Setting up New Cage

[froggielog]

Gutted it:
With umbrella plant and pothos:
p I know it looks bad, bear with me)

So does anyone have any tips on setting up the branches? I have a bunch of horizontal real branches and 5 fake bio vine things. I know how to do it with zip ties and such but it tears up my screen.......


**Ill update with pics of the enclosure

 

[Swayne8998]

You could maybe zip-tie the vines to the plant branches...?

What the store I go to does with their reptiles (the owner makes the cages, etc. himself) cages is they use fishing line to hold up the branches and such.

 

[froggielog]

Yup I just went with zip ties

This is with the real branches added

 

[Swayne8998]

Yup I just went with zip ties

This is with the real branches added

Nice! What material is your mesh made of? Make sure the branches and screen can withstand the weight of your cham.

 

[froggielog]

Finished!!!

How does it look? Also is a 75w bulb okay for basking? (its just setting on top of the screen)

 

[Swayne8998]

How does it look? Also is a 75w bulb okay for basking? (its just setting on top of the screen)

Looking great I use a 75w bulb to keep temps at 90 for my veiled, but it's probably different in Texas. I also angle my heat lamp in the corner so it doesn't affect the temp of the rest of the cage. If it is sitting on top, make sure it's far away enough so that you cham won't get burned (8-10 inches from basking spot). I posted a pic of my setup in this thread https://www.chameleonforums.com/heat-lamp-help-86943/

 

[Wykd]

well i usually like to place a basking branch in temporary and put the thermometer on it for about 30 minutes and see what the temp reads. If its higher than i want my basking spot i lower etc... then when i have the temp i want i affix if it permanently.

then i set my main plant in the center and then add my branches and then vines. I do it this way to provide pathways down into the plant and around the plant. But have to remember to make it so the major plant could be removed for drying out and cleaning etc...

example in the picture below of a 18x18x36 i have setup. the 2 branches in the front of the plant going down are easy to remove then the plant can be removed if need be. Note that the dome light for the basking spot is tilted for an angle across the tank. In this tank i mist alot so I want it to warm up the cage to offset all the water which lowers the enclosure temp(is in a low humidity room).

 

[mrfixit01]

Looks great from here also. I use a 75 in one corner and a 50 in the other with the Repti Glo pretty much in the center. Temps barely can hit 90 running all day. But I have my lights about 6" above the screen top and then there's another 6-9" down to the basking spots. Even in Texas, I don't have to worry about getting too hot in the house with a/c running.