Tooney's Condo

[psylvia]

A while back, my wife and daughter brought home this Chameleon and named him Neptune. Never having had any reptiles previously, I thought this crazy looking thing would last a few months and that would be the end of that. Well, Tooney has been with us for more than 6 months and he's awesome! He definitely has a personality and is absolutely gorgeous. He goes on outings with my daughter, happily perched atop her head, cruising around the grocery store, much to the surprise of other shoppers. Sitting atop her head is actually his favorite place to hang out surprisingly. Well he has quickly outgrown the 55 gallon fish tank he came in and would get mad when we tried to put him back in it so it was time to build him a proper home. Over several weekends I researched in forums like this one, Pinterest and every resource I could find to build him a large enclosure. I designed it to match the furniture I built for my daughter a few years ago and he loves his new home. Here are some of the build pics. Just waiting on the parts for a misting system and timers from Amazon so I can automate everything. Will also be adding additional plants as well.

I thoroughly appreciate and enjoy all of the knowledge, details and build pics everyone shares in this forum as I would not have been able to do it without you taking the time to enlighten the newbs like me ) Thank you!!

 

[Theveiled]

I bet he was not happy in the fish tank! Not a place for a chameleon at all

 

[Theveiled]

What size cage is his new cage?

 

[Theveiled]

I would definitely add more foliage and branches at diffrent levels for him

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. Nice new build but guess what? He will want out of there too soon. Veileds are great pets and Neptune looks awesome.

My guys hang out with me and often go shopping and running errands. It's amazing how many people never notice them.

 

[Decadancin]

Welcome to the forums! That enclosure looks very well built! Great job. I would also add a few more vines and foliage, but it looks like your cham is loving his new digs!

 

[psylvia]

Thank you. It's 30" wide, 20" deep, 48" tall. Just added a 100 watt mercury vapor Uva/Uvb lamp today. Foliage is coming next for sure. The foliage you see filled his previous home so we will add live small trees and vines. Any recommendations?

 

[psylvia]

I was thinking of making a large PVC outdoor enclosure for him to hang out in during the day in the future. This is the chameleon I said "I'm not going to be taking care of so don't ask!" Lol. I'm a sucker!!

 

[Decadancin]

I love to use Golden Pothos because the leaves hold onto water droplets well. Just make sure your boy doesn't eat too many of the leaves because they contain oxalates. (a little is OK ) For more substantial trees, I would go with Schefflera Arboricola. Good branches to hold onto, and do pretty well in artificial lighting.

 

[psylvia]

Ok. Thank you I will look those up. Several nurseries close by so hopefully they will be easy to find. I'm clueless on the plants aside from knowing giving him the wrong ones can poison him.

 

[Decadancin]

Ok. Thank you I will look those up. Several nurseries close by so hopefully they will be easy to find. I'm clueless on the plants aside from knowing giving him the wrong ones can poison him.

We are currently working on the Plant Resource, but there are tons of ideas if you do searches on the forums. Hopefully the first version of the resource will be ready soon.

 

[psylvia]

I've been googling various plants for him and this forum always comes up first. Nice!!

 

[Decadancin]

Ok. Thank you I will look those up. Several nurseries close by so hopefully they will be easy to find. I'm clueless on the plants aside from knowing giving him the wrong ones can poison him.

Good idea to post the plant name and a pic so we can see what ones you are considering. We may be able to steer you in the right direction.

 

[trickedoutbiker]

He goes on outings with my daughter, happily perched atop her head, cruising around the grocery store, much to the surprise of other shoppers.

My guys hang out with me and often go shopping and running errands. It's amazing how many people never notice them.

This is the first I've ever heard of people taking their chameleons on errands and outings...... Wouldn't that typically stress them out? Typically, chameleons don't like to be handled a lot and they don't like a lot of unfamiliar things.... so wouldn't taking them out and about where there are TONS of unknown things and TONS of people walking past you and such, stress them out? When it comes to traveling, I also know that most people recommend a dark box when say, going to a new house or taking the chameleon to the vet. A dark box is usually recommended because the chameleon can't see what is going on, such as trees passing the car as you drive, other drivers passing you as you drive, so on and so forth..... and therefore, it is less stress on the cham.

Now, I'm NOT saying that it is bad you both take your chameleons out and about.... I'm basically asking - Doesn't it stress them a bit? Or are they just super super friendly and love to hangout?

Neat...

 

[Chachi]

I have only 1 that is ok to take out. My others arent up for it. I think it depends on the baby. Some are fine and are show offs. Others dont have that type of personality.

 

[jannb]

This is the first I've ever heard of people taking their chameleons on errands and outings...... Wouldn't that typically stress them out? Typically, chameleons don't like to be handled a lot and they don't like a lot of unfamiliar things.... so wouldn't taking them out and about where there are TONS of unknown things and TONS of people walking past you and such, stress them out? When it comes to traveling, I also know that most people recommend a dark box when say, going to a new house or taking the chameleon to the vet. A dark box is usually recommended because the chameleon can't see what is going on, such as trees passing the car as you drive, other drivers passing you as you drive, so on and so forth..... and therefore, it is less stress on the cham.

Now, I'm NOT saying that it is bad you both take your chameleons out and about.... I'm basically asking - Doesn't it stress them a bit? Or are they just super super friendly and love to hangout?

Neat...

No they don't get stressed at all because they are use to it. All of my guys have always free ranged and I spend tons of time with them interacting everyday. You can see pictures of some of my past and present guys on their outings here in post 45 and 46:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...f-awareness-via-the-mirror-test.151232/page-3

 

[Chachi]

No they don't get stressed at all because they are use to it. All of my guys have always free ranged and I spend tons of time with them interacting everyday. You can see pictures of some of my past and present guys on their outings here in post 45 and 46:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...f-awareness-via-the-mirror-test.151232/page-3

Jann, whats the stuff you have him standing on? I let my guy sit on a plant but you have a better idea w that stuff. Enlighten me, pls

 

[Remkon]

I really love the looks of that enclosure!
Before it was painted it looked already so nice, you could have probably just clear coated it.

 

[jannb]

Jann, whats the stuff you have him standing on? I let my guy sit on a plant but you have a better idea w that stuff. Enlighten me, pls

My husband makes little stands and artificial trees that fit perfectly in the floor of the passenger seat of my car. We ordered that vine from Cali for our Parsons. They use it on movie sets. I can't remember the name at the moment but I'll ask my husband and let you know.

 

[trickedoutbiker]

No they don't get stressed at all because they are use to it. All of my guys have always free ranged and I spend tons of time with them interacting everyday. You can see pictures of some of my past and present guys on their outings here in post 45 and 46:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...f-awareness-via-the-mirror-test.151232/page-3

I love it! Do you put them on your shoulder and walk through stores or around the park too? Or do you usually have the mobile tree unit thing for them to hangout on and let them chill on that while you take care of things??

When the O.P. "psylvia" said "He goes on outings with my daughter, happily perched atop her head" -- I kind of envisioned your outings / errands the same way: with a chameleon perched on your head or on your shoulder. That's kind of what I was getting at I guess when I asked if it stresses them. In most of your pics though, your chameleons are chilling on that sweet little vine tree stand. Do you actually take them into stores and things of the such too, such as through the grocery store like the O.P. does? THAT'S what I would figure would stress them a bit with all the walking around on a shoulder instead of a branch, unfamiliar faces walking by you in the stores or at parks, unnatural environment in stores.....

That doesn't cause them to freak out? I know traveling freaks my little man out a bit, but he isn't used to it like yours is. And I've NEVER even TRIED to walk around a store or a park or anything with him. It never really crossed my mind. But yours can do all these things... and not freak out?

If that's the case, then maybe the common belief that chameleons don't like to be handled a lot doesn't hold as true as everyone is made to believe. I handle my chameleon minimally, only once or twice a week to go out for sun, and I can clean the cage while he is out too. When he was younger, I handled him a bit more often so that way he would get used to me and know I am not a threat. As he grew, I slowly began to handle him less and less so that way he can be nice and happy because I, just like many others, have read time and time again that chameleons should not be handled regularly because it stresses them.

If you go out and about with your chameleon a lot and they are used to it and don't care, then that opens a whole new chapter in the world of chameleons. It shows that they CAN like it, if they become accustomed to it. I, like many others, have always had the belief that they like to be left alone most of the time, but you sound like you spend LOTS of time with them and they love it! That's really neat. I guess they can become more tame than previously thought.....