My Veiled Enclosure, open for suggestions

[AirQBert]

I (hopefully) attached a picture of my Veiled Chameleon in her habitat.
It's a well-planted Small/Tall Exo Terra with a Tetra Viquarium insert.
I've got three lights on her; a UVA, a UVB, and a heat/spot lamp for basking. The tank temps tend to be around 75-78 during the day when the lights are on.
The waterfall of the Viquarium keep moving water there for her to drink and the filtering system of it keeps it clean. I keep some Fancy Guppies in there but I don't treat the water with any chemicals and I keep the carbon filters and biological filter keeps it clean. Regardless, I mist the tank twice a day.
I've got a Pothos planted on the left side just right into the gravel. It grows very well in all that water and the roots provide some biological filtration. I've got a Hibiscus on the right in a separate double-clay pot so I can remove it if ever needed and also to keep the roots from being saturated as it can't handle that much moisture. I've also got two different containers full of Baby Tears that I rotate in that Magnatural planter mounted on the side. Also use that for feeding crickets.
Any concerns about her drowning in the water were solved when she was younger by keeping all plants back from the water and keeping that grape vine over the water to keep her from falling in. Now she's large enough that it's not much of a concern, but I still keep the magnatural over the water to keep her from having the opportunity to fall in.
Those green carpets are removable, so every couple days I take them out, dump her waste, and rinse them off.
I like my setup now, but I'm open to hearing about concerns. Also, I realize that in the next few months here she's going to outgrow this, so I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with building off the top of these Exo Terra enclosures with a screen to add a couple more feet of height?
AND I'm using suction cups to keep the pothos and the vine attached, but she keeps grabbing them with her feet and pulling them down. Any alternative ideas to suction cups? Looking forward (nervously) to any ideas or input.
-DW

 

[exoherppy]

I also started with an exo terra tank though I have switched to reptibreeze for all my chameleons. I understand your suction cup problem. It helped when I wipe the glass area and the suction cups with alcohol wipes before positioning it. It will still fall off but not as often.

 

[Saldarya]

Understand that the concern with the waterfall is that it will grow bacteria that can, and will, cause issues with your veiled.

You mentioned that you left in the carbon and bio filter in it to keep it clean. Clean is not the real issue, the bacteria growth is the issue. You need to remove the waterfall if you want the best health for the cham.

In a hurry atm, others will chime in I am sure, but that is a glaring opportunity.

Welcome to the forums!!

 

[ridgebax1]

I really like the look of your set up but as someone else noted there is a concern for bacterial growth with the waterfall. However, (and know I am not challenging this but just curious) with an "aquarium" type set up with the mechanical and biologic filtration, where does the bacteria growth concern come from? I know that with the little insert waterfalls they often poop in them and I understand that as a contamination source, but in this type of set up where does the concern come from? It is just a biomass type thing in that the volume of cham poop overwhelms the filtration?

I think that as your cham grows you will as stated need bigger and I have full screen cages. There are tons of pictures and examples in the enclosure sticky. I never look at them too much cause I just get jealous

 

[Saldarya]

I really like the look of your set up but as someone else noted there is a concern for bacterial growth with the waterfall. However, (and know I am not challenging this but just curious) with an "aquarium" type set up with the mechanical and biologic filtration, where does the bacteria growth concern come from? I know that with the little insert waterfalls they often poop in them and I understand that as a contamination source, but in this type of set up where does the concern come from? It is just a biomass type thing in that the volume of cham poop overwhelms the filtration?

I think that as your cham grows you will as stated need bigger and I have full screen cages. There are tons of pictures and examples in the enclosure sticky. I never look at them too much cause I just get jealous

1. To your point, if a Cham defecated in the water, it is far more than the lil,filter could handle.

2. The bio filter works as 'good' bacteria breaks down waste. Matt being said, that 'good' bacteri could still be harmful.

 

[windex]

he'd probably like a little more shade. It will come when the plants grow but until then you should stick a fake pothos in there

 

[Chameleon Company]

Understand that the concern with the waterfall is that it will grow bacteria that can, and will, cause issues with your veiled.

You mentioned that you left in the carbon and bio filter in it to keep it clean. Clean is not the real issue, the bacteria growth is the issue. You need to remove the waterfall if you want the best health for the cham.

In a hurry atm, others will chime in I am sure, but that is a glaring opportunity.

Welcome to the forums!!

I really like the look of your set up but as someone else noted there is a concern for bacterial growth with the waterfall. However, (and know I am not challenging this but just curious) with an "aquarium" type set up with the mechanical and biologic filtration, where does the bacteria growth concern come from? I know that with the little insert waterfalls they often poop in them and I understand that as a contamination source, but in this type of set up where does the concern come from? It is just a biomass type thing in that the volume of cham poop overwhelms the filtration?

I think that as your cham grows you will as stated need bigger and I have full screen cages. There are tons of pictures and examples in the enclosure sticky. I never look at them too much cause I just get jealous

Nailed it twice. Kudos to you two !

Waterfalls are a terrible idea. As noted, filters do not fix bacteria. And there is no need for chameleon poop to foul any excessive moisture. Anything organic will do that. Crickets. Substrate. Etc.

Screen is so much better than glass.

What happens with the septic areas is that loose bugs, such as crickets, will hydrate there. Crickets can handle very septic situations. They can drink bacterial soup and be just fine. But your chameleon cannot handle consuming such poison pills.

I and others have been preaching this for over a decade. So nice to see it being more as widespread advice now. Thanks.

 

[Decadancin]

Although I agree that the water feature is not the best idea, I think it can be done. I don't have enough time to spend cleaning it and I don't think your setup is user friendly for thorough cleanings. That would be my issue. Also, a biological filter in itself is the exact opposite of "clean". For a frog habitat, I think you have a great setup. For a chameleon, I think you have a great "looking" setup . If you are going to have a water feature, I'd make it very easy to remove and clean. (Probably a few times a week. The temps and humidity are perfect for mold, mildew, bacteria and pests to thrive.)

 

[Decadancin]

I'd get her in a larger enclosure soon. She looks old enough (or soon will be) to lay eggs. You will need enough room for a laying bin.

 

[nick barta]

Since the enclosure is going to be replaced, that would make a great Pygmy habitat, less waterfall.

I'm just saying'

Nick

 

[Decadancin]

How deep is that water anyway? I have heard of chameleons drowning in pretty shallow water.

 

[AirQBert]

Sorry I've been a bit slow on the replies, nasty headaches yesterday.
As far as her waste goes, I've focused the plants and vines toward the back of the enclosure so she rarely poops in the water. The green mats catch the rest of her refuse and I dump it in the trash. Any waste that makes it into the water end I either pick out with a net or with my weekly water vaccuming. Cricket escapees aren't an issue either since I put them in either a cup that she's learned to zap them out of or a small plastic goldfish bowl with the same idea.
As far as the shade goes, I can rearrange the Pothos a bit more to giver her some more shade. It grows very fast in this setup and even though I accidentally broke off about four feet of the plant last week, there's still plenty for me to rearrange.
I know there seems to be alot of concern over mold and mildew, but I've had this set up for months (had this setup growning in the plants long before I had her) and have seen no issues with any mold or mildew at all, will continue to keep an eye on it though.
I will be remodeling the tank soon to make more land area allowing a larger pot for the hibiscus which is planted in dirt and will hopefully be enough area for her to dig when she needs to. How large an area should a female cham have to bury eggs?
Also, has anyone ever build a screen cage addition on to the top of one of these or have any ideas how to hand design and build one? I'd like to make it taller for her to climb around.