traveling with chameleons?

[shanksfaml]

I will be traveling for a few days with my chams by car, would like a temporary screen enclosure that I could hang their large and trailing pothos from. I am looking at the exo terra explorium or the reptarium. Looking for recommendations, need to transport in and out of car with ease and I have a Forester. I will hand mist through the screen and keep the car at a toasty temp.

Thanks

 

[R0UCHEBAG]

I am very curious about this, I do some traveling from state to state every summer. Super awesome question and look forward to hearing the answers.

 

[jandie]

um...depending on size and the way you would set it up in the car, exoterra makes circular "hanging" screened cages that comes in various sizes (good for temporary outdoor time for chams) and they have a hook on the inside for hanging plants/lights....not sure if this is something you might want to consider....it's a soft mesh cage with zipper access.... but they also "collapse" into a zip up storage thing that is almost flat.... kinda like a collapsible bowl would be if you've seen those.... i would look into that... i know they sell them at LLL Reptile...and you could probably order it online..... There's another brand that is a rectangular shape, but it has actually "hard" plastic supports, so it wouldn't be quite as flexible for travel but might be an option too just depending on your setup....

 

[KClark]

I was just about to post a similar thread!! lol I am going to travel next week.. i have a 7-8 hour car ride from NY to Maine. In the summer my cham was a youngin, so he was in a small cage that fit perfect in my back seat. that was easy. now.... my cage is 2' x 2' x 3'.... i think it can fit in my trunk. but is it going to be safe for him to be back there in the cage or should i keep him in something small for the ride? and put him back in the cage when we arrive. i dont want to stress him out anymore than i have to you know :[ i would keep him here and have someone watch him, but NOONEo i know knows anythinggg about herps so i do NOT trust them idk hope someone has a good idea....

 

[shanksfaml]

The round one referred to is the Exo Terra explorium, before I order 3 of them I wanted to know if I can hang a large potho from the top? The other one, the reptarium has the plastic support but probably isn't as flexible for travel, but could use it if more recommended.

 

[Olimpia]

For a long drive it would be easier to get the cham to fall asleep. A box or something similar that is dark would be good, with soomething like a towel at the bottom. Put them in something like 30 minutes before you leave, and put the box in a quiet, dark place. They should be asleep by the time you get them in the car. In general, animals will stess less if they can't see what's going on.

For shorter rides, like to the vet or so, I put mine in a small travel cage (which is just a left over baby cage, something like 15"x15"x15") with a plant in it and go. I don't do anything as for misting and temps, even on a 3 hour drive. I actually keep the car cool, and won't mist them while they're in the car because honestly they aren't going to drink anyway with all the stress.

 

[laurie]

I would use the round cages and put a line (like a clothes bar) from door to door. I am sure you can hang a pothos in each one but not a really large pothos. I would spray them as usual, but not tons. That is how all of mine moved from southern california to northern montana. We sure got strange looks catting all the chams in hotels every night. There is just no way any of my chameleons would every spend several days in a box. Having a cham in the mail overnight stresses the heck out of me. Mine need to travel as comfortably as I can set them up. jmo

 

[KClark]

im going to leave around 7am and be driving untill around 3. will my veild be okay if i put him in a nice box with a towel. and no water or food for these 7 to 8 hours?? i hate to do this to him but i want to go see my family for the holidays. i just want minimal stress for him

 

[shanksfaml]

Some day Laurie, I will have to meet you. I think I love you and I have never even met you. Your advice is always kind and helpful, I expected to get blasted for admitting that I am doing this on the forum. I just ordered 3 of the explorariums and i will hang their pothos from the top of each, and maybe do most of the misting and feeding when settled in to the hotel room. Did any of the hotels turn you away, some people get so freaky about reptiles with out even realizing how mellow chameleons are and that they just want to be left alone? I know that it will be stressful, and I am working super hard to strategize about ways to reduce the stress as much as possible. After 3 plus years with these guys I just can't leave with out them.

-thanks, cheryl

 

[jandie]

for that amount of time he would be fine...they make it through overnight shipping like that, and most of the time when you open the box after shipping, just looking in the bag (if they've been placed in the cloth bags), they're sleeping in "happy" colors. =)

 

[laurie]

Some day Laurie, I will have to meet you. I think I love you and I have never even met you. Your advice is always kind and helpful, I expected to get blasted for admitting that I am doing this on the forum. I just ordered 3 of the explorariums and i will hang their pothos from the top of each, and maybe do most of the misting and feeding when settled in to the hotel room. Did any of the hotels turn you away, some people get so freaky about reptiles with out even realizing how mellow chameleons are and that they just want to be left alone? I know that it will be stressful, and I am working super hard to strategize about ways to reduce the stress as much as possible. After 3 plus years with these guys I just can't leave with out them.

-thanks, cheryl

Cheryl you just made my day, Thanks. I do understand not being willing to leave your chameleons, I wouldn't either. I miss them when I am only gone a week.
The only hotel I had trouble with was in vegas. We finally agreed I would put towels around the cages so people would assume they were birds. It worked great. Next time I will do that and ever let anyone know what I have. If I were you I would buy some fabric and wrap each cage. Problem solved.

Now if your next drive brings you out to Montana bring your chams and we can have a great time.