New! CONSTRUCTIVE Criticism

[rmallory1991]

I'm completely a newbie at this! this is my enclosure, CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is needed. What more can i do or what can i do different to make this enclosure better.
It's 24inX24inX48in
Have Reptisun 5.0 UVB
40 watt house bulb dome light
Hibiscus, Umbrella Tree, and hanging Pothos.
Have a home-made dripper
I don't have a Chameleon yet, waiting for set-up to be right first.
Believe i need a silk plant for open area though

Front View

Side View

 

[VeiledChams]

Hello and welcome! That cage looks pretty cool. Do you know the temperatures around the cage? Those can help determine the appropriate wattage for your basking light. Also, what type of cham will you be getting??

Also, be sure that the cham cannot get close to the light bulbs as this can cause some serious burns

 

[LeorandtheChameleon]

the only thing i can thing of is the base of the planter. Leonard had a problem with the sides being to slick and he would fall so i some hemp looking vines and created some texture for him so he wouldn't fall. i used a glue gun and the hemp looking vine you get at the pet store.

 

[rmallory1991]

Hello and welcome! That cage looks pretty cool. Do you know the temperatures around the cage? Those can help determine the appropriate wattage for your basking light. Also, what type of cham will you be getting??

Also, be sure that the cham cannot get close to the light bulbs as this can cause some serious burns

I JUST set it up so temps aren't going to be accurate right now, but i do have a thermometer right under the basking light and one at the lower part of the enclosure with a hygrometer.

I will be getting a Veiled Chameleon

 

[heartben]

i dont know how many people do this but i just saw a post about it the other day and it makes sense to me so now i do it - try to line your uvb up with the main basking branch, then angle the basking lamp at it so they hit the same spot.

dont have to do it that way though, just thought it was a good idea. right now it looks like your heat and uvb are pretty far apart.

and - i had a hibiscus in my cage and it "died" after a few days. they are hard to keep in a cage, though some people seem to be able to pull it off. just a heads up.

 

[VeiledChams]

I JUST set it up so temps aren't going to be accurate right now, but i do have a thermometer right under the basking light and one at the lower part of the enclosure with a hygrometer.

I will be getting a Veiled Chameleon

Make sure when you get it, (i imagine it will be a baby) that you are very careful that it wont fall.. I'd suggest you put a towel on the bottom of the cage. Also, watch him eat ALL of the feeders you give so you know he is eating.Sometimes the crickets will hide and you'll think he's eating when really, he is starving.

i dont know how many people do this but i just saw a post about it the other day and it makes sense to me so now i do it - try to line your uvb up with the main basking branch, then angle the basking lamp at it so they hit the same spot.

dont have to do it that way though, just thought it was a good idea. right now it looks like your heat and uvb are pretty far apart.

and - i had a hibiscus in my cage and it "died" after a few days. they are hard to keep in a cage, though some people seem to be able to pull it off. just a heads up.

I've heard about the basking and UVB thing too, but I wouldnt suggest it. I'd leave it the way it is because the cham will UV light not just directly below the light. You gotta think that if the cham wants to go under the UV light and doesnt want to heat up, he'd be forced to if the basking light was pointed there. I give them a basking spot and put the UV light close, but not directly next to it. This will allow the cham to bask and get UV rays at once, but if he just wants to get UV rays, he doesn't necessarily have to bask. I hope I explained myself properly hahah

 

[heartben]

i agree with you, but since the heat is not a strip light - there is still half (or more) of the uv light with no heat. at least its looking like it working good for me, i had to get a heat bulb and the one i have has a pretty tight beam. i could see that being an issue if the light floods all over.

just another option to consider then i suppose, do what works best for your set up!