screen vs glass retaining heat/RH

[dropkickmurphy]

A brief question in regards to how well does a all screen cage do as far as holding in humidity and heat (which isnt a problem now this time of the year)?

 

[warpdrive]

It holds in the heat and humidity about as well as it does air.

Harry

 

[sandrachameleon]

Screen does a poor job of retaining heat and humidity

 

[morpheon]

Screening with proper misting and natural plants does very well.
In fact, i consider it is much better than glass. Also, nobody says that you can't have one or two solid walls (3 to me is too much, 1 the best, 2 is fine). This way, it is a bit better than just 4 walls of screening!

PS: Harry, i loved your answer! You seem to be very pragmatic!

 

[Infinite ink]

I have been wondering this myself, since this is going to be my first winter with chameleons..
Right now its relatively humid in Chicago, but winters can be brutal out here..

I have read about people covering parts of their cage with cardboard for northern climates...I'm thinking plastic shower curtains let more light in but i don't know how well it will hold temps..

 

[draetish]

Or you can cover the back and one side with a sheet, blanket, towel and keep a cool mist humidifier going in the room it's self with the door closed. Then the ambient RH would be the same in the enclosure as it is in the entire room without soaking the cage. Granted you still want to mist the cage twice a day. My point being is that it is easier to maintain a constent humidity level in the entire room instead of a cage. Also you can place a bucket of water outside the cage to produce RH.

 

[eisentrauti]

One of the main problems with glass cages, especially if you want one in a good size for calyptratus, is the price.
Beside this, nothing speaks against them. Complete Europe keeps many different species in glass enclosures - I think all in all with more success than the screen cage fraction in the US.

If you take a screen enclosure you need to make the hole surrounding water proof, another problem.

 

[sandrachameleon]

... it is easier to maintain a constent humidity level in the entire room instead of a cage.

especially if the cage is screen.

Ideally, I suppose it would be great to have two cages. A screen or wire cage for when the local environmental conditions are favourable to the chameleon, and a more enclosed (glass or otherwise) cage for when you need to more easily control a micro-climate within the cage.

 

[dropkickmurphy]

especially if the cage is screen.

Ideally, I suppose it would be great to have two cages. A screen or wire cage for when the local environmental conditions are favourable to the chameleon, and a more enclosed (glass or otherwise) cage for when you need to more easily control a micro-climate within the cage.

well thats the thing I was wondering..I was thinking do these guys focus on the room itself more? Where as with a more enclosed cage you can controll it easier,not dealing with drafts and such.

 

[draetish]

well thats the thing I was wondering..I was thinking do these guys focus on the room itself more? Where as with a more enclosed cage you can controll it easier,not dealing with drafts and such.

I go by the humidity in the room. It's been raining for the last two days, so I also open a window and it really shoots up the humidity. Watch the temp in the room though, I have the ceiling fan on and still run the ac if needed.

 

[sandrachameleon]

well thats the thing I was wondering..I was thinking do these guys focus on the room itself more? Where as with a more enclosed cage you can controll it easier,not dealing with drafts and such.

They are certainly aware of what's going on outside the cage, if they can see it (either through screen or glass or whatever)

In terms of what housing is best, Everyones situation is different. You have to decide what to use for a cage based on your own environment.

Where I am, its more likely to be too cold than too warm. So for me it makes sense to both use an enclosure that retains heat moderately well, and to heat the room in which the cages are kept somewhat as well. a balance.

If you live somewhere moderately warm and humid, someplace where the normal conditions are close to ideal for your chameleons, you could choose a cage that lets that ideal temp and humidity in.

If there was a lot of stressfull activity going on around the cage, something that obscured the chams view would be good.

 

[dropkickmurphy]

what is everyone keeping their rooms/cages at humidity wise?

 

[warpdrive]

what is everyone keeping their rooms/cages at humidity wise?

For a veiled, try to keep the humidity in your room above 35%.
Yet not higher then 55%.
With plants and a screen cage you will be fine.
You might need a cool mist room humidifier to do this.

I would use a class cage if not for the high humidity of my summer months.
Glass and 60% humidity would be too much for my panther as the cage humidity would stay too high.

I don,t remember where you live but when in drought go screen and cover a side or two with plastic or towels.

Harry

 

[sandrachameleon]

My room is 40% humidity or higher.
Obviously inside the cages its quite a bit higher when misting, but I dont mist often (my chameleons drink from drippers, so the misting is mostly just for eye and skin health)

 

[draetish]

The room humidity is 55% give or take and I think it's due to the large drip buckets under the chams cages that are uncovered. Yes, I empty them everynight and clean once a week. I haven't had to use my humidifier at all this summer. I mist in the AM to get the chams swallowing mechanism started and then they go to their drips and drink. I also mist the plants to up the humidity in the morning.

 

[Clifford]

I use a big bird cage to house my chameleon. In the winter, when humidity is low due to electric heating, I use a green plastic shower curtain to cover the back and both sides (cut to fit). This helps retain humidity when I need it, and I remove it when I want better air circulation. Gives me choices. Just gotta remember to keep the heat lamp away from the plastic!