Outdoor living for Panthers?

[RedMountainHome]

I recently heard of some people in my area of the southeast US keeping their panther chameleons outdoors 24/7 during the summer. Aside from the obvious concerns about enclosure security & predators, what are your thoughts on keeping a chameleon in an outdoor cage at all times during the warmer months? Up till now I've just taken my guy outside during the daylight hours.

 

[Jared910]

I recently heard of some people in my area of the southeast US keeping their panther chameleons outdoors 24/7 during the summer. Aside from the obvious concerns about enclosure security & predators, what are your thoughts on keeping a chameleon in an outdoor cage at all times during the warmer months? Up till now I've just taken my guy outside during the daylight hours.

I definitely don't have any experience with it, and wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but I think it would be fine. Even though we all stress out about husbandry, the truth is Chameleons actually live in the wild! In the US southeast the environment is fine.

 

[JoeDigiorgio]

Most large scale breeders keep them outside as long as weather permits. I live in south Florida and there are both Oustalets and veiled chameleons reproducing in the wild here. Oustalets are very closely related to panthers and I would think healthy panthers could probably actually live outside year round in south Florida as well.

Obviously we don't get frost here at least normally. That would be a game changer. Our winters are pretty dry but minor adjustments can always be made. My chameleons live on my screened in patio and I'm having plastic roll blinds put up for the upcoming winter to retain humidity out there.

 

[ashton0845]

I live in Georgia and I was wondering about this too for my panther. I'm worried it gets too hot here for him.

 

[JoeDigiorgio]

I live in Georgia and I was wondering about this too for my panther. I'm worried it gets too hot here for him.

If it's not too hot in south Florida I doubt it's too hot in Georgia. Definitely too cold in the winter there though.

 

[ashton0845]

If it's not too hot in south Florida I doubt it's too hot in Georgia. Definitely too cold in the winter there though.

Oh it definitely wouldn't be a year round thing. I was just wanting to take him out on my screened in porch on the weekends.

 

[RedMountainHome]

I'm pretty close to Georgia, but far from Florida, here in North Carolina. I'm going to give this outdoor living thing a go, at least for a little while.

At what point is it too cold to keep them outdoors? Can they stay till the first frost, or...?

 

[ashton0845]

I'm pretty close to Georgia, but far from Florida, here in North Carolina. I'm going to give this outdoor living thing a go, at least for a little while.

At what point is it too cold to keep them outdoors? Can they stay till the first frost, or...?

Let me know how it goes!!

 

[Jwillchamel]

I live in nc and know a breeder that puts most of his chams out for about 3 months out the year but he makes sure atleast half the day they are shaded and he has water for them at all times except night

 

[JoeDigiorgio]

As long as there is enough foliage in the cages to produce shade there's really no problem. An outdoor misting system designed for cooling a patio or irrigating a greenhouse can be purchased on Amazon for less than $40. That's how I did my patio.