Interested in a cage critique.

[Randi]

Hello... adopted my female veiled a week ago from a woman who had to rehome her. She was in a 30"x27"x16", and I was advised that she needs at least a 2'x2'x4'. Today I moved her in to her new cage, and I'm wondering what I need to add/take away. Based on the other pictures I've seen and the feedback that's been given, I'm guessing I need more horizontal climbing branches toward the top... anything else?

 

[Solid Snake]

I would personally move the front plant, more towards the center. Then add vines ALL over, weaving in and out of the plants..
Looks good though.

 

[Hoj]

looks good like you said a few more horzontal branches would be great and it is reccomended that you cover the soil in the plant with some river rocks so as that the cham cant eat any dirt. just make sure the rocks are too big for your cham to eat.
looking good tho.
welcome to the wonderfull world of chameleon keeping, muahhahahah we have you now!!

 

[DekuScrub]

I would personally move the front plant, more towards the center. Then add vines ALL over, weaving in and out of the plants..
Looks good though.

from top to bottom, horizontal like. thumbs up

 

[Randi]

I would personally move the front plant, more towards the center. Then add vines ALL over, weaving in and out of the plants..
Looks good though.

from top to bottom, horizontal like. thumbs up

This is a great idea... but I'm wondering if this means that I won't be able to remove the plants without removing the vines. The vines are in place using zip ties. I tried using thumb tacks and they didn't work for me.

 

[Randi]

And another question...

I moved her about five hours ago, and she has remained in the same place (under the basking light) and not eaten or drank. The basking light is in the same position as it was in her previous cage, and she sat under it a majority of the day, but she also moved around when I misted and to eat/drink. How long before I should become worried?

 

[JRchameleons]

This is a great idea... but I'm wondering if this means that I won't be able to remove the plants without removing the vines. The vines are in place using zip ties. I tried using thumb tacks and they didn't work for me.

No, you won't be able to move the plants easily with the vines weaving in and out of them. I initially did that when I started with chams, but I have since stopped because it made cleaning the cage way too much of a pain. Plus, since you have a female you may need to move one plant out in order to put a laying bin in for her from time to time. (I presume you know that females will typically lay eggs regardless of whether they're mated or not? Check out Jann's blog if you haven't already: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html)

Your cage looks great btw. I'm sure your cham is very happy.

 

[JRchameleons]

And another question...

I moved her about five hours ago, and she has remained in the same place (under the basking light) and not eaten or drank. The basking light is in the same position as it was in her previous cage, and she sat under it a majority of the day, but she also moved around when I misted and to eat/drink. How long before I should become worried?

She's probably just stressed out. That's pretty normal when they're moved to a new place. She should start eating within a few days, and she probably drinks when you're not looking.

 

[Chamifornia]

If that plant is a schefflera " actinophylla" in the front I would take it out as they are supposed to be too toxic for use with chams. The one everyone uses is the shefflera abricola which has smaller leaves and is safe for our guys

 

[yankfanthom]

If that plant is a schefflera " actinophylla" in the front I would take it out as they are supposed to be too toxic for use with chams. The one everyone uses is the shefflera abricola which has smaller leaves and is safe for our guys

Especially since a veiled may eat some of their plants. Good call on that!

 

[Solid Snake]

This is a great idea... but I'm wondering if this means that I won't be able to remove the plants without removing the vines. The vines are in place using zip ties. I tried using thumb tacks and they didn't work for me.

I dont use any sort of "ties" in my enclosure. There are 3 hooks that a pothos hangs from, but everything else is just "woven" together. I find that this is sturdy(if care is taken to make it so) and easy to asssemble, and dissasemble.

 

[chamelisa]

I'm guessing I need more horizontal climbing branches toward the top... anything else?

I like more horizontal branches too but you can just add some that are cut to fit and secure them to your plants with zip ties. What kind of plant is that in the front. The leaves are a very pretty shade of green.

 

[Randi]

If that plant is a schefflera " actinophylla" in the front I would take it out as they are supposed to be too toxic for use with chams. The one everyone uses is the shefflera abricola which has smaller leaves and is safe for our guys

What kind of plant is that in the front. The leaves are a very pretty shade of green.

Thank you! I got it from the garden center and the tag only says, "Schefflera"... doesn't give any other info (it's just a bar code tag - there are none of the paper tags sticking in the soil that would give the actual name)... so I will take it out to be safe and replace it with something else. The other plant is a ficus. Any ideas of any plants roughly the same size with which I could swap it out? I know about the safe plant list but I don't know about the sizes of the plants just by looking at their names.

 

[Chamifornia]

Thank you! I got it from the garden center and the tag only says, "Schefflera"... doesn't give any other info (it's just a bar code tag - there are none of the paper tags sticking in the soil that would give the actual name)... so I will take it out to be safe and replace it with something else. The other plant is a ficus. Any ideas of any plants roughly the same size with which I could swap it out? I know about the safe plant list but I don't know about the sizes of the plants just by looking at their names.

There are shefflera "abricolas" that alot here use. The difference is their leaves are smaller. Pothos work well too. I personally use all 3 ( Pothos, Schefflera abricola, and a ficus)