New to thread and Chameleon World, Check my setup out!

[Matteo]

So I do not have the Cham yet but I have been reading and setting things up. I currently own reef tanks and have a milk snake and always want the best for my pets. Here is my setup with all plants that I check to make sure are non toxic. This is my DIY cage 38x38x18in. Using petscreen for the enclosure and Velcro for the front and top.


I will be adding a third light, light 1 will be a 10.0 UVB Bulb, bulb 2 will be a LED plant bulb, and bulb 3 will be a ceramic heater, probably 100 watt. The lights will be on timers and the ceramic bulb will be on a thermostat controller.

All my pants have pet screen cut and shaped around them to cover the dirt with rocks to hold it down along to make sure no substrate is available.

I really want a Panther but am concerned on keeping the humidity right. What is the best way to keep humidity at proper levels? Spray bottle twice a day? Mister on a timer? DIY humidifier on timer? Need some input!

Thanks and any ideas on the setup is appreciated as well.

 

[MamatoElvis]

Mister on a timer is the best way to keep up humidity. A 100 watt sounds a bit high but you will have to play with it until you get your temps in the right zone. 10.0 UVB for a panther is a bit high also. They are meant for desert species. Some people do use them but usually in a bigger enclosure. Most use the 5.0 or the Arcadia 6%. You could check with Todd from Light Your Reptiles ( site sponser ) for the best advice. Just one more comment. The bottom of your enclosure has a lot of places for feeders to hide in all that Tupperware and pots.?I'd streamline that a little or cup feed. You need a lot of horizontal branches. That's where chameleons hang out the most, I've never seen a chameleon use the big ledges or hammock type things for resting or basking. There's no way for your Cham to travel around your enclosure other than climbing on the screen. You want to discourage that, it's bad for the toenails. If you go the the enclosures forum they have a sticky post with pictures of members enclosures. That should give you some ideas how to branch out your enclosure.

 

[MamatoElvis]

Actually the enclosure thread was recently posted on so it's right here among the new threads.

 

[Matteo]

Mister on a timer is the best way to keep up humidity. A 100 watt sounds a bit high but you will have to play with it until you get your temps in the right zone. 10.0 UVB for a panther is a bit high also. They are meant for desert species. Some people do use them but usually in a bigger enclosure. Most use the 5.0 or the Arcadia 6%. You could check with Todd from Light Your Reptiles ( site sponser ) for the best advice. Just one more comment. The bottom of your enclosure has a lot of places for feeders to hide in all that Tupperware and pots.?I'd streamline that a little or cup feed. You need a lot of horizontal branches. That's where chameleons hang out the most, I've never seen a chameleon use the big ledges or hammock type things for resting or basking. There's no way for your Cham to travel around your enclosure other than climbing on the screen. You want to discourage that, it's bad for the toenails. If you go the the enclosures forum they have a sticky post with pictures of members enclosures. That should give you some ideas how to branch out your enclosure.

So I decided I will get a veiled to avoid the constant humidity maintenance. I read the 5.0 is not enough and gets lost through the screening so thats why I was going to get the 10.0. I will probably get a 60 watt heater as well instead of the 100. The setup isn't finished hence the lack of vertical branches. Still looking for more and I will also be placing the fake vines they sell at petstores. All the pots and buckets have screen lined on top of the soil and river rock all up to the surface so it shouldn't be too bad. I figured the more natural the better. Cup feeding will be done occasionally but I feel like its better to stimulate natural niches and have them hunt basically. Thanks you for the input!

 

[Andee]

10.0's hurt their eyes, and I would suggest getting a linear strip light if you haven't decided on that already. The compacts are bad for them. He'll need a lot more greenery and vines. Veileds eat plants so make sure ALL those plants are safe to consume. Veileds still need high humidity, all chameleons do. So a mister and dripping system will be needed. Plus chameleons only drink from mistings or drippers, therefore they must have mistings at least 3 times a day for two minutes at a time, but it really depends on the weather in your area whether they will need more. I do 4 times a day 2 minutes each.

 

[Matteo]

10.0's hurt their eyes, and I would suggest getting a linear strip light if you haven't decided on that already. The compacts are bad for them. He'll need a lot more greenery and vines. Veileds eat plants so make sure ALL those plants are safe to consume. Veileds still need high humidity, all chameleons do. So a mister and dripping system will be needed. Plus chameleons only drink from mistings or drippers, therefore they must have mistings at least 3 times a day for two minutes at a time, but it really depends on the weather in your area whether they will need more. I do 4 times a day 2 minutes each.

Alright I will stick with 5.0. Why do you not like compacts? Too direct? Many people I know and many articles I have read said compacts are fine. Like stated in the intro before every plant was checked and researched specifically for chameleons. I will be getting a drip system (DIY) and will hand mist with a spray bottle before work and after work. I live in Oregon, really clean air and temperate weather where I live specifically.

 

[SocialNumb]

Compacts have been known to cause problems with their eyes in the past, among other things. Some recently from what i've read in these forums. I've searched through this forum several times on the subject and there's just too many horror stories to take the risk imo. Strip lights apparently are a lot safer plus give you better/wider/deeper coverage. Chams grow quick and you're going to need one anyways. A little spot light in a big enclosures isn't going to cut it.

So they're a win win.

 

[Matteo]

Compacts have been known to cause problems with their eyes in the past, among other things. Some recently from what i've read in these forums. I've searched through this forum several times on the subject and there's just too many horror stories to take the risk imo. Strip lights apparently are a lot safer plus give you better/wider/deeper coverage. Chams grow quick and you're going to need one anyways. A little spot light in a big enclosures isn't going to cut it.

So they're a win win.

Okay sounds good! I read they're good for plants to which will give my plants a better coverage as well. So if I got a strip like T5/T8 etc. do I leave like a 1/3 of tank to still have the ceramic heater for spot basking? How many watts of UVB for my size terrarium.

 

[Andee]

I would a basking bulb for heat, because most chams only relate warmth with light. I would only use ceramic heat emitters for night time if it gets too cold.

 

[Matteo]

Here is it now with branches and many vertical pieces. Besides equipment do I need more branches or greens?

 

[Scout]

Your going to want multiple levels of branches so your chameleon can thermal regulate, if he has only 1 branch under his heat lamp, he only has one choice of where to bask. If you give him multiple areas accessible to his heat source he will happily regulate more normally.

 

[MamatoElvis]

I just moved my guy into his big boy enclosure. The plants haven't had a chance to fill in so it will have more foliage in a few weeks. This should give you an idea about the branches though. Pretty much vertical branches from top to bottom.

 

[Matteo]

alright how is this? I am going to get more branches for the top left. Do I need more overall though? Do I have enough foliage?

I plan on making a drip system using a simple aquarium pump to pump water through airline hosing which at the top will drip from many different holes sort of like a drip hose for your garden. Put on a timer and have it drip for a minute 3x a day. Thoughts? Also I will soon be getting two 18in T5 UVB bulbs to light the whole the enclosure and to make sure all plants have a even spread of light.

 

[Andee]

Most plants need a plant grow light to be able to survive. Are all your plants chameleon friendly? I still think there needs to be more foliage.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/rykers-new-enclosure-pics-him-right-now-143706/

Follow the thread, my enclosure is the attachments in the first post. What I think you have is too much open space in one area. It will make the chameleon feel unsafe and exposed, likely making a defensive chameleon because of it. All your plants are low to the ground and not really in the general branch area.

 

[MamatoElvis]

Much better. You will get an idea later if it's enough. Your Cham should be able to reach everywhere in the enclosure without walking on the screen. When you put your Cham in there, if he's struggling to reach branches. Add more.

 

[MamatoElvis]

A pothos sitting on that ledge in the left corner would fill it out nicely.

 

[SocialNumb]

That will be too much UVB I'm thinking. (?) You're basically going back to the 10.0 you agreed not to use. If you want more light for your plants get a full spectrum 6.5k "daylight bulb". You can go here http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/ and ask Todd what would be ideal.

They also sell other brands elsewhere. I'm using SunBlaster's T5HO Lighting and a Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO both 24" on my setup at the moment but I'll eventually visit the link above and get a dual setup from there.

As for foliage, the idea is that they could hide if they want to and or get away from the lights/heat if need be. With branches and vines and what not the idea is multiple levels to give them choice and the ability to basically get anywhere they need to go to discourage screen climbing. I have to add some myself as there are some spots where the crickets get to that sometimes makes my cham become impatient and she'll go ahead and climb the screen to get at them. Been baking branches all day, wish I would have thought about that before I got her in there.

 

[Matteo]

Alright I will just stick with one fixture. Also UVB can grow plants. It's spectrum along with the added UVB is meant to simulate natural sunlight. Yes the plants are all safe. I will look for more foliage and find some vine like plants to add to the gap in the middle. I will probably add a couple more branches or so. Is the light hanging on the right going to be an okay spot for the ceramic bulb? Or should the ceramic bulb be in the middle?

 

[nick barta]

In reading your thread, I am impressed at the research you have done, and the willingness to make changes.

You REALLY want to talk to Todd from Light Your Reptiles to get your fixture and bulbs. You don't need a ceramic heater, just a 8-inch dome light with a 70 watt bulb or so.

Panthers or Veilds do not need high humidity, but dripping water is imperative, so an automatic Mist King system or a drip bottle is best. If you want a Panther, don't get a Veiled due to humidity; they both do fine with misting, plants, and drips.

I am in Seattle, and you have Epic Chameleons in Oregon you can buy a chameleon from, and Chameleons Northwest is in Washington.

Welcome to the Forum.

CHEERS!

Nick

 

[Matteo]

In reading your thread, I am impressed at the research you have done, and the willingness to make changes.

You REALLY want to talk to Todd from Light Your Reptiles to get your fixture and bulbs. You don't need a ceramic heater, just a 8-inch dome light with a 70 watt bulb or so.

Panthers or Veilds do not need high humidity, but dripping water is imperative, so an automatic Mist King system or a drip bottle is best. If you want a Panther, don't get a Veiled due to humidity; they both do fine with misting, plants, and drips.

I am in Seattle, and you have Epic Chameleons in Oregon you can buy a chameleon from, and Chameleons Northwest is in Washington.

Welcome to the Forum.

CHEERS!

Nick

Thank you! I have owned many pets and currently own 2 reef tanks and a snake. I always want the best for my exotic friends always always do research before. I will talk to Todd and I think I still want a Veiled, I like the green color a lot but we will see. I probably won't get a cham till the end of the month if not later. The reason for the ceramic bulb is at night my room can drop to easily 65 or lower sometimes. Also speaking of changes I added some porthos! just a couple more branches and I think we are there. After that next is to talk to Todd about lighting, then creating a drip/mist system.