Tell me whats wrong with this please!
- Thread starter LundqvistNYR
- Start date
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
Welcome to the forum and congrats on the panther!
You're going to want to add a lot more foliage and perches to the cage. Chameleons feel safe behind cover, and right now your cage is a little bare. You can use horizontal dowels or branches and secure them to the screen and give him more places to bask under the light, at varrying heights, and more plants to hide and drink from.
Additionally, you don't need the wood chips on the floor. They are a serious intestinal hazard if he manages to swallow one for some reason.
This is an example of a panther cage - See that he has lots of branches to choose from to be closer or farther from the basking bulbs and also has plants to hide in if he wants to. I like the floor to be bare because it's easier to clean but you don't have to, as long as there isn't dangerous substrate.
You're going to want to add a lot more foliage and perches to the cage. Chameleons feel safe behind cover, and right now your cage is a little bare. You can use horizontal dowels or branches and secure them to the screen and give him more places to bask under the light, at varrying heights, and more plants to hide and drink from.
Additionally, you don't need the wood chips on the floor. They are a serious intestinal hazard if he manages to swallow one for some reason.
This is an example of a panther cage - See that he has lots of branches to choose from to be closer or farther from the basking bulbs and also has plants to hide in if he wants to. I like the floor to be bare because it's easier to clean but you don't have to, as long as there isn't dangerous substrate.
stacy76
Member
definitely more foliage at the top and middle.and i would remove the gravel as this creates a breeding ground for bacteria and could hurt your chameleon not to mention if he or she ingests it,it could lead to a blockage resulting in surgeries or worse death..if you type in the search you can find many great ideas of cages. good luck with your baby panther and welcome to the forums!!
LundqvistNYR
Member
Ahh thank you. Also how to I get the branches to stay across the cage? And get him to drink more his pee was orange today. I did mist him 3 times and have a reptifogger and a drip system
Juliaf3
Established Member
I don't have a panther, yet, I have a Jackson, but I can tell you this, you need a drainage system. Especially since his poop is orange. If you had a drainage system, you could run more water through the cage. I have a home made drip system and I let that sucker flow through the cage, cascading down leaves. I have to refill it about four times a day. I never move it. It runs in the same spot. I agree with the "bedding" removal. Also definitely needs more foliage. If you have a hobby lobby- that's where I get all my fake plants. I do suggest one real plant in there. Helps with humidity. Granted my Cham is a Jackson, but I found since I put more foliage in my cage, he absolutely loves hiding. I keep my branches up by putting a little hot glue on a thumb tack then sticking it into the branch. I hold the branch where I want it, then from the outside I stick the thumb tack in. Kinda hard to do with one person, but do-able because I did it lol here is my cage. I think it would be ok for a panther too. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but someone will say if it is not. I still want to add about three more branches to mine.
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Juliaf3
Established Member
Welcome to the forum and congrats on the panther!
You're going to want to add a lot more foliage and perches to the cage. Chameleons feel safe behind cover, and right now your cage is a little bare. You can use horizontal dowels or branches and secure them to the screen and give him more places to bask under the light, at varrying heights, and more plants to hide and drink from.
Additionally, you don't need the wood chips on the floor. They are a serious intestinal hazard if he manages to swallow one for some reason.
This is an example of a panther cage - See that he has lots of branches to choose from to be closer or farther from the basking bulbs and also has plants to hide in if he wants to. I like the floor to be bare because it's easier to clean but you don't have to, as long as there isn't dangerous substrate.
Love this!
Juliaf3
Established Member
Oh one more thing! Invest in an outlet timer thing. It will insure that his lights are going on and off at the same time everyday. If you most in the evenings, make sure it's at least an hour before lights out. Initially I would just get up and turn them on, but I found there were days when I would sleep in. I have three kids, so when I get to sleep in, I like to take advantage of it, because sleeping past 7 is a real treat lol Set them to come on when the sun comes up and when the sun goes down. You'll have to change the time in the spring and fall. I think you can get one at petsmart for like $25-
