Is 29 x 29 x 72 Too BIG?????

[JAllen0203]

Hey All,

Just wondering everyone's thoughts on the matter. I recently obtained a Male Veiled Chameleon from FLCHAMS (THANK YOU ) sired by Newton! Sorry irrelevant but SUPER exciting!!!! Getting back in the Chameleon WORLD!!!!

When I was younger my chameleons had their own sides of the room and LOVED it so I know the more space the better, BUT..... Is a 29 x 29 x 72 screen enclosure overkill? At the moment till space is cleared, I am somewhat lacking in space but I just can't bring myself to cramming the guy in a little itty bitty cage anymore!!

Would two repti 10.0 bulbs, 1 repti compact 10.0 bulb, and 1 100w red heat bulb be sufficient for the space?

:

Pics below of Newton from www.FLCHAMS.com and son!!!!!

 

[chameleonkev]

Well you want the 5.0 UVB bulbs for chameleons and a normal clear heat bulb the red bulbs arnt recommended for chameleons

 

[JAllen0203]

Well you want the 5.0 UVB bulbs for chameleons and a normal clear heat bulb the red bulbs arnt recommended for chameleons

Of course 5.0!!!! Reading and typing too many things at once. THANK YOU!!! The heat bulb is an Exo Terra Infrared Basking Bulb. Still not ok to use?

Would a Exo Terra Light Cycle Unit be beneficial?

 

[chameleonkev]

Just use a normal household bulb, that's what most of use use and I just have my basking bulb and a Arcadia t5

 

[JAllen0203]

Thanks for the info!!!

 

[dom1959]

i love the idea of the larger cage for veileds.
i have minion in 2x2x4 and i just know it will seem too
small for me to leave him in if he keeps growing.
he is 5 months and about 12 inches nose to tail already.
and he is a sweet boy! sorry got carried away.

yes to the 29x29x72

 

[ForrestJungle]

I think that the only problem is him being able to find his food. I use to use a feeding cum, now i use a milk jug that i hacked up to make it a good feeder holder. Also with the red bulbs, red hurts chams eyes thats why they say not to use it. I have a 60w house bulb that is clear and i have temps in the high 80ies. You also need to make sure that you can keep up a good ambient temp in the cage that size. I had a cage not that big but close and the basking was 85 but a foot lower was in the 50ies. Just make sure you have everything thought out before you put him into the new cage. congrats though on your little dude!!

 

[JAllen0203]

I was thinking of going with a 2 x 2 x 4 to conserve space but you just convinced me to go with the 29 x 29 x 72. THANK YOU!!!

 

[JAllen0203]

Forrest! Thanks for the info. I will definitely be sure to read all levels of heat. I am thinking of going with a 4 ft ficus so hopefully that will help the crickets stay higher in the enclosure. He does like eating out of a little dish already and surprisingly already eats out of my hand!

 

[ForrestJungle]

one thing that i have noted is that the crickets seem to stay more on the screen then in the trees and plants. One my cham when he wakes up sees them better and goes right for them, and also i keeps them form destroying my plants. Just also make sure that your cage is completely inclosed and there is no room for crickets to get out. Have you thought about a misting system yet? Because at that size you are going to have some trouble getting the humidity up and to stay up. People are going to recommend two kinds. Mist king, and rain dome. I personally like my rain dome better. But the mist king as a bunch of fittings so you could probably set more in your cage to get the desired humidity. aha now I'm just babbling haha!!! ;p

 

[JAllen0203]

Babble on!!! lol. Thanks for the info. I have been thinking about what I am going to do. I just hand mist and have a dripper for my smaller enclosure right now. I am not sure which rout to go. I am hoping to be adding a pretty little female Veiled soon as well so I am looking for something that I can possibly run more then one enclosure with.

 

[bradley]

For a cage that tall you will infact need at least a 10.0. This will allow uv to penetrate further into the cage.

It will not harm the chameleon in any way being 10.0 but stay clear of compacts

The arcadia T5 bulbs would be even better from light your reptiles.

 

[jpm995]

You may want to go with a 10 uvb bulb due to the height of the enclosure.

 

[ForrestJungle]

Either way you go on this misting, they can handle more then one system.

 

[Carlton]

Thanks for the info!!!

You could also use a halogen porch flood or spotlight over the cage to provide a little larger warm zone. I like these bulbs as they are sturdier than indoor bulbs and last longer. As long as he can move all around the cage to thermoregulate the size is fine. Larger cages usually mean you have a more active contented cham to watch.

 

[JAllen0203]

Bradley/JPM, would the arcadia bulbs be my best choice? I am looking to try and cover two enclosures right now and if I need to go with two smaller enclosures to have more funds for better lighting then I have no problem doing that for now since my little guy and soon to have girls are only roughly 3 months right now.

 

[JAllen0203]

Thanks for the info again Forest. I am waiting to hear on a GREAT deal on a Mist King locally!!!!!

 

[JAllen0203]

Carlton, thank you for the info. My heat bulb just went out a little while ago and I was not able to make it to the store before closing. I am going to run to the Walmart down the street and try a halogen out!!!