Ok, I seem to find myself in a purchasing cycle here. I do research and buy stuff, then do more research and realize I bought the wrong stuff so I have to buy more "right stuff". I have a young female veiled chameleon named Zanzibar and want to provide her with only the best. I'm not cheap and want to pay as much as I need for sufficient living, I'm just sick of throwing my money away on the wrong stuff. I'll post a pic of her soon. I got her four days ago from a reptile show in Illinois and unfortunately the seller was away and some uninformed people helped me so I'm not exactly sure how old she is or anything.
I started with a 30 gallon extra tall aquarium with screen lid because they are arboreal. I have fake bendable vines in it and fake plants suction-cupped to the sides. I spray the inside with a spray bottle before work, after work, and again later at night. I only had a general basking light and then got a 5.0 compact for UVB.
My next step, I just bought (currently shipping to me) a reptarium cage with mesh screen 16.5"x28"x30" because I heard glass enclosures are bad, zoo med dripper with vine 79oz because I feel she is not getting enough water, dual 20" fixture with two ExoTerra 10.0 compacts because she needs UVB and I was under the impression that 10.0 is better because it goes farther, and a two setting timer to controll the lights.
Then I hear... that the reptarium cage is bad because it is too small and will melt because of the basking light, compact bulbs are bad so I need to buy other lights/fixture, simply spraying a basic water bottle is bad and I should get a mist spray bottle or an auto mister.
Can anyone help me? I've already spent about $80 on improper lighting, $100 on wrong cages, and am still buying other odds and ends to meet my cham's needs.
First of all, is my reptarium suitable? Do I need something else?
2) Any recomendations on a light/fixture? I will have the setup (depending on size recommended) on a wall very near sliding glass doors so she should get some natural sunlight.
3) Should I buy some live plant(s) or still feed Zanz by hanging kale next to her perch? - I do feed her crickets and have some waxworms on the way too.
4) Should I buy an auto mister? They're expensive but I'll gladly buy one if she needs it.
5) Should I keep her food in a bowl mounted high in her cage or should I let the insects run free?
Can anyone please provide specifics for exactly what I should get/do, such as a certain product on a certain website? I need to hurry so her health doesn't suffer in the mean time.
I really appreciate any and all help and hope that I can become a master care-taker for Zanz.
Nick
I started with a 30 gallon extra tall aquarium with screen lid because they are arboreal. I have fake bendable vines in it and fake plants suction-cupped to the sides. I spray the inside with a spray bottle before work, after work, and again later at night. I only had a general basking light and then got a 5.0 compact for UVB.
My next step, I just bought (currently shipping to me) a reptarium cage with mesh screen 16.5"x28"x30" because I heard glass enclosures are bad, zoo med dripper with vine 79oz because I feel she is not getting enough water, dual 20" fixture with two ExoTerra 10.0 compacts because she needs UVB and I was under the impression that 10.0 is better because it goes farther, and a two setting timer to controll the lights.
Then I hear... that the reptarium cage is bad because it is too small and will melt because of the basking light, compact bulbs are bad so I need to buy other lights/fixture, simply spraying a basic water bottle is bad and I should get a mist spray bottle or an auto mister.
Can anyone help me? I've already spent about $80 on improper lighting, $100 on wrong cages, and am still buying other odds and ends to meet my cham's needs.
First of all, is my reptarium suitable? Do I need something else?
2) Any recomendations on a light/fixture? I will have the setup (depending on size recommended) on a wall very near sliding glass doors so she should get some natural sunlight.
3) Should I buy some live plant(s) or still feed Zanz by hanging kale next to her perch? - I do feed her crickets and have some waxworms on the way too.
4) Should I buy an auto mister? They're expensive but I'll gladly buy one if she needs it.
5) Should I keep her food in a bowl mounted high in her cage or should I let the insects run free?
Can anyone please provide specifics for exactly what I should get/do, such as a certain product on a certain website? I need to hurry so her health doesn't suffer in the mean time.
I really appreciate any and all help and hope that I can become a master care-taker for Zanz.
Nick
