Raising Neonates

[GooglezNvincent]

For all the senior members and breeders:
What do you prefer, screen cages or bins/totes? Why?

I am contemplating going for a 6quart tote and cutting a window in all sides and stapling screen in. Drilling drainage and angling it a bit for run-off. And since the tote it fairly tall i dont have to worry about chams climbing right next to it and getting burnt.

 

[kinyonga]

Just don't leave it so they can climb the screen and reach the top and escape!

Here's what I've done...
http://chameleonnews.com/images/horgan/cagerack.jpg

 

[jojackson]

I used a plastic tub, purely for size (finding food easy) and ease of cleaning. Clamp lamp on one end with low wattage bulb and uv tube accross.
Ofcourse this idea didnt last long because the little guy soon started doing the 'reaching up' thing and discovered it could reach the edge and wander off.

From there was an exoterra glass cage till around three months or so (same reasons but escapeproof) then I felt it was too small and built a 2x2x4 timbre and screen job.
He lived in there for another month or two till he was close to 6 months then into his current home.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/homers-new-habitat-pic-heavy-23923/

 

[GooglezNvincent]

Just don't leave it so they can climb the screen and reach the top and escape!

Here's what I've done...
http://chameleonnews.com/images/horgan/cagerack.jpg

That is a sick set-up, thanks for the photo!

I used a plastic tub, purely for size (finding food easy) and ease of cleaning. Clamp lamp on one end with low wattage bulb and uv tube accross.
Ofcourse this idea didnt last long because the little guy soon started doing the 'reaching up' thing and discovered it could reach the edge and wander off.

From there was an exoterra glass cage till around three months or so (same reasons but escapeproof) then I felt it was too small and built a 2x2x4 timbre and screen job.
He lived in there for another month or two till he was close to 6 months then into his current home.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/homers-new-habitat-pic-heavy-23923/

Alright! yeah the tote it BIG prolly about 24'' high so they cant reach out!

Thank you both for your input!

 

[Ryan123]

that was a sick cage but how do you mist without water going everywhere throught the screen that why i bought cages that were solid four sides (back both sides and bottom) and the top screen and front screen

 

[GooglezNvincent]

That is true, how does the drainage work? and how difficult is it to get the bins out to clean?

 

[Ryan123]

i kno i just posted a thread cuz mine are leaking at the bottom the silicon broke and i cant just reseal them cuz of fumes and chameleons are in them

 

[Chris Anderson]

I use Exo-Terra glass terrariums fully planted with live plants and organic soil to raise babies. The soil with a layer of drainage underneath eliminates the problems you're having with water buildup and helps with the humidity. The airflow of these cages helps prevent respiratory infections while still maintaining humidity and keeping fruit flies in. I really like them for raising babies.

Chris

 

[tkilgour]

If you have a container store nearby you can but these acrylic containers. Then you simply take a drill and hole saw and put nice 2" holes in the containers. I buy screen vents from www.tarantulacages.com and glue them on. These make excellent baby enclosures with ventilation. Here is a demo of what I am talking about. I do this for my tarantulas and baby chameleons. I use taller, wider ones compared to the one in the demo for chameleons. This entire enclosure costs less than $10.00. Here is the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFH1IDXAkNU

 

[Nicodemayo]

If you have a container store nearby you can but these acrylic containers. Then you simply take a drill and hole saw and put nice 2" holes in the containers. I buy screen vents from www.tarantulacages.com and glue them on. These make excellent baby enclosures with ventilation. Here is a demo of what I am talking about. I do this for my tarantulas and baby chameleons. I use taller, wider ones compared to the one in the demo for chameleons. This entire enclosure costs less than $10.00. Here is the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFH1IDXAkNU

Tom, nice concept of a cheap enclosure idea, but an enclosure like that would be suitable for maybe 3 neonate panthers for a very short period of time, before they grew out of it. Not only that, but because of the small 2" holes, Uvb exposure will be limited. I would say sterlite bins would be a cheaper, and much more effective method of raising a larger number of neonates. My 2 cents

 

[Julirs]

I raise Veileds in 50 quart Sterlite containers like this.

Panthers I raise in 20 quart Sterlite. Economical and easy to clean. I find that if you mist correctly, and there is a good layer of papertowel (3 Layers) water does not pool up on the bottom.

 

[AncientCritters]

I raise Veileds in 50 quart Sterlite containers like this.

Panthers I raise in 20 quart Sterlite. Economical and easy to clean. I find that if you mist correctly, and there is a good layer of papertowel (3 Layers) water does not pool up on the bottom.

This is pretty much what I have for my babies. Works well.

 

[kinyonga]

You said..."That is a sick set-up, thanks for the photo!"...what do you mean by sick??

I have no problem with the water. I mist frequently but the water always seem to evaporate quickly in this climate. I have never had one develop a respiratory infection in this setup (or in any other glass cage, for that matter). Keep in mind that this works here in Ontario but might not work in warmer wetter climates.

I have raised veileds, C. chamaeleons and panther chameleons in this set up as well as cone heads, water dragons and a few other species. With the veileds, for example, I have had a 95% survival rate at the age of three months. (Of course, they are separated out as they grow so there is eventually only one per cage and before they are 4 months of age they are put in a proper adult cage.) I find that using the longer lower cages rather than tall ones leads to less "bickering" between them since they don't have to "fignt" over the top of the branch.

 

[PantherVeileD]

"sick" is a slang/term word for awesome... so yeah you have an awesome setup..

 

[GooglezNvincent]

"sick" is a slang/term word for awesome... so yeah you have an awesome setup..

Yeah it is really cool!

 

[kinyonga]

Thanks! Never heard that meaning for "sick" before.

 

[tkilgour]

Yes, your right! One that size is too small. I use that size for some tarantulas. I get much larger ones for baby chams. Also, I have a wet saw and it cuts the tops off very easily. So I cut the tops off and put screen on the entire top side, and 1, 2" screen on 2 of the sides. If that helps clearify.