Possible New Chameleon keeper?? :D Few Questions

[nick barta]

So I have another question in reguards to enclosures. I still haven't quite decided if I want to buy one or make one (looks fairly easy to make and might be quite fun ). The question is, is it really necessary to have two different size enclosures in a chameleons lifetime? I've read the "ideal" size is 2ftx2ftx4ft for an adult, but I'm seeing a few places people start off with a smaller one when they have a young/juvinile chameleon? Why is this done? I could see where a large enclosure could proove difficult for the cham finding food if you just throw feeder crickets in the enclosure, but if you hand feed or use a cup, then what could be the purpose of a small enclosure to start with?

If you have the tools and time, make one. If not, buy a LLL cage. By cup feeding and not doing a second smaller setup, you will save $.

Nick

 

[nick barta]

[For about $10.00 @ Home Depot you can get a timer to automatically turn your lights on and off. Set it to match daybreak and sunset.

I would drip one cage with a substantial sized dripper and water collection system, rather than a misting system. If you build your own cage, you need to see some options on water collection. It can be as simple as a bowl in the bottom of the cage to rain gutters! If you buy the Habba mist system, we will all pull your fingernails out........it is junk. Mistking is the way to go if you want to go big or go home.

If you come to the show, you can come early/stay late and see some setups at my place.

Nick

QUOTE=andy d;282884]Thanks to all who have helped and to those with kind words as well! Its good to hear I'm on the right track. I guess you can say over time I've learned never to jump into anything with out knowing all there is to know about it first, especially when it comes to keeping animals.

Right now I'm browsing the site, getting ideas on enclosure setups and what they consist of. So for uv lighting and basking I'm looking at reptisun 5.0 uvb and a zoo med 60 watt day bulb. Are these okay choices? Whats the procedure for when night time comes around? Do you just turn off both sources of light for that natrual drop in temp?? How do you regulate that? If there is some sort of dusk to dawn kinda system I can look into, that would be awesome!

For misting, I've seen a few posts talking about the mister moister setup. That seems like a great system, but is it kind of overkill for one chameleon?? What are some other options other than the classic mister bottle? (I'm probably going to just get one of those, but If I'm going to do it, might as well go big or go home eh? lol). How about the zoomed habba mist system?

Sorry for all the questions, but I do want to do this right. I'm thinking if I do build my own enclosure, it'd be nice to incorporate some of these into the design. I probably could have started another thread in the enclosure, but I figured why start a new one when I have a good one with some very friendly/knowledgeable people helping me out![/QUOTE]