New to the site and chameleon keeping

LLL Reptiles is a site sponsor, and this is a fine kit for starts, but there are gaps and things I'd do different.

18"x18"x36" screen cage - I have a cage this size, then I bought a larger one. I'm now using it for a smaller chameleon, for many this is a size that is fine for a growing chameleon but might too small for an adult.

100 Watt Powersun Bulb - I don't know this bulb, but you will need UVB. For basking, 100W is a lot, a plain 60W in a dome on the top of the screen will probably be plenty (too much if the chameleon can get close). This is a good all around fixture that has UVB and light for plants, but you would still add to it a plain 60W basking bulb.

ZM Mini Deep Dome Lamp - works great, just like a clamp lamp will, for a 60W basking bulb.

High Range Thermometer - probably a fine inexpensive thermometer. A $25 laser pointer style IR thermometer will give you much better information about basking temp, which is what you want to focus on. Your indoor cage will probably not be too cold (even at night) but the basking location may get too hot, and cause burns.

2 x 72" Tropical Vines - I'd use one for a cage that size, along with a bunch of live pothos or a nice schefflera if I could find one.

Small Jungle Vine - these are good, I'd want a large one of the same as well. Probably some dowels or baked branches too for horizontal basking locations. Dragon Ledges are super helpful for setting up structure inside a cage, and these Jungle Vines are right up there too.

Rep Cal Ultrafine Calcium - you will need additional supplements - most people use two others in addition to a plain calcium like this, calcium with D3 (twice a month) and a multivitamin for a small amount of A (twice a month). Supplements (and gut loading) are really important. I like Pashy Calcium Plus LoD to try to simplify things by making all feedings like another.

Spray Bottle - probably a basic inexpensive one - I'd want to go ahead and get a pressure pump style, like this one or this one. Speaking of hydration, chameleons need a lot of water. Consider setting up a drip system (once per second on top of the cage) and maybe even an automatic misting system. Depending on what you do for water and misting (multiple times each and every day without fail) you may want to use a drainage tray, like this one.

Chameleon Care Book - probably helpful.

Includes shipping - for $200, I'd expect so. But if you're worried about shipping costs, chameleons may not be for you. You can definitely save money by planning and spending carefully, but a lot of time spending less now means spending more later.
 
APailthorp,

Thank you for the great response. I may just call LLL today to see if they can "tailor a package" to my liking. I understand they're one of the best around for reptile supplies.

Regards,

Morgan
 
The lighting is probably the most complicated thing to figure out. I see that the Powersun is a single all in one mercury vapor bulb that I think will run quite hot. It costs nearly $50 to replace, maybe more with shipping. A florescent UVB tube will run about $30 but needs a fancier fixture. For both of my chameleons I run tubes plus ordinary incandescent (only 40 to 60 watts) for heat. More stuff than the Powersun single bulb set up, but far more adjustable if things are too hot, which they can be.

Good luck!
 
APailthorp,

Thank you. The breeder e-mailed me and will be setting me up with an environment as close to what he has the boys in now. I'll post up once I get everything together and then again once I get my little guy in his home. THis will be my set up +/- a few variable items.

24x24x48 black aluminum screen enclosure

24x24 black draining tray

24'' black hood

18'' repti sun 5.0 uvb bulb fits hood

10'' black basking dome

75wtt Exo terra basking bulb

Mist king pump with hose

Mist king nozzles and adapter plate for enclosure

Rep cal calcium

Rep cal multi vitamin

Live pothos or schefflera plants

(Real branches) or (fake Exo terra vines)

Anything else that you can think of that I'll need ??
 
Personally I would select everything if I got to redo my first cage. I got a starter kit for Christmas from Petco (zoo meds starter).

What did I learn:
1. The fake plants and vines were not that great
2. The uvb bulb didn't work well
3. The cage only lasted 2 months before I upgraded it.
4. The vitamins and calcium were all wrong

What I ended up having todo:
1. I put live plants, spider plant, in my Chams cage for extra foliage.
2. Got a zoo med 18 inch uvb tube bulb set for $60
3. Switched to reg house bulbs after heat lamp went out
4. Upgraded enclosure to my own diy cage $300
5. Purchased nearly every item to easily maintain set up
Timers and mister

I think you should move straight to the 2x2x4 cage and section it off if it is too big for your cham
Use live plants
LLL Reptile sells a vine that is about a dollar a foot. Buy maybe 20-25 ft and that should come in handy
Tube bulb for uvb
Single dome fixture with incandescent light bulb
Timer so you can have him/her on a schedule
A food dish to put near the top for any worms or just to drop the crickets into
A mister
LLL reptile has great prizes for calcium without D3, since you will be using this over 300 times a year it will save money to bundle it in now.
A drainage system should be thought of and planned for if you use a mister
A glad tough aware container to dust food.
 
Pharaoh,

Sage advise. There's so much to consider with these guys. I just want to get it right the first time. Thank you. I'll keep doing my homework and proceed slowly.
 
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