New to the forums, got questions

[SneakerHead]

First off I would just like to say hello to everybody as a new member to the forums. I have been lurking topics and doing research for a couple of days now. I have been wanting a chameleon since I was a kid, and now I am finally going to get one. Now for my questions.

1) I will most likely be buying a chameleon that is a few months old, but I want to have a permanet cage, a big one (about 36x36x60), is it bad to have a cage that size for such a young chameleon?

2) I want to build my own cage, I have looked at DIY threads, but havent seen the materials they actually use, so, what kind of stain/coating should I put on the wood? Also what kind of screening to I put on it and where could I get it.

3) I was looking to get a mistking system since I am a student and won't be home all day to mist, so which system would be optimal for me to get based on me being new and the size of the cage I want.

4) On the topic of misting, how often are you supposed to do it. I have read that about 3-4 times a day for a duration of 5 minutes is good, but I have also read from screameleons that its ideal to mist 3-4 times a day for about 30 seconds.

5) How should the temp range throughout the cage. I know that at the top it should be around 87 degrees, but as you go to the bottom I am not sure what the temp should be. Also what lighting comes on at night, if any? I know during the day you need UVB light and basking bulb.

Any help would be great, I am so anxious to get my project started, but I just want to make sure I have everything under control. Thanks.

 

[clarkrw3]

First off I would just like to say hello to everybody as a new member to the forums. I have been lurking topics and doing research for a couple of days now. I have been wanting a chameleon since I was a kid, and now I am finally going to get one. Now for my questions.

1) I will most likely be buying a chameleon that is a few months old, but I want to have a permanet cage, a big one (about 36x36x60), is it bad to have a cage that size for such a young chameleon?
Every one has their own opinion on this for me you should get a baby cage for the first few months before moving to a cage that large. It is easier to monitor, feed, see, etc in the baby cage as well as babies can be pretty clumsy and I would hate to see him/her fall 60" to the floor. Also you would/will have to have lots of plants/branches/vines in a cage that large due to the short reach such a little guy has so that he can get around and not fall.
2) I want to build my own cage, I have looked at DIY threads, but havent seen the materials they actually use, so, what kind of stain/coating should I put on the wood? Also what kind of screening to I put on it and where could I get it.
Dont know never built a cage
3) I was looking to get a mistking system since I am a student and won't be home all day to mist, so which system would be optimal for me to get based on me being new and the size of the cage I want.
I got the middle kit for the no drip system it comes with but the beginner $99 one would be fine might want to mount two nozzles on a cage that large
4) On the topic of misting, how often are you supposed to do it. I have read that about 3-4 times a day for a duration of 5 minutes is good, but I have also read from screameleons that its ideal to mist 3-4 times a day for about 30 seconds.
Depends on your location and relative humidity. I mist 5 times a day for 3-5 min but I live Arizona
5) How should the temp range throughout the cage. I know that at the top it should be around 87 degrees, but as you go to the bottom I am not sure what the temp should be. Also what lighting comes on at night, if any? I know during the day you need UVB light and basking bulb.
Get the basking temp right and let the rest of the temps fall as they may. They like colder temps at night if you can do that they like it down in the 60's. NO lights at night unless temps are well below 60ish they like it dark to sleep (remember they are sight animals)
Any help would be great, I am so anxious to get my project started, but I just want to make sure I have everything under control. Thanks.

hope all that helps

O and Welcome

 

[Justin Ward]

a bigger cage is fine as long as the cham is eating and drinking, you might have to cup feed for a cge that large...you can buy all the materials at Lowes or Home Depot, i usually use 1x2 but for a cage that big you might need 2x2 to make it more sturdy, as for a sealant, any kind of marine sealant will work...welcome to the forums

 

[jannb]

Hello and welcome to the forums. This is a great place to learn about chameleons. I have a blog for new keepers that you might find helpful. It'a attached below. You have some very good answers to your questions above.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[SneakerHead]

Alright, thanks for the help so far guys, and I live in texas so im thinking I might have to mist a little more often than others.

And one more question, are drip systems necessary?

 

[carol5208]

They are not necessary if your chameleon drinks well from mistings. If you do not see your chameleon drink when you mist then you might wanna consider a dripper for a constant water supply. They do help maintain the humidity some in your cage though so they are good to have for that.

 

[XxChame1eonsxX]

help!

is it ok to cut up a super worm to feed a baby chameleon?

 

[Carlton]

is it ok to cut up a super worm to feed a baby chameleon?

If the insect is dead and not moving your cham won't be interested or recognize it as food.

 

[Carlton]

First off I would just like to say hello to everybody as a new member to the forums. I have been lurking topics and doing research for a couple of days now. I have been wanting a chameleon since I was a kid, and now I am finally going to get one. Now for my questions.

1) I will most likely be buying a chameleon that is a few months old, but I want to have a permanet cage, a big one (about 36x36x60), is it bad to have a cage that size for such a young chameleon?

2) I want to build my own cage, I have looked at DIY threads, but havent seen the materials they actually use, so, what kind of stain/coating should I put on the wood? Also what kind of screening to I put on it and where could I get it.

3) I was looking to get a mistking system since I am a student and won't be home all day to mist, so which system would be optimal for me to get based on me being new and the size of the cage I want.

4) On the topic of misting, how often are you supposed to do it. I have read that about 3-4 times a day for a duration of 5 minutes is good, but I have also read from screameleons that its ideal to mist 3-4 times a day for about 30 seconds.

5) How should the temp range throughout the cage. I know that at the top it should be around 87 degrees, but as you go to the bottom I am not sure what the temp should be. Also what lighting comes on at night, if any? I know during the day you need UVB light and basking bulb.

Any help would be great, I am so anxious to get my project started, but I just want to make sure I have everything under control. Thanks.

Get a good quality hygrometer (humidity gauge) and a non-contact temp gun to monitor your cage setup. They'll make testing and maintenance so much easier and you will definitely KNOW when to adjust things.
You can build the larger cage, just section off part of it for the little guy...such as dividing it in half or thirds. I LOVE big cages and big bushy plants for my chams.
You will need some sort of waterproof, non-toxic when cured sealer (something that isn't going to leach toxics out over time or outgass petroleum type fumes). Or, use redwood or cyprus wood for the frame. Don't use aromatic cedar. Be prepared to re-seal the cage occasionally and expect some staining where the wood gets wet daily.
It's going to be hard to predict how often or how long you need to mist because it depends a lot on the humidity and temp cycles in your room. The misting does provide overall cage humidity not just drinking water. Many chams use drippers but not all. Hard to predict.
If your room is comfortable temp for you, the lower areas of the cage should be OK. Chams do best with a gradient and can thermoregulate themselves once they can warm up well in the mornings. No visible lights at night and no heat unless your room is going to get colder than 55 F. A regular house light bulb is fine for basking heat...the wattage will also depend on the normal range of temps in the room. Trial and error here, or have a way to adjust how close the bulb is to the cage top.

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello and welcome. All the advice you've got so far is good, but you'll definately be safe if the Cham is four months or older in that size viv. You'll have room for lots of good branches and leaves too. I assume you are planning on getting a male, because of the basking temp you mentioned. I'm guessing veiled or panther? The coolest part of the viv can be room temp no problem. Again no light or extra heat needed at night. My veiled drinks from a bowl and I mist at least 2-3 times a day for until everything is wet - including him and he drinks direct from my mister too....
A dripper or a bowl is unnecessary when you have the luxury of a mist king though, so easier not to bother. I don't know what to varnish with because my Wardrobe was already varnished before I stuck a bit of mesh on it.
Have fun and keep up the research because there's always loads more to be done when you keep a Chameleon. I can't tell you how pleased I was to get up yesterday and find 40 baby locusts bouncing around their box!

 

[SneakerHead]

Hello and welcome. All the advice you've got so far is good, but you'll definately be safe if the Cham is four months or older in that size viv. You'll have room for lots of good branches and leaves too. I assume you are planning on getting a male, because of the basking temp you mentioned. I'm guessing veiled or panther? The coolest part of the viv can be room temp no problem. Again no light or extra heat needed at night. My veiled drinks from a bowl and I mist at least 2-3 times a day for until everything is wet - including him and he drinks direct from my mister too....
A dripper or a bowl is unnecessary when you have the luxury of a mist king though, so easier not to bother. I don't know what to varnish with because my Wardrobe was already varnished before I stuck a bit of mesh on it.
Have fun and keep up the research because there's always loads more to be done when you keep a Chameleon. I can't tell you how pleased I was to get up yesterday and find 40 baby locusts bouncing around their box!

Yes I am getting a male and I plan on getting a panther from screameleons.

 

[DavidBuchan]

Yes I am getting a male and I plan on getting a panther from screameleons.

Ok, well you have all the advantages possible for a first time cham keeper, which means your life is about to be taken over.....may I be the first to request pictures when you get him, see if I can get you addicted to showing him off too

 

[Shawntea]

It is nice to see more potential owners doing research and asking questions before purchase. It works out much better for the animal and the owner both when potential owners do their homework. good for you for taking the time to get it right and not impulse buying.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Welcome!

Assuming you are getting a panther or vieled chameleon, the final cage size should be 2 foot deep, 2 foot wide, 4 feet high (or large). Nothing wrong with using this size cage for a youngster - but it does mean you must ensure that the animal can find food easily. This can be facilitated with bowl feeding (a container with insects in it hung under a favourite branch).

My cages are made of wood frame, peg board (painted with zero VOC latex acrylic) sides, plexiglass front doors, screen top. This blog entry will link you to lot of cage info: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/82-enclosures-housing.html

Mistkings are well liked. I prefer using a dripper along with hand spraying. My drippers run for about an hour each morning, and again once or twice more later in the day/evening. You need to mist for several minutes at least each time, multiple times daily, if not using a dripper. If the humidity where you are is typically low, you will want to mist more (or invest in a humidifier for the room)

The temp will depend on whether youhave a male or female. A basking spot of 84F / 29C is the hottest you'd want for a female. A male can be 90F. The lower / cooler part of the cage should be around 70F

You may find these links very useful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ryan-jarosek/119-new-arrival-bringing-home.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs...questions.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/92-hydration-importance.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
http://www.chameleonnews.com/
http://www.chameleonsonline.com/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://www.chromachameleons.com/index.php?page=care

 

[XxChame1eonsxX]

cage

you can get a cage as big as you want. i will tell a good method. you can get a stool and place it under the tray bottom this will raise tray and make it a smaller cage as he or she grows into it's cage you can take the stool out. good luck!