My first setup. Make sure its good!

[Hakai]

So I'm gonna go pick up my first little guy from the fed-ex service on Tuesday. I just finished setting up his cage. Give me suggestions if I overlooked something. Also, is the basking distance good? I don't want to burn him. Thanks!

(This will be my first time posting pics so sry if I don't do it correctly)

 

[Chameleonic]

Hi! This says to me it's a very good first attempt and i think you have read the new resource @ https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/ I would say the you have some more space to put in more branches and some leaves as well.

 

[Hakai]

Yeah, ill try to add some more stuff in there as I come across it. I'm defiantly gonna try to add in a bamboo plant at some time. If they're safe that is. I think I read somewhere on here that it is so I'm exited. But how do you feel about that basking spot? (3rd pic). Is that too close/far?

 

[camimom]

whats your basking tmep at> that tel you if its a good spot.

Also, how big is that cage?

If its 4 feet tall, you can go to michaels craft store and for 24 bucks get a fake tree that fills alot of the cage.

 

[DanSB]

You are my hero, it is awesome that you are checking BEFORE you get your cham and not a month later when something goes wrong.

I would suggest measuring the temp at your basking spot, that is the only way you'll know if it is right. I also agree with Chameleonic a few more branches and maybe one more plant? The Pothos will get huge in a month though but a few more hides for when your baby shows up will be good to help acclimate.

 

[Chameleonic]

this will depemd on the watt of the bulb so yuo should have a good thermometer. And maybe have a spare one to check like some people do

 

[Hakai]

whats your basking tmep at> that tel you if its a good spot.

Also, how big is that cage?

If its 4 feet tall, you can go to michaels craft store and for 24 bucks get a fake tree that fills alot of the cage.

I have this zooMed temp and humidity gauge. I put it in the basking spot and its only reading like 77. I'm not sure if its reading correctly. It's a 2x2x4 cage and there's a 60 watt bulb in that 5.5'' dome thing.

 

[camimom]

Tehe. ok yea those zoomed temp gauges are crap.

get a digital thermometer and try again.

you want your basking temp to be around 83-85 for a juvi cham.

 

[Hakai]

I checked again and it has risen to low 80's, and I attached it directly to the branch. Knowing that the cham will be raised off the branch I'm estimating he will be in the mid/upper 80's so I think he will be good. And I got a ZooMed cuz usually there stuff is pretty good, but I guess the gauge is not. I also have this little temp gun from radio shack. It's yellow and small and is in one of the pics. But I think it goes past the area I aim it at so I don't think its worth using.

Edit: Ok the temp gun is worth using, I aimed it at the gauge itself this time instead of the air in the basking area and it read 86! So I think I'll keep the zoomed gauge just for the temp. However the humidity gauge has remained at 30 for the past 2 hours and I've done about three 4 min. misting sessions since then. So I guess I have to get a new humidity gauge?

 

[camimom]

Aim it at the stick, it might help...


and yea zoo med is normally ok, but the gauges just suck.

and thats a good temp for him.

 

[Hakai]

You are my hero, it is awesome that you are checking BEFORE you get your cham and not a month later when something goes wrong.

Lol, I just want to be sure I'm doing everything right. I've done too much research to let him die in my first week of care. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. And I'm looking into getting a large bamboo plant for the cage cuz i think they look awesome and they are sturdy enough to climb on.
Thanks for your input!

 

[Lovereps]

A funny but true statement that someone once posted to the forum was something like, "A chameleons happiest moment is when you're looking at his enclosure and have no idea where he is because of all the foliage."

Having hiding places makes them feel secure.

Here is a list of safe plants that you may find helpful:
http://www.flchams.com/safe_plant_list.asp

 

[crocky]

Great start! I agree more vines and plants for sure to make him feel more comfortable. Also keep in mind that depending on what age and size your guy or gal is that he may have trouble finding his food in that large of an enclosure, if you free feed. Perfect size as he gets older. So just keep an eye out. I just moved my guy over to that size cage at about 4 months. He may be just fine depending on age/size but thought it was worth mentioning. You are doing great so far!

 

[babyjoe]

I would say very good first attempt.you've obviously done your research which will make everyone here a fan of yours as has been said already a bit more foliage in the bare spots for hiding and climbing and its perfect. Also since its a big cage for a youngster you might want to make a feeder and mount it close to the basking spot there's threads on that here. And it sounds like the humidity gauge is actually stuck if it hasn't moved at all.but if you do have trouble with humidity you can wrap 2 or 3 sides of the cage with a shower curtain and it'll hold the moisture better
Overall good work though your making a great start

 

[Hakai]

Although It's currently winter, today was a warmer day around 60 degrees and it was very foggy. So I figured I'd open my window wide open and within 1 hour the humidity gauge climbed from 30-75! So it appears to be working but I just need to do the shower curtain trick at least during the winter because it is normally dry. And BTW he will be a male veiled, 4.5 months old so he should be just about ready for that size cage and I have some small gutloaded crickets ready to go. I'm exited to try out handfeading, after he's gotten used to his new home of course.

 

[mrfixit01]

So I'm gonna go pick up my first little guy from the fed-ex service on Tuesday. I just finished setting up his cage. Give me suggestions if I overlooked something. Also, is the basking distance good? I don't want to burn him. Thanks!

(This will be my first time posting pics so sry if I don't do it correctly)

You did a great job posting your pics! The cage looks nice for a start. I'm sure others will also advise more vines or branches. I started with two 6' vines and now have 6 of them. Rambo loves going around and around and changing levels all the time. You can't go wrong with them. I have a double in a triangle at the top (like 4" from the very top) then another triangle set about 4" below that in reverse so that they form a 6-point star. Then below that I have a random wandering vine, similar to what you have done. You can use different things to hold them to the sides. One way to attach them up high would be to screw or glue some wood blocks to the frame and then use Velcro to stick the vines to it.

 

[BrandonW]

Yeah, ill try to add some more stuff in there as I come across it. I'm defiantly gonna try to add in a bamboo plant at some time. If they're safe that is. I think I read somewhere on here that it is so I'm exited. But how do you feel about that basking spot? (3rd pic). Is that too close/far?

I wouldn't recommend bamboo. I actually tried it before, and I noticed my Cham would often slide down it like he couldn't grip it good enough.