Needing thoughts on newly built enclosure

[ShannonR]

I received a WC Senegal last weekend due to a problem with her leg. We're still dealing with the leg, but she is eatings, drinking and moving about well. I have a number of other reptiles, but chams are something very new to me. I am trying my best to get things right for her to see her better and to of course give her a nice future.

That being said when I got her I had no true proper place to put her and have just finished building something I hope will be considered a good improvement. I think unfortunately, it is a bit big. I hope this is not something that will be a problem for her. It is 3'x2'x2'. It is made of PVC pipe and screen material. I was informed about providing a lay box, which I blanked about getting something to do that. So I will be getting her something very soon for those purposes.

I do not have any live plants. I have a nonexistent green thumb, I am pretty sure I can kill cactus. For now it is fake stuff, but if it is best for her I can try. I put what I had in and after taking a picture, it still seems too open? It is a bit of a mish mash too, I was just trying to give her enough for comfort.

Picture from my phone:

Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be great. The vine that is hooked at the bottom to the wood is planned to be a vine that leads into the lay box. She is in there too, but she hides well.

 

[Solid Snake]

I would make sure that the basking area up top is close enough to the bulb to get appropriate heat. (it seems low) This way she is not climbing the screen to get more heat.

It looks fine to me though.

Live plants are the only way to go IMO
They provide fresh oxygen, help humidity, and are just all around a great thing.
Pothos is pretty much unkillable, I promise.
Pothos is really my favorite all-around plant to use.
They are cheap, grow fast, provide lots of vines, that you can tangle all around for climbing, hold water well for drinking, and as stated, JUST WONT DIE! lol

They are also easy to propagate, as you can just take a clipping from them, add it to water, and after it roots, plant it again.

Cant go wrong with pothos

I think you did a good job on the enclosure though.


EDIT:
Oh, if you dont want to get a live tree(which would also work for this) a large branch placed in the middle area wouldnt hurt
The more areas that can be accessed by vines/branches, (without over-crowding) the better IMO.
This way they have access to as many different temps, areas of cover, ect. without climbing screen.

 

[ShannonR]

I did forget (I have forgotten a lot today ) in my rambling that the light on top was there for picture purposes. Without it I could get a light enough shot. I don't know if it would be too hot, but I don't want to take the chance that it is and it is too close for comfort for me. That light hasn't really been needed as of yet, but I have it for when I may. When I do, it won't be there!

As you are the second person to mention and recommend pothos and the inability to kill I will go check them out. Would love to give her more to climb on too, especially if it makes her happier and healthier.

 

[reptilover]

I did forget (I have forgotten a lot today ) in my rambling that the light on top was there for picture purposes. Without it I could get a light enough shot. I don't know if it would be too hot, but I don't want to take the chance that it is and it is too close for comfort for me. That light hasn't really been needed as of yet, but I have it for when I may. When I do, it won't be there!

As you are the second person to mention and recommend pothos and the inability to kill I will go check them out. Would love to give her more to climb on too, especially if it makes her happier and healthier.

Do u have a UVB light on him? Roughly 12 day 12 night?

 

[Solid Snake]

Yes, could you clarify what lighting you are using?

Do you have a thermometer to measure temps?

 

[ShannonR]

Oh yes she absolute has a UVB bulb. It is a Reptisun 10.0 and I learned they are best with a 5.0 so I need to pick one up. (unless I am wrong about the store carrying it, then order it) She was getting some natural sun also in the previous enclosure as I let her roam around it. Don't know how that will be with this one, but going to watch the temps first. The light is on 12/12 just like my beardies.

I measure the temps with a temp gun. I also keep hydrometers (which also have thermometers with them) sitting around to check humidity levels. With many of my snakes that need higher humidity I am constantly wary of it.

 

[allencg101]

great set up. but yeah your uvb needs to be 5.0 10.0 is more for desert reps like uros and bearded dragons. but like solid snake stated the vine underneath the basking bulb should be up higher but i do keep mine about 6 inches under the buld. but when chams get older they know how for the most part to regulate their own heat and will go up for warmer temps when needed depending on the temp of the rest of the cage. imo it is most important to not only keep the cage temps right but the room as well so i keep my rooms at a temp of 75 degrees through out all the cold season then in summer its a fight to keep the temps low from letting my little darling from over heating. any other questions just pm me and ill be happy to answer them for you!!!!


x's and o's and camel toes!!!

 

[ShannonR]

I went out on some errands. I didn't find the 5.0 I wanted so I will have to order it. However, I did find some Pothos and grabbed two of the bigger ones. They still need to grow some to really make a difference, but hopefully it helps some!

I also moved the vines a bit, one up more especially.

Here is a quick shot of it with its recent changes:

 

[Solid Snake]

Good deal.

Even a small pothos is beneficial.

A 10.0 is used by some, but it is generally raised 6-8" above the top of the enclosure.

I would recommend this, at least until you get something else, if you havnt done so already.

 

[reptilover]

I went out on some errands. I didn't find the 5.0 I wanted so I will have to order it. However, I did find some Pothos and grabbed two of the bigger ones. They still need to grow some to really make a difference, but hopefully it helps some!

I also moved the vines a bit, one up more especially.

Here is a quick shot of it with its recent changes:

You are off and running my friend glad your here

 

[mcleodschams]

I went out on some errands. I didn't find the 5.0 I wanted so I will have to order it. However, I did find some Pothos and grabbed two of the bigger ones. They still need to grow some to really make a difference, but hopefully it helps some!

I also moved the vines a bit, one up more especially.

Here is a quick shot of it with its recent changes:

I would recommend flushing the plants and re-potting the pothos with organic potting soil. I don't think this species eats the plants but its recommended anyway.