shipped in. Have the enclosure door open, when you open the box //little container: be ready to rush him to it...in case he is a little freaked out maybe he won’t be, mine was and I was like “oh snit” LOL..I hope it’s a fun organic experience...can’t wait to see pics

 

[amfire125]

You’ve had the advice you need...Great job! I just think it’s awesome you put so much into it before he came...your leaps and bounds ahead of lots of newbies...happy shipping day ...take an unboxing pic...it’ll be your first glimpse...it was really cool when mine came from FLCHAMS ...I really hope you have a fun experience. Here’s my two cents, my guy was HELL BENT on getting anywhere but that box he was shipped in. Have the enclosure door open, when you open the box //little container: be ready to rush him to it...in case he is a little freaked out maybe he won’t be, mine was and I was like “oh snit” LOL..I hope it’s a fun organic experience...can’t wait to see pics

Just the advice I was looking for! He should be here in about an hour and I'm thinking okay, ARRIVAL PROCEDURES?!?!! lol. Thanks!!

 

[amfire125]

I put my basking spot about 5 inches from the enclosure ceiling and the temp controller to max at 82.

When I measured the ceiling, it got to 90 which is warm but doesn’t seem to cause burns. This took away that stress as well. Hope this helps!!

I've been doing a little research on these controllers because I think I could really benefit from one as I'm still having a little trouble with the basking temp. I was wondering a few things I'm hoping you can help me with... so when it reaches the max temp. the system turns your heat bulb off, right? Does your cham not like this, though? I know if the overhead light isn't on in the room and it's a cloudy day then my cham's enclosure can get somewhat dark with just the UVB bulb on. Also, do you have your lights on timers? I'm starting to get concerned with how many electrical things get plugged into other electrical things and I'm sure an electrician would call my setup a seriously hazardous situation! haha.

Thanks so much!!

 

[amfire125]

OH! I've been so busy stressing over making him happy. Here he was when I first opened the box....yeah... REALLY ready to get out of there!! And here's some happier colors that same afternoon too. I've seen him really bright green when I peak around the corner before he notices me, haha. He does start to darken a little when he realizes I'm in the room, but tonight is the end of day 3...so baby steps! Actually today I was cleaning out the cricket container (my eyes were busy elsewhere for a good while) and he started to creep out of his hiding spot and I got so excited that maybe he's getting used to me being around. I just contained it all and kept looking down, haha.

 

[amfire125]

Also VERY glad I haven't seen him angry like he was in the deli cup, all puffed up and macho, since then. I hope to never see him that grouchy again, but I'm sure it'll happen. I'm sure it will.