Review/Critique My Enclosure

[L1z4rdB0y]

I'm probably pulling the trigger this weekend on a Jackson's.

I've been lurking for months as a non-member and finally created an account for times like this: Advice.

The enclosure is 99.9% finished. Finding a good solution for drainage is my only hurdle but I *think* I have a solution after reading almost the entire internet.

What I would like to know is: Do I have enough "stuff"? Does anyone foresee any problems with this set up?

I've been testing it by going thru the motions the last few days. Turning on the lights, spraying it down, checking the 2 digital gauges for temp/humidity (one in the basking area and the other's in the lower right shady area, I have a bigger one that's not installed yet) turning on the 2 humidifiers (one of which has tubing leading into a plastic box w/holes in the bottom that's full of ice which increases the mist amount and drips all day as it melts), The Girl sprays once or twice while I'm at work, then when I get home I check the numbers.

So far the numbers are holding and within parameters. I've been told it's difficult to keep Jackson's in Arizona. Since I'm an idiot I see that as a challenge.

I have video and will make a YouTube video shortly but FIRST wanted to run some pictures by you folks.

Thank you.

 

[rminnis]

Love the readiness and enthusiam you have already before you even have your cham! It looks awesome youve done better than most on here when it comes to filling the enclosure I think it looks amazing. What is your method of misting? Also do you have some real plants in there it looks like some are I was just making sure.

 

[rminnis]

Also I have the same light setup and basically I always try to angle the heat bulb into the UvB bulb so the cham can get both at the same time. What are you going to do for food for your cham!?

 

[rminnis]

What did you use for the wall it looks great?

 

[L1z4rdB0y]

Love the readiness and enthusiam you have already before you even have your cham! It looks awesome youve done better than most on here when it comes to filling the enclosure I think it looks amazing. What is your method of misting? Also do you have some real plants in there it looks like some are I was just making sure.

Thanks! I've always wanted to the the cham thing but was intimidated by all the horror stories. I've worked at a few petstores over the years and it would drive me nuts seeing someone purchase an animal and not have an adequate set up (the owner of The Ninja sushi restaurant in Chandler AZ was notorious for doing this...but that was 25 years ago.) If it takes me 6 months I don't care so long as it's right!

Misting. EVENTUALLY will go with an automatic one (or fiddle around with aquarium pumps and make my own) but to start I actually wanted to do it myself. 2gallon pump-pressure sprayer. Distilled water only. The water is really hard around here and I don't want calcium deposits all over everything.

The plan was go full-bore all real plants. The more I started messing with them and trying to pot them, etc etc I gave in and mixed in some fakies. As the real ones grow (pothos and a wandering jew) I'll remove the abominations.

 

[XxSepiorxX]

I have to tell you, what a great cage for chameleon before you got one!

 

[L1z4rdB0y]

Also I have the same light setup and basically I always try to angle the heat bulb into the UvB bulb so the cham can get both at the same time. What are you going to do for food for your cham!?

The Great Food Debate!

I've seen several videos on The Tube of You which have inspired me. There's a list of fruits and veggies I have written down somewhere. Throw those into The Ninja. Pour the goop (the girl will probably make a fruit slushy thing out of it and eat half the darn thing) into ice trays. Feed the cubes to Dubs and crickets.

I despise crickets so there won't be too many of those but they're a necessary evil for variety and hunting purposes. I didn't want to bowl-feed but with Dubs I don't see any other options.

Then the great TO DUST OR NOT TO DUST inner turmoil. I've flipped and flopped all over on this one and I'll start w.light, occasional dusting and vitamin A application (there was a great thread on here about that yesterday). I'm still reading.

Are there any other bugs that make good hunting prey? I've seen places that sell preying mantis! problem is I'd want to keep one as a pet.

 

[L1z4rdB0y]

What did you use for the wall it looks great?

Let's have a thought exersize. ZooMed makes a 2x2x4 cage. They sell cork backing that is 24" x 18". Falls a foot short! Why? ZooMed you hurt my brain. I had find a place the does custom sized foam-core. When I finish editing the video I'll include a list of all the stuff I bought off Amazon.

I have to tell you, what a great cage for chameleon before you got one!

Thank a lot! If i'm gonna have a critter I want it to feel at home. Stress is a killer.

If anyone sees anything that could be done better or is just flat out a bad choice let me know. I took a ton of art classes in college, I can take a verbal flogging.

I seriously really appreciate this forum.

**random thought, haven't looked** Venus Flytraps. They're suddenly at every store. I'll have to see how and/or IF they'd make good tank-mates.

 

[L1z4rdB0y]

Also I have the same light setup and basically I always try to angle the heat bulb into the UvB bulb so the cham can get both at the same time. What are you going to do for food for your cham!?

It's Reptisun 5.0. I was worried about UVB penetration. Everything I've read so far is good.

I have some OCD adjusting to do yet and that's great advice!

 

[Andee]

Is the foam core pourus and soft? If so it'll grow mold.

 

[L1z4rdB0y]

Is the foam core pourus and soft? If so it'll grow mold.

Good eye!
It's hard and sealed.

 

[XxSepiorxX]

It's Reptisun 5.0. I was worried about UVB penetration. Everything I've read so far is good.

I have some OCD adjusting to do yet and that's great advice!

The Reptisun 5.0 is what I use too. It very good. I would recommend for basking a 75 watt basking bulb or a house bulb. Both are good but you should go with the basking light if you have no spare light bulbs. Who wants to drive all the way to Lowes or The Home Depot anyways?

 

[Road_House]

Looks very good. I would recommend a mistking of you have the funds. Only thing i would change about your enclosure is those plastic cups you're using for planters. I would just order some small plastic pots off of amazon, less noticeable but overall superb job mate!

 

[rminnis]

Let's have a thought exersize. ZooMed makes a 2x2x4 cage. They sell cork backing that is 24" x 18". Falls a foot short! Why? ZooMed you hurt my brain. I had find a place the does custom sized foam-core. When I finish editing the video I'll include a list of all the stuff I bought off Amazon.



Thank a lot! If i'm gonna have a critter I want it to feel at home. Stress is a killer.

If anyone sees anything that could be done better or is just flat out a bad choice let me know. I took a ton of art classes in college, I can take a verbal flogging.

I seriously really appreciate this forum.

**random thought, haven't looked** Venus Flytraps. They're suddenly at every store. I'll have to see how and/or IF they'd make good tank-mates.

verbal flogging! Lol reminds me of basketball practices!

 

[L1z4rdB0y]

The Reptisun 5.0 is what I use too. It very good. I would recommend for basking a 75 watt basking bulb or a house bulb. Both are good but you should go with the basking light if you have no spare light bulbs. Who wants to drive all the way to Lowes or The Home Depot anyways?

There's a 50w up in there. Can't remember the exact kind but I do know it's waterproof.

 

[L1z4rdB0y]

Looks very good. I would recommend a mistking of you have the funds. Only thing i would change about your enclosure is those plastic cups you're using for planters. I would just order some small plastic pots off of amazon, less noticeable but overall superb job mate!

Thanks for the compliments sir!

Amazon. I bought everything there. Pots? For some reason I keep forgetting Amazon. has. EVRYTHING! Thanks for the tip. It's happening!