Looking To get A Chameleon

[Drew333]

Hi, My name is Drew!

I am new to this blog and new to the Chameleon world! I have not purchased a Chameleon yet and am In no rush to purchase one as I would like to get as much information as possible. I am looking at getting a veiled Chameleon

I am from ontario and want have the best setup possible for a chameleon, however, I would like to do this with a lower price range. I have looked at reptibreeze Chameleon kit and would like know what you guys think about it. Living in ontario I am worried about being able to keep up my humidity with the screen.

I have also looked at the glass terrariums at petsmart, I like the glass look as it looks cleaner, but I have heard issues about the ventilation.

If possible I would like to buy one terrarium that can house my Chameleon for his entire life. Is it okay to do this? I understand that it may be to big for a younger chameleon but I was thinking I could build something to lower the top, something I could make taller as my Chameleon grows.

My last question is about the drip system and a missting system, I am willing to mist my tank as much as needed however, I do work so there will be 8 hours a day where I am not available to do so. Is it acceptable to set up a home made dripping system and hand mist when I am home and avoid purchasing a misting system?

Thanks in advance and please feel free to share any information or advice!

 

[Pantherpaws]

Hello welcome! The biggest problem that I've seen with the glass is not just the ventilation as that can be managed especially when you do need that humidity. But the reflection of another chameleon on the glass can be quite the problem as it stresses them out making them think that they cannot get away from the chameleon in the reflection and may even try to fight the glass which could result in injuries and veiled chameleons are a more aggressive species as I've read. Which in turn lowers their immunities and gives higher chances of sickness and infection. I put aluminum foil on one side of the screen cage to get the light deeper into the cage since I fully rely on my lights for UV rays here in the winter darkness in Alaska. I also have a light blocking curtain for him that covers two other sides during the day and fully covers every other side at night except the top which are good for the continuous summer sun nights and is also keeping in humidity on a screen cage with great ventilation and is easy to just wash when it gets dirty as well as protecting your walls from misting. With hours away like that I really wouldn't think a home dripper would last long enough and but maybe someone else has experience there.

 

[Drew333]

Hello welcome! The biggest problem that I've seen with the glass is not just the ventilation as that can b

Thank you very much for your advice! I see you are a panther chameleon owner, do they tend to be less aggressive? And did you buy yours from a local pet shop?

I have heard mix reviews about the reflection being an issue. I work at petsmart and we have a chemelon in a glass terrarium and he seems to be quite happy and have no issue with the reflection.

With regards to the home made drip not being enough while I am away. Do you think that it will run out of water or that the cage should be misted while I am gone? I would mist before work and when I am home.

Thanks, Drew

 

[Pantherpaws]

Thank you very much for your advice! I see you are a panther chameleon owner, do they tend to be less aggressive? And did you buy yours from a local pet shop?

I have heard mix reviews about the reflection being an issue. I work at petsmart and we have a chemelon in a glass terrarium and he seems to be quite happy and have no issue with the reflection.

With regards to the home made drip not being enough while I am away. Do you think that it will run out of water or that the cage should be misted while I am gone? I would mist before work and when I am home.

Thanks, Drew

Panthers are one of the more docile of the species yes. And no I got my male from Chamelot Chameleons. They have an account on here and have the best videos on chameleons. IMO. About the mixed reviews I can see how that's mixed my male doesn't bother even when he sees his own reflection as with my female she cannot stand the sight of glass. So it's the luck of the draw it really. And as far as water goes I'm sure you could fill something up to drip long enough but I'm more concerned about the humidity. Probably being too much if you did do glass or even screen and it has a constant drip that doesn't stop and doesn't dry out causing bacteria to grow and that will likely cause a respitory infection.

 

[macyb-vancouver]

Yes, the panthers do tend to be less aggressive but they are usually a bit pricier, and harder to find in local pet shops (in my experience). The veileds are typically the most aggressive, but every chameleon can vary. I ordered my panther online and he is extremely friendly. I think the adjustable cage sounds like a great idea, and could be a good way to save some money. It is good that you are planning ahead, because the time and money that goes into having a chameleon can definitely add up!
My dripper usually lasts the whole day, so you may not need to make your own. However, 8 hours without any misting could be a problem, so building your own misting system is a great idea, otherwise you might have to purchase one.
As for the humidity, I have seen people on these forums who have built enclosures that have glass, wood, or plastic on two sides, and screen on the others in order to keep in some humidity. That might work for you too.
Good luck!

 

[Drew333]

Yes, the panthers do tend to be less aggressive but they are usually a bit pricier, and harder to find in local pet shops (in my experience). The veileds are typically the most aggressive, but every chameleon can vary. I ordered my panther online and he is extremely friendly. I think the adjustable cage sounds like a great idea, and could be a good way to save some money. It is good that you are planning ahead, because the time and money that goes into having a chameleon can definitely add up!
My dripper usually lasts the whole day, so you may not need to make your own. However, 8 hours without any misting could be a problem, so building your own misting system is a great idea, otherwise you might have to purchase one.
As for the humidity, I have seen people on these forums who have built enclosures that have glass, wood, or plastic on two sides, and screen on the others in order to keep in some humidity. That might work for you too.
Good luck!

Thank you for the advice! If you don't mind me asking where did you order your chameleon from?

Is it simple to build a mister? I am
Not totally against purchasing a mister but if I can do it my self I would rather to that!

Do you run your dripper all the time?


Thanks again!

 

[Connorology]

For a veiled chameleon you're probably going to want a mesh or screen cage. The main reason for this is size, as veileds get too big for commercially available glass enclosures (or at least ones that are remotely affordable). Though some fish tanks are probably big enough, it is generally inadviseable to use aquariums as they lack sufficient ventilation; to successfully keep a chameleon in glass you need an enclosure with additional ventilation. I am currently using a 36" x 36" x18" exo terra (vented glass) for my Jackson's. For what it's worth, I have had no issues with reflections or him not recognizing the glass as a barrier, and I have read that is largely a myth.

When I had a veiled chameleon I used a large mesh cage that had a frame made from PVC pipe. It wasn't the prettiest, but it was a good enclosure. I think it was called a reptarium, and if I recall it was less than $100. I don't think they make them anymore, but there are still a few sites that sell them.

As for humidity: when I was using screen enclosures, I bought a cool-mist humidifier for $25 and put it on a timer to go off a few times a day (you'll need to play with it to ensure it's maintaining correct humidity levels, I hooked it up to some tubing and piped it right into the enclosure). That kept the humidity up when I was at work. Combined with the dripper, it ensures the chameleon has proper humidity levels and also a way to drink. I also have always used live plants, usually ficus, schleffera. or pothos. The plants help with the humidity as well.

Stray thoughts: supposedly tube uv lights are better than the compact ones, though I'll leave it to someone else to explain why, and reptile basking bulbs are a scam. You can pick up a blue tinted grow light at home depot for about six bucks and it works as well as the dayglow basking lights zoomed sells for ~$8-$12.

If you haven't had a chance yet, I'd recommend checking out the care sheets available on this site under the resources tab.

 

[reptileguy112]

If you did have a solid sided cage it would need have at least a 12" x 12" screen opening on one of the sides at least 1/3 of the way down (not at the very top) as well as a screen top. This allows hot air to rise and cooler air to rise through the hole allowing adequate ventilation.

 

[macyb-vancouver]

Thank you for the advice! If you don't mind me asking where did you order your chameleon from?

Is it simple to build a mister? I am
Not totally against purchasing a mister but if I can do it my self I would rather to that!

Do you run your dripper all the time?


Thanks again!

I ordered him from snakesatsunset.com. Their prices were pretty good, and I found an online coupon for free shipping (which is overnight shipping). I have no idea how to build a mister, I purchased an automatic one originally (the Monsoon I think it was called) but it was too loud so I returned it.
Yes my dripper runs all day and then I just refill it with warm water in the morning when I feed him!

 

[Drew333]

I ordered him from snakesatsunset.com. Their prices were pretty good, and I found an online coupon for free shipping (which is overnight shipping). I have no idea how to build a mister, I purchased an automatic one originally (the Monsoon I think it was called) but it was too loud so I returned it.
Yes my dripper runs all day and then I just refill it with warm water in the morning when I feed him!

I have looked at snakesatsunset.com but I do not think that they deliver to ontario, most places I have seen online deliver only to the united states! Have you purchased another automatic mister?

 

[Drew333]

If you did have a solid sided cage it would need have at least a 12" x 12" screen opening on one of the sides at least 1/3 of the way down (not at the very top) as well as a screen top. This allows hot air to rise and cooler air to rise through the hole allowing adequate ventilation.

Thank you! I was thinking about going with screen sides and top with a class front and back to give it a clean look

 

[JGuinan007]

I really like Rudis chameleons if I had to start all over I would have gone with them

 

[JGuinan007]

Or if I had the money i'd get a parsons

 

[Carlton]

There are some home built misting systems described here, so do a forum search on that topic. The main issue is getting the right pump and assembling all the parts to create the system. One many of us like and use is the Mist King. It might cost you as much to assemble one yourself. Don't really know. The great thing about misting systems is that you can set them up to run off a timer...no need to be there yourself.

If you have a misting system on a cage with dense foliage you may not need the dripper at all. I stopped using them years ago.
Just a thought about glass versus screen cage...its easier to modify a screen cage to hold in more humidity than it is to modify a glass cage to provide more ventilation or release heat. I prefer using screen cages as I can build them larger to fit my available spaces. If you need to close it in to hold more humidity all that can take is some plastic sheeting and a staple gun.

 

[Pantherpaws]

For what it's worth, I have had no issues with reflections or him not recognizing the glass as a barrier, and I have read that is largely a myth.

I've experienced it first hand with the reflection issue. I watched my female Panther go from black to light khaki brown and active within minutes after just covering the glass in the national geographic vented glass enclosure. She even double checked the covering to make sure the chameleon was gone and then she went exploring. Her parents were wild maybe that is the difference.

 

[Carlton]

I've also experienced this with a cbb veiled. Whether a glass panel has a reflection or not may depend on the exact light angle hitting it. My veiled displayed almost constantly, so I figured out where the reflection was and taped coroplast over it. Didn't fool him though. He actually pried the coroplast away from the glass and stuck his head down behind it looking for the competitor he just KNEW was hiding back there. Then I tried shifting the lights around and managed to get rid of the problem that way. However, remember that some chams paw at the glass trying to escape to the room they can see outside. It can be very frustrating for them.