Sectioning off cage

[Cliddy]

This is my first thread, so hey everybody!
I am going to adopt a 2-4 month old veiled cham soon. Right now I have the 2x2x4 reptibreeze cage. I know this cage if far to large for a baby, so I was wondering if there is a way i could section it off until he gets bigger? I dont want the little guy to get too stressed with a too big a cage. I don't have any room for the large cage except on display, so i dont really want to purchase a new, smaller cage. If anybody has done this before or has any ideas on how to do it, please let me know!! Thanks

 

[KWREPTILES]

You could drill holes in the vertical supports that would allow you to either move the top section down and screw it in, or build a new screen section to the same dimensions and screw it in place. I recommend the latter as not having support at the top could compromise the integrity. The only trick at that point is going to be getting the lighting adjusted properly. Perhaps you could just build a frame with no screen in it to support the top of it and move the top piece down so you can string the cords down to the light fixtures.

 

[WAMBO]

just put something under the bottom, that elevates it a foot or so, but make sure that the sides of the elevated bottom are not open by putting something around the sides, so that the cham and feeders don't crawl through. Note that the Reptibreeze starter kit is a 30 x 18 x 18 inch cage.

 

[Furciferocious]

I'd be interested to hear from people experienced with babies about how big a deal cage size really is. In the wild, they seem to do just fine in an infinitely large "cage". Going from a 1.5ft to a 2ft square seems like unnecessary "cage churn" to me.

 

[WAMBO]

I understand. My impression is that they need to find the food, and it may be easier in a smaller cage. I'm sure that not all survive in the wild big outdoors.

 

[Furciferocious]

I understand. My impression is that they need to find the food, and it may be easier in a smaller cage. I'm sure that not all survive in the wild big outdoors.

It is true that finding food would be easier in a smaller cage, but that does not mean that finding food in a larger cage is difficult to the point of starvation. Particularly because we can stock prey at much higher densities than one would find in the wild. And, if we cup feed the animal will quickly figure out where the food can be found. I think small cages make a lot of sense for breeders because they have to be space efficient with a lot of animals and the babies don't need a large cage. I think that individual keepers changing cage size for an individual animal are putting themselves through unnecessary work and expense, assuming the animal is past the neonate phase.

(I'm just poking a stick at "conventional wisdom" to stir it up. Do not construe this as experience or advice.

 

[WAMBO]

It is true that finding food would be easier in a smaller cage, but that does not mean that finding food in a larger cage is difficult to the point of starvation. Particularly because we can stock prey at much higher densities than one would find in the wild. And, if we cup feed the animal will quickly figure out where the food can be found. I think small cages make a lot of sense for breeders because they have to be space efficient with a lot of animals and the babies don't need a large cage. I think that individual keepers changing cage size for an individual animal are putting themselves through unnecessary work and expense, assuming the animal is past the neonate phase.

(I'm just poking a stick at "conventional wisdom" to stir it up. Do not construe this as experience or advice.

That's what discussion is all about. And I agree that it may be true/accurate. But just in case, it is pretty easy to divide off a big cage. And I think just like you my friend.

 

[JacksJill]

I believe keeping the little guy/gal in range of the uvb and heat is the other reason for a smaller cage.
I would raise the bottom up as suggested by others.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

When I first got my Cham he was in the cage right below the 2'2'4 cage for repti breeze and he was fine. He didn't show any problems of catching food and ate all or most of the bugs/crickets I would put in there. The only issue I had was with water, but that was more about me and less about him being able to find the water.

In my opinion I think that a bigger cage is fine to cut back cost etc. However if there is a concern on how much the little one is eating or the crickets hiding maybe don't have it so heavily planted until there is confidence between you both that he/she is hunting properly.

Also, I too am not trying to ruffle any feathers, just sharing my experience this far.