Newbie - Please give Opinions/Advice on My Setup

[natureboy86]

Things to note:

Cham: Male Vieled, about 3 1/2 months. 4'' body (see avatar )

Demensions: 2x2x3
Screen: Aluminum
Lights: 5.0 reptisun tube UVB light & 75 watt reptisum basking light (100 watt burnt out in two days wtf!)

Exo-terra jungle vines, two large, one small, wrapped and entertwined throughout the bottom/middle of the cage. Little highways for him to have multiple ways to get to his basking area top-right.

Plant: Vines are fake, but the plant on the left is a Money Tree. He LOVES it-- drinks exclusively from it, does chomp on a few leaves here and there, and he actually sleeps on it (don't know if it's normal for them to not sleep in their baksing area if anyone can comment on that).

Water: Manual misting 2 times a day, sometimes 3. Yesterday I cut a small hole in the bottom of a plastic cup and put it ontop of the cage as a dripper. Water is dropping into his Money Tree

Time I've had him: Two days, today's the 3rd.

I'm thinking of going to Michael's later today and buying a thin piece of petrified wood or some rope to to hang across the top. I feel he needs more access to higher parts of his home. What do you guys thing?

Any advice, critique, or compliments are welcome

 

[BocaJan]

You need to move some vines or sticks to the top for basking branches. Other than that, nice.

 

[natureboy86]

You need to move some vines or sticks to the top for basking branches. Other than that, nice.

Thanks. So his basking spot is in the top right. It's a big, thick vine that sort of loops like a roller coaster in the back. You think I should maybe have a branch or something that goes horizontally or diagnally across the top a little higher than the loop that's currently in there?

 

[laurie]

I would add another live plant, a ficus, umbrella even a pothos. I would give him more places at the top. The reason he spends so much time in the money tree is that is the only thing at the top. Chameleons love to climb. He needs another live plant going to the top and lots of highways. Both horizontal and vertical. Those are just what I would do but it is up to you how you design a cage.

 

[camimom]

What supplements do you have?
Also you don't need those expensive basking bulbs, regular house bulbs work just as we'll and don't cost nearly as much.
I would most at least 4 or 5 times a day.
As for his sleeping, some Chams sleep in their basking spots, others don't, where they sleep isn't a problem, what is a problem is if they sleep durin the day or if they don't wake up or spend their days on te floor.

 

[natureboy86]

I would add another live plant, a ficus, umbrella even a pothos. I would give him more places at the top. The reason he spends so much time in the money tree is that is the only thing at the top. Chameleons love to climb. He needs another live plant going to the top and lots of highways. Both horizontal and vertical. Those are just what I would do but it is up to you how you design a cage.

Ok, I think I'll take that advice. Perhaps a little plant hanging from the cage in one of the corners. A few ropes or branches that give him access the the top as well. i definitely thing the top can use more highways.

What supplements do you have?
Also you don't need those expensive basking bulbs, regular house bulbs work just as we'll and don't cost nearly as much.
I would most at least 4 or 5 times a day.
As for his sleeping, some Chams sleep in their basking spots, others don't, where they sleep isn't a problem, what is a problem is if they sleep durin the day or if they don't wake up or spend their days on te floor.

For supplements I have calium w/ D3, as well as calcium w/out D3. I dust with calcium every morning, and put about 4-5 crickets in his cage. I usually hand feed him 1-2 crickets before I leave for work, then leave the rest up to him. I haven't seen him hunt as of yet, but the crickets do disappear somewhat (although when I get home, there still will be a few left).

one question about dusting the crickets, while I hand feed him a couple, which ensures he gets the calcium coat, the rest free range. When I mist, it 'rains', and I'm afraid maybe the mist washes off the calcium dust on the rest of the crickets. Any thoughts on that, or will there still be sufficient calcium left on the crickets after a mist?
so will a regular house bulb give off as much heat as a basking bulb? Right now, i had a 100w basking bulb, and it only made his basking area 80-82 degrees. It sits on top of the cage, and his basking spot was about 12'' away from it. My worry is that if I switch to a regular house bulb, the heat will decrease.

Thoughts?

 

[laurie]

A basking bulb is a high priced household bulb. Watt for watt they produce the same heat if they are both incandescent, if halogen, get the same size and watt, you have the same light and heat. That is my opinion based on experience.

If you can get a household or basking bulb as the second light in your fixture I would try for that. If not get a cheap dome light at walmart or a place like it, buy several sizes of bulbs and swap out until you get the temp you are after. Cheap, easy and works, that is my style.

 

[slinko9]

Perhaps a couple of good thermometers and a hygrometer just so you can regulate top and bottom temperatures and the humidity in the cage!!!
Welcome,,,,and beauty cage!!!!!

 

[natureboy86]

A basking bulb is a high priced household bulb. Watt for watt they produce the same heat if they are both incandescent, if halogen, get the same size and watt, you have the same light and heat. That is my opinion based on experience.

If you can get a household or basking bulb as the second light in your fixture I would try for that. If not get a cheap dome light at walmart or a place like it, buy several sizes of bulbs and swap out until you get the temp you are after. Cheap, easy and works, that is my style.

Awesome. i'm going to buy a few regular house bulbs today then. Are 'energy efficient' coil bulbs ok, or standard round bulb is suggested?

Perhaps a couple of good thermometers and a hygrometer just so you can regulate top and bottom temperatures and the humidity in the cage!!!
Welcome,,,,and beauty cage!!!!!

Thank you! I took a lot of time building the cage, and I'm not really saavy when it comes to building things in the first place so it took me EXTRA long .I actually have two thermometers, one right behind his basking rest in the top-right, and one opposite side of the cage, on the bottom. The hydrometer i have on the bottom as well (sorry the pic is so dark, my aparment is rather dim).

Basking temp, according to thermometer right behind it, is usually around 80-82 degrees, and the bottom of the cage usually reads 70 during the day.. At night, my apartment gets down to about 65 degrees.

 

[laurie]

Sorry energy efficient coils do not putout heat. Go for regular household.

 

[natureboy86]

Sorry energy efficient coils do not putout heat. Go for regular household.

Thanks! Thought I'd check to see if I can 'go green' with my little green guy

 

[laurie]

I know is sure would be nice. But since you can't we will all help you go astray with us. We are here for you!!

 

[natureboy86]

Thanks you guys for all the advice thus far.

So, so far the main recommendations would be to add another live plant, and perhaps a highway near the top of the cage. Sounds very doable thing, and good advice.

I also kinda want to figure out a way to rig up a feeder cup in the middle of the cage. Right now, he's eaten about 4 crickets from my hand in the two days that I've had him. I haven't seen him hunt just yet, because he NEVER goes to the bottom of the cage where the crickets are. The only cricket I've seen him get by himself was a cricket that happened to climb up the cage, near his basking spot. I'm thinking I need to rig a feeder's cup or bowl in the middle, so I can offer him some easy game like worms.


Thoughts?

 

[camimom]

I use a plastic bin. Similar to a shoe box size.
I attach it in the cage to plants or the wall.. And put the bugs in .

 

[laurie]

I make my kids hunt for dinner. But i tilt the cricket cup so the crickets go up the screen to where the hungry baby is. If you hold the cup next to the screen and tilt the top out a bit that allows the crickets to walk up the cup and onto the screen.

 

[buddy912]

Thanks you guys for all the advice thus far.

So, so far the main recommendations would be to add another live plant, and perhaps a highway near the top of the cage. Sounds very doable thing, and good advice.

I also kinda want to figure out a way to rig up a feeder cup in the middle of the cage. Right now, he's eaten about 4 crickets from my hand in the two days that I've had him. I haven't seen him hunt just yet, because he NEVER goes to the bottom of the cage where the crickets are. The only cricket I've seen him get by himself was a cricket that happened to climb up the cage, near his basking spot. I'm thinking I need to rig a feeder's cup or bowl in the middle, so I can offer him some easy game like worms.


Thoughts?

just a little note about those coil bulbs, yes they dont make enough heat but also if one should happen to burst not rare but does happen the dust in them is a bad chemical n could harm ur cham if possible burst. it did happen to a close friend of mine n she lost her 2 yr old cham. also with the worms they like horn worms n butter worms also calcium worms r nice as well.

 

[natureboy86]

I use a plastic bin. Similar to a shoe box size.
I attach it in the cage to plants or the wall.. And put the bugs in .

Nice. I could picture that

I make my kids hunt for dinner. But i tilt the cricket cup so the crickets go up the screen to where the hungry baby is. If you hold the cup next to the screen and tilt the top out a bit that allows the crickets to walk up the cup and onto the screen.

That's a good idea. So, rather than leaving bugs in a cup, or throwing crickets in the bottom of the cage, you lean the cup against the screen to make the crickets climb the screen? That would work. Actually, the ONLY time I've seen my little guy get his own cricket, was because it climbed the screen. So i think this is a good suggestion. thanks.

just a little note about those coil bulbs, yes they dont make enough heat but also if one should happen to burst not rare but does happen the dust in them is a bad chemical n could harm ur cham if possible burst. it did happen to a close friend of mine n she lost her 2 yr old cham. also with the worms they like horn worms n butter worms also calcium worms r nice as well.

Wow, that's sad. yea, I'll buy a regular house bulb. I'm actually taking back my 100w basking bulb to petco today. It only lasted TWO DAYS and it wouldn't turn on this morning. Luckily, I had a spare 70watt basking bulb that I bought a week ago, so i plugged that in this morning.