Ideas for Largest Exo Terra please

[Neoki]

Hello,

Its getting to the time when Jess needs a new enclosure so I am going to purchase the larger exo terra.

This is the 3ftx3ftx18Inches

If any one can draw some designs featuring fully automated system that would be brilliant.

Would like built waterfall made out of slate etc.

The shop called LA Reptiles in Lincoln UK are going to be doing the build and I would appreciate ideas.

Many thanks

 

[camaleonte82]

what kind of chameleon do you have? that would be helpful on hints for ya

 

[Neoki]

Sambava Panther Chameleon

 

[camaleonte82]

absolutely beautiful!

now on to the cage. i would suggest picking a different cage. i may be wrong but the cage i remember from looking exoterra is a all glass cage. thats not a good idea. plus 18inches high is not high enough for a panther.

i would suggest a all screen cage or a cage that has screen at least on the front and top. plus it should be more like 18 to 24inches wide and 18 to 24 inches long and at least 3 feet high. Chams need exploring room and they like to be higher up.
my cages are 24x24x48.

as for the water feature. i recently learned that that is not a good idea. i had one as well but took it out. water features are a breeding ground for bacteria and possible drowning for your cham. they can swim i saw proof on youtube but its dangerous. plus the bacteria can make them sick.

 

[Neoki]

absolutely beautiful!

now on to the cage. i would suggest picking a different cage. i may be wrong but the cage i remember from looking exoterra is a all glass cage. thats no a good idea. plus 18inches high is not high enough for a panther.

i would suggest a all screen cage or a cage that has screen at least on the front and top. plus it should be more like 18 to 24inches wide and 18 to 24 inches long and at least 3 feet high. Chams need exploring room and they like to be higher up.
my cages are 24x24x48.

as for the water feature. i recently learned that that is not a good idea. i had one as well but took it out. water features are a breeding ground for bacteria and possible drowning for your cham. they can swim i saw proof on youtube but its dangerous. plus the bacteria can made them sick.

It will be 18inches deep like the current Exo Terra's which are not dangerous what so ever.

It will be 3ft high by 3ft wide. Water feature would be a properly filtered one and will be custom made. This will not be too high for her to drown and will feature small ledges for her to sit on and drink.

Please see pictures below for current setup.

18x18x18"

 

[camaleonte82]

that cage should be fine then as long as its 3ft high your setup right now is nice......everyone had different opinions of the dirt in the bottom outside of pygmys. i personally dont use it but i know a lot of people that do so i would say your pretty safe. just make sure the water feature is kept as clean as possible.

dont crowed the cage to much but you need enough foliage for the water to stay on for the chams to drink. you want to give them space to explore

oh and if you can. add some live plants not just fake ones. they help keep humidity up and chameleons love live plants

 

[Carlton]

You plan for your cham to drink from the water feature? Even though you filter the water, it's going to be a constant source of dead feeders, fecal matter dropping from overhead (where your cham will spent its time), and leaching from the cage substrate and not a "natural" method by which chams get their water. You will need a lot more foliage for visual cover and to provide the drinking surfaces your cham will lick water from.

IMHO, this is an attractive setup for terrestrial or semi aquatic herps such as geckos or frogs, but it isn't really as well suited for an arboreal herp such as a panther chameleon. I'd plan to dedicate as much space in your cage to live plants that will permit your cham to climb and travel above the ground as possible.

 

[Chameleopatrick]

absolutely beautiful!

now on to the cage. i would suggest picking a different cage. i may be wrong but the cage i remember from looking exoterra is a all glass cage. thats not a good

i would suggest a all screen cage or a cage that has screen at least on the front and top. plus it

to the OP, please take the free advice so many people on here are willing to give with a grain of salt. The response above just screams a lack of understanding and is obviously wrong. A lot of people here think a high post count means something so they post on everything but usually, not always, their information is inaccurate, a bad idea, or just plain wrong. Those people really don't care about your Cham, they care about a social standing attached to a high post count that has no relation to experience or knowledge.

Your choice of an exo terra 36x18x36 is an excellent choice so long as its set up properly.

Use the search feature or read through the pages on this site before asking questions that have been asked many times. You will notice rather quickly here that a few people really do have something to offer you while most is just teenagers trying get their post count up by offering almost no beneficial information.

Welcome and start reading....

 

[camaleonte82]

if you read my post bellow when she posted the size of the cage. i stated that it would be fine because they like/need the height. Also if people dont care about chams then they shouldn't be on here posting at all so that is very insulting to those of us that are very passionate about chameleons. everyone has more to learn about chameleons. there are people that have had different chameleons for over 50 years of your life"obviously not the same one since they dont live that long.". and they are still learning on a daily basis.

 

[reptilover]

to the OP, please take the free advice so many people on here are willing to give with a grain of salt. The response above just screams a lack of understanding and is obviously wrong. A lot of people here think a high post count means something so they post on everything but usually, not always, their information is inaccurate, a bad idea, or just plain wrong. Those people really don't care about your Cham, they care about a social standing attached to a high post count that has no relation to experience or knowledge.

Your choice of an exo terra 36x18x36 is an excellent choice so long as its set up properly.

Use the search feature or read through the pages on this site before asking questions that have been asked many times. You will notice rather quickly here that a few people really do have something to offer you while most is just teenagers trying get their post count up by offering almost no beneficial information.

Welcome and start reading....

Agree and agree.. the exo terras are nice due to the front vent that allows air circulation appropriate enough for a cham.. and in the UK the glass is very benifical for humidity..
Personally is prefer larger for panthers can get rather large but its not cruel to use that cage. As stated before lots of live plants and i dont recommend substrate or a waterfall.. drippers/misters much cleaner and efficient.. despite drainage is an issue.. I've cut the bottom pain of glass out of one of those and replaced it with a plexiglass peice with holes for drainage... Just an idea

EDIT: I apologize I misread the measurements. 3x3x18" isn't bad at all!

 

[BocaJan]

Like so many others on this forum, it sounds like you are all set to do what you want to do. If you read up on Panthers, you will see that they live in tree tops where they get high UV, lots of rain and NO substrate. They can't be kept like veileds who survive just fine with less humidity and lower UV, but I can tell you from experience that your cage will not keep your full grown Panther healthy.

I sure hate to see animals suffer when people come on the forums looking for opinions when in fact they really aren't looking for help but looking for someone to agree with their off the wall plans to create something that will look nice in their living room. I wish it would work that way but it doesn't.

Good luck with your animal and I hope it doesn't get sick and you come back looking for help because you will already know the answers.

 

[Neoki]

Like so many others on this forum, it sounds like you are all set to do what you want to do. If you read up on Panthers, you will see that they live in tree tops where they get high UV, lots of rain and NO substrate. They can't be kept like veileds who survive just fine with less humidity and lower UV, but I can tell you from experience that your cage will not keep your full grown Panther healthy.

I sure hate to see animals suffer when people come on the forums looking for opinions when in fact they really aren't looking for help but looking for someone to agree with their off the wall plans to create something that will look nice in their living room. I wish it would work that way but it doesn't.

Good luck with your animal and I hope it doesn't get sick and you come back looking for help because you will already know the answers.

I know your trying to help but dude dont you think I read up on all of this stuff before spending alot of money on a Cham and setup.

Now as you can see she is perfect health and yes I know they prefer to be at the top hence the 3ft high exo terra.

Again thanks for the concern but dont word it in a way that it makes me look like a prick!.

Do you really think I would want an animal to suffer and to say "I will already know the answers" come on.

Now back on topic Ideas please.

 

[Chameleopatrick]

Like so many others on this forum, it sounds like you are all set to do what you want to do. If you read up on Panthers, you will see that they live in tree tops where they get high UV, lots of rain and NO substrate.

I have to agree with no (organic) substrate, . Since these habitats do not have the necessary microbes to assist in the compete breakdown of waste, decomposing plants and other organic material, I see it as ascetically pleasing but no benefit to the chameleons health. Being able to clean the habitat very thoroughly is critical for long term health and its very difficult to clean dirt, soil, and rocks effectively.

Here is one of my several Exo terra's that are 36x18x36.

 

[ReptiGeek]

I have to agree with no (organic) substrate, . Since these habitats do not have the necessary microbes to assist in the compete breakdown of waste, decomposing plants and other organic material, I see it as ascetically pleasing but no benefit to the chameleons health. Being able to clean the habitat very thoroughly is critical for long term health and its very difficult to clean dirt, soil, and rocks effectively.

Here is one of my several Exo terra's that are 36x18x36.

I know this thread is quite a few months old but I just wanted to thank ChameleoPatrick for the photo. I have been planning on picking up one of the exo terra extra talls for a while now but I have not been able to find anyone else who keeps their chams in. So your photo is exactly what I needed! Your set up looks great, and will be used as inspiration for when I get my tank.
Thanks,
Cheers!