Kai cage update/redo, Finished!!

[shmeenakoz]

Ok its finally DONE! Hopefully he will be uber comfy cozy now and lighten up…literally He's finally eating properly and his poos are still perfect (was always so worried about hydration due to house dryness). Still can't wait till he can be in the big cage but this move should be much better for him. Let me know what ya think Thanks!

 

[nick barta]

Impressive!

Nick

 

[shmeenakoz]

Impressive!

Nick

Thank You!! And no worries out there, it is fully planted but with organic soil (no fertilizer), and all soil is covered by med sized rocks

 

[DirtyDubbz]

Looks good to me just have to watch the humidity now because you're using a class enclosure make sure plenty of air flow even if you have a little extra cash get a small desk fan and point it in just to have circulation otherwise really nice and lovvvvvve that your using live plants !

 

[shmeenakoz]

Looks good to me just have to watch the humidity now because you're using a class enclosure make sure plenty of air flow even if you have a little extra cash get a small desk fan and point it in just to have circulation otherwise really nice and lovvvvvve that your using live plants !

Thats a great point. Thank you I will get one this weekend!

 

[shaunaroxanne]

Looks amazing!

 

[shmeenakoz]

Looks amazing!

Thanks Shauna

 

[shaunaroxanne]

Thanks Shauna

Lol, he's probably thanking the almighty chameleon gods that you picked him

 

[shmeenakoz]

Lol, he's probably thanking the almighty chameleon gods that you picked him

LOL! Maybe soon but not the case earlier today He seems a bit ticked at me lately just from all the interaction and cage change thing. Hopefully in a week he will start to forget, relax and enjoy his mini jungle

 

[shaunaroxanne]

LOL! Maybe soon but not the case earlier today He seems a bit ticked at me lately just from all the interaction and cage change thing. Hopefully in a week he will start to forget, relax and enjoy his mini jungle

He may have his dad's attitude! Azazel was EVIL as a baby, but he came around. It took some time, and lots of food bribes, but he is friendly now. Don't give up, just keep earning his trust day by day, and I promise it'll pay off in the end

 

[Court11512]

This cage is amazing! i would really love to know how you did it, I want move my cham into a new cage soon and i really want to make it spectacular.

 

[shmeenakoz]

This cage is amazing! i would really love to know how you did it, I want move my cham into a new cage soon and i really want to make it spectacular.

Thank You! I didn't quite know what to do at first but I knew he had to have a smaller glass enclosure for now. So after a few days I realized the issue was for sure drainage So I googled Chams in exoterra and found a article by Christopher V. Anderson in Chameleons Online E-Zine. My concern was the whole "NO SUBSTRATE" thing and of course realizing the dangers of choking. But the darn water, ugh!! So after careful consideration and $30 more, I went to my local garden store and bought organic soil, more rocks and a few smaller live plants. I did the first layer in rock, then the soil and planted my baby Schefflera and the hanging baby tears as ground cover. I figured the less exposed soil the better! Besides they look awesome and are totally cham safe So after I planted those and watered them down i filled in the spaces with more rocks. The orchid is from Giant Eagle grocery store and just in its plastic cup (had to have it even tho Im terrible at keeping them!!) and the pothos is propped up in an inverted larger pot. Hope this help and good luck! It was a lot of fun to do also.

 

[shmeenakoz]

He may have his dad's attitude! Azazel was EVIL as a baby, but he came around. It took some time, and lots of food bribes, but he is friendly now. Don't give up, just keep earning his trust day by day, and I promise it'll pay off in the end

Great…lol, just what I wanted to hear Lol, oh he's gonna like me! He's actually not that bad…yet. We just got off on an odd foot. They are so funny though and I am absolutely giddy with all he does. I was shrieking in a whisper today because I finally saw him drinking So yeah, now I know what its like to be a proud cham mom!

 

[jmwhitel]

Great viv! Looks very natural

 

[shmeenakoz]

Great viv! Looks very natural

Thanks! Natural is what i was going for I think he really likes it, especially his baby schlefflera in the back corner. Its his favorite sleep spot.

 

[Court11512]

I will defiantly be trying this!! Thanks for the instructions!!

 

[shmeenakoz]

I will defiantly be trying this!! Thanks for the instructions!!

Just a heads up…I had to change it a bit yesterday due to way to much water accumulation. If you go this route I would suggest a way to pump out the water. Since the first layer is rock I just read another reader has used a tube hooked up to a wet/dry vac thingy. That person also said you can drill holes as long as the glass isn't tempered (otherwise it will shatter). I would have done the latter but IDK if exoterra is tempered? So good luck and post some pics or let me know if you had any luck with drainage in yours.