Two cages side by side

[Jamesvomit]

I just came home from the Repticon show with two 1yr old Veileds. One male and one female that are not realated. Just after I bought the male a woman that my dad works with offered to give me a female. The female came into their store (Petsmart) missing her tail and so they could not sell her. My dads coworker has had her for the last year, but when she herd I was into chams she offerd her to me. So I ended up getting two on the same day. I set them up in cages that are 36X28x28 inches. There is a 2 foot umbrella plant in the center of each cage with lots of fake vines and leaves. Anyway my question is can I keep the cages next to each other? They pretty much have to be kept in the same room because of roommate issuses, but to have the powerstrip for their lights reach both cages I would like to have them side by side, with about a foot in between. Is this cool?

 

[mc9423]

You can, but you need a visual barrier between the two cages (such as wood).

 

[shadowcon39]

They should be fine as long as you have a visual barrier in between so they cant see each other. They both could become stressed if they constantly see each other. Just a plain piece of cardboard or wood should be sufficient.

 

[Ionstorm]

I use black garbage bags between my cages, and they are almost directly side by side.

 

[bridgofaith]

I use these between my cages. The work really well, allow light to pass through and looks very nice and neat. Just cut to fit.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_163816-337-..._Fluorescent+Lighting+_4294896174_4294937087_

 

[Jamesvomit]

Ok, i just put a piece of cardboard between them so that takes care of that. Now this brings me to my second question. I read a post on here where someone said they had build two cages for one chameleon. so that when it got bored of one it would be put into the other one. And so I thought maybe like months or even longer from now would it be a smart idea to swap them around into the oppostie cage just to change things up. any problem with that?

 

[shadowcon39]

yes, because they could contaminate each other if you do not sterilize the cage well enough, or they could even catch parasites from one another if one has them. So if you do put them in one anothers cage you must clean the cage correctly

 

[Elizadolots]

Consider cardboard a short term solution....it will get wet and eventually, cardboard will not do well with moisture. There are coated poster boards available at WalMart and such that will hold up longer. I used fabric. It hold moisture so helps with humidity, but is meant to be both wet and dry so doesn't degrade...

My main objection to the idea of switching them out is that from what I understand, chameleons love familiarity and sameness...they don't appreciate variety except in feeders. They don't get bored by going up and down the same vines over and over...

If you have a need for another cage, like, you have outdoor or sun room cages, then they will learn both cages, but the reason for doing that is to give them the sun time, not to give them time in another cage.