Questions From a Upcoming Owner

[Catinblack]

I live in Arizona. I want to get a screen cage, but my moms insistent on an aquarium. She says its better to keep humidity and such in, and I figured if we made a whole wall out of screen (76" by 18"), the airflow would work better

 

[dshuld]

With glass you need to have a chimney effect. Lower front ventilation and the top screen or you risk stagnate air causing health issues for the cham.

 

[Catinblack]

Sorry, didn't notice there was a second page, I thought my reply didn't post

 

[Catinblack]

With glass you need to have a chimney effect. Lower front ventilation and the top screen or you risk stagnate air causing health issues for the cham.

Whats a chimney effect?

 

[dshuld]

It's how a chimney functions basically lol. Fresh air enters at the opening at the bottom where the fire is and the bad air flows out the top of the chimney. I'm assuming we're talking about a 125 or 150 gal? Is this a tank you have and are trying to repurpose or one you'd have to buy?

 

[Catinblack]

One we're planning to buy. How would I make a chimney effect?

 

[dshuld]

For a male veiled and have a glass terrarium that would be cham safe you're looking for one like this one....pretty hefty price.

 

[dshuld]

One we're planning to buy. How would I make a chimney effect?

Skip it then please. In all seriousness it will not work for a cham without risking its health. You and your future cham would be much better off going with this or buying a reptibreeze and covering the sides with table cloth/ shower curtain.

http://dragonstrand.com/product/large-clearside-enclosure/

 

[Catinblack]

Could I just put a small fan into the cage, to allow better air flow?

 

[Catinblack]

I read a forum about how keeping a small fan hidden in the cage will help the airflow, without harming the cham

 

[dshuld]

No, did you find a whale of a deal on a used tank? It's not worth the health of the cham to try this. Veiled in their natural habit experience 20 to 50% humidity according to Petr Necas, one of the foremost cham experts in the world. The only way I would even attempt this is if it is a used tank that I don't mind destroying to make it something it is not meant to be. Glass panels would need to come out and screen panels put back in their place on top of the original opening being screened.

 

[Catinblack]

here, Imma open a new forum about it. If there's no way to make this work, I won't do it (obviously, his health is more important), but I do want to see if theirs a way I can. I really like the idea me and my mom are working on, so I want to try and find a way to better the airflow

 

[jamest0o0]

Aquarium glass is also thicker unlike the exo terra glass. Definitely a bad idea. Go with a clearside dragonstrand if you can, if not exo terra's will do. Or a screen cage with solid panels or plastic covering a few sides.

 

[jamest0o0]

We're planning to put something down the middle or towards the end, so as a baby, he won't be too intimidated by the space. Than, when he gets older, we're gonna flip it, and turn the top into a door

This is a myth, chameleons aren't intimidated by space. How do you think they handle the wild when they are on full grown trees?

 

[Catinblack]

Aquarium glass is also thicker unlike the exo terra glass. Definitely a bad idea. Go with a clearside dragonstrand if you can, if not exo terra's will do. Or a screen cage with solid panels or plastic covering a few sides.

That's a good point, I'll see what I can do. If I get a screen cage, do you know how to keep ventilation in?

 

[Catinblack]

This is a myth, chameleons aren't intimidated by space. How do you think they handle the wild when they are on full grown trees?

I just assumed since many are raised in captivity, they're more comfortable in smaller spaces

 

[dshuld]

That's a good point, I'll see what I can do. If I get a screen cage, do you know how to keep ventilation in?

Go to walmart to party supply area and grab a pack of plastic table cloth and tape it on the sides. $3 and problem solved without having to make sure you don't grab a shower curtain that has been treated for mold lol.

 

[jamest0o0]

No worries we all start somewhere. I've heard people pass that on before that babies don't like large enclosures, so I don't blame you.

I used corrugated plastic or pvc sheets to cover the sides

 

[Catinblack]

Alright, thank you!

 

[Goose502]

Please, keep asking questions. You have raised multiple red flags already with your planned enclosures. I’m so glad you came here first. Look, you said money was tight, therefore I recommend you not buy anything yet. Keep asking questions and researching. Can you keep a veiled on a budget, of coarse, but you really have to understand their requirements before you start to cut corners. There are literally hundreds of posts on this forum where veiled chameleons are dying and their owners have no idea. A trip to the vet is hundreds of dollars, can you afford that? You are gonna learn so much by sticking around, reading other posts and asking good questions. You will be ready soon, just not quite yet. Remember, once you build a good enclosure, you have to let it cycle and run without a chameleon, this should take a few months. That way you will notice and stop any possible problems that may and will arise. Keep at it, there is a lot to learn.