Is This Too Much?

[JoshD49]

Hello Guys,

I recently added the umbrella plant to the cage to help with the humidity but it seems a little cluttered now. I can always groom the plant down I guess but I know chams like a lot of cover but wasn't sure if this is too much. Would I need to switch to a 10 for the UVB now? Its a 5 right now.

Also what do you guys target the humidity to be for a Yemen? I read above 50% but that seems low to me.

FYI: I have not purchased the cham yet. I am dialing in the settings first.

 

[jamest0o0]

Looks fine to me. I'd use all live plants for a veiled, but I know not everyone does. 50% is just about right ambient humidity. There are very dry periods in yemen and in nature the humidity tends to only be high after a rain or at night. I'd say 40-60 is a good day range.

 

[JoshD49]

Thanks @jamest0o0 . Your always helping me out. Just wanted to make sure he had enough hiding space but not so much I won't ever see him haha. With this amount of cover should I swap it to a 10 UVB or will 5 be good? I have both bulbs so E there way is fine with me.

 

[jamest0o0]

I would use the 5.0 still probably. I doubt it would matter much with a healthy cham. As long as his diet and supplementation is good it should be fine. Will he be getting outside time? Not sure if I asked, but have you considered using a good substrate? It really helps balance out the humidity among other things.

 

[JoshD49]

I plan on building a branch setup in my backyard that has a screen cover to prevent red tail hawk attacks.

I was considering what you said about having a bio substrate but I will need to learn more about it after I feel I'm comfortable with the Cham and he is happy and stable. My main focus is making sure it's healthy and I'm not an incompetent owner.

I will definitely be asking you later though.

 

[Mendez]

I don't think the umbrella plant is too much. Chameleons are shy so it never hurts to have increased hiding areas! Your setup looks perfect if you ask me!

 

[jamest0o0]

Yeah no big deal on the substrate, I just figured I'd ask if you were concerned about humidity. Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[JoshD49]

Thanks @Mendez I appreciate the kind words and took their shyness into consideration. I figured I may back off the fake plants as he gets older and more comfortable.

Thanks @jamest0o0 your the man! By the way is that a Parsons in you picture? I know they are one of the hardest to keep from what I read but they look amazing .

 

[Remkon]

I think you got a pretty damn nice looking enclosure there!
Can't think of any comments to give... Dialing in is smart too.

 

[jamest0o0]

Yeah a yellow lip. I wouldn't say they are extremely hard, but they get very large and need huge enclosures, along with some other specific care requirements. Making them a bit of a project to get into. I love him though, my favorite chameleon for sure.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Excellent job for a first timer, bonus points for tuning your setup BEFORE bringing the Cham in!

 

[JoshD49]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the feedback and am glad I didn't let you down.

 

[Wowbango]

I Think it looks great! Plenty of hiding spots and you'll have no issue with humidity with so much going on.

My thought on a substrate remains the same as the start. I don't think the pros outweigh the cons. I have a bioactive substrate in my Gecko vivariums and it's great, especially with springtails an isopods, but the risk of impaction due to your chameleon sucking up some of it is too high for me personally to recommend it. Plus, having an empty floor (other than pots or whatever) makes cleanup super easy. Just my two Cents.

Included my cage for the new Ambanja we just picked up from KammerFlage at the San Diego Reptile Super Show!

 

[NickTide]

Is that species on the safe list? It's not the umbrella I am familiar with. Also,with that much cover, I don't think your live plant will get enough light. I would personally remove some artificial plants and prop the real plant on something to get it closer to the light. Even without the other plants, that plant may need to be near a window or get an additional led light to survive long term.

 

[jamest0o0]

I Think it looks great! Plenty of hiding spots and you'll have no issue with humidity with so much going on.

My thought on a substrate remains the same as the start. I don't think the pros outweigh the cons. I have a bioactive substrate in my Gecko vivariums and it's great, especially with springtails an isopods, but the risk of impaction due to your chameleon sucking up some of it is too high for me personally to recommend it. Plus, having an empty floor (other than pots or whatever) makes cleanup super easy. Just my two Cents.

Included my cage for the new Ambanja we just picked up from KammerFlage at the San Diego Reptile Super Show!

The only real risk is choking or if a chameleon somehow swallowed a large rock, bark, etc. Those are simple to avoid, by not having things like that in the enclosure. Even then most of the time it should be passed. Chameleons IME will also spit something out that is too large to swallow(like a leaf).

Now let's list the cons of sterile set ups:
-Harmful bacteria is allowed to build up due to no beneficial bacteria getting a chance to take hold(think of a fish tank cycling)
-mold and fungi has nothing to keep it in check, requiring you to dry the cage out much more than it should be
-more cleaning
-less natural humidity
-less exposure for the immune system, look at people that grow up in constant sanitary conditions, never playing in the mud as a kid, using alcohol to clean everything, etc. They often have very weak immune systems, allergies, etc.

Not trying to fight with you, but the idea that substrate causes impaction is a myth IMO. Stemming from people throwing reptibark in a cage with veileds, which are already dehydrated and filled with parasites.

 

[Wowbango]

The only real risk is choking or if a chameleon somehow swallowed a large rock, bark, etc. Those are simple to avoid, by not having things like that in the enclosure. Even then most of the time it should be passed. Chameleons IME will also spit something out that is too large to swallow(like a leaf).

Now let's list the cons of sterile set ups:
-Harmful bacteria is allowed to build up due to no beneficial bacteria getting a chance to take hold(think of a fish tank cycling)
-mold and fungi has nothing to keep it in check, requiring you to dry the cage out much more than it should be
-more cleaning
-less natural humidity
-less exposure for the immune system, look at people that grow up in constant sanitary conditions, never playing in the mud as a kid, using alcohol to clean everything, etc. They often have very weak immune systems, allergies, etc.

Not trying to fight with you, but the idea that substrate causes impaction is a myth IMO. Stemming from people throwing reptibark in a cage with veileds, which are already dehydrated and filled with parasites.

Don't see it as fighting at all, just difference of opinions (don't you wish people would do this? unlike with Politics? YEEESH). My very first chameleon swallowed a piece of a dried root from one of the plants in my first setup, he made it, but I ended up with a very expensive vet bill. Ever since, I avoid a substrate. That being said, I'm not an artist and can't come up with some of these beautiful bioactive setups that I see everywhere. More and more I see river rocks being used in them and they look beautiful. I can see how this would lower the risk, I guess it just makes me nervous. I'd rather do more cleaning!

 

[jamest0o0]

@Wowbango thanks for replying without getting defensive! I guess with experiencing that, I can see how you have reason to be a little skeptical. I just tend to jump to substrate defense a lot because many people think it's terrible without really knowing why. I use substrate in all 5 of my cham enclosures along with several other people I know without having a problem. Though I I try to keep any large pieces either buried or out of the cage so that there's only fine particles on top. I do use mosses in my one enclosure and I keep an eye on it, I wouldn't worry about him eating a little(he hasn't), but I wouldn't want him eating mouthfuls.

 

[JacksJill]

I agree the live plant is going to need more light. I would pull back some of the artificial to give it more light and allow the mister to water the soil more.

 

[Virgil1972]

That is a nice looking cage setup you have.

 

[Goose502]

I understand being leery of bioactive setups and the possibility of impaction. Though I don’t think there is really much of a risk if done correctly, I totally understand the argument. That being said, why not try an “in between” style? You could keep the bottom bare, but add a few large potted plants. The plants are basically cylinders of bioactive media. You could cover the soil with large rocks if you are concerned, but this may be a good intermediate start to bioactivity.