What Technology Do Reptile Owners Want?

[jordanianishere]

Hello everyone,

My name is Jordan and I am a graduate student at Texas Tech. I am working on a project for my marketing and technology class. I am wanting to "create" a business for reptile owners to bring enclosures into the 21st century. Would you like an app to help monitor your animal? One unit to control the different components of the terrarium? A technology more specific to cater to different types of reptiles? What would help make your care giving easier?

I do not own a reptile, but I am fascinated by all exotic pets. I believe technology needs to incorporate itself into the pet industry and not just for dog and cat owners. I think looking at the reptile industry is a good start due to all the equipment owner's need for their pets. If you do not mind listing some ideas of what you think reptile owners need to help improve their enclosures or everyday life with the help of technology, I would greatly appreciate it.

I thank you in advance for your help and hope everyone has a bless day!

-Jordan

 

[Carlton]

Hello everyone,

My name is Jordan and I am a graduate student at Texas Tech. I am working on a project for my marketing and technology class. I am wanting to "create" a business for reptile owners to bring enclosures into the 21st century. I do not own a reptile, but I am fascinated by all exotic pets. I believe technology needs to incorporate itself into the pet industry and not just for dog and cat owners. I think looking at the reptile industry is a good start due to all the equipment owner's need for their pets. If you do not mind listing some ideas of what you think reptile owners need to help improve their enclosures or everyday life with the help of technology, I would greatly appreciate it.

I thank you in advance for your help and hope everyone has a bless day!

-Jordan

Better ability to monitor the UV output of various commercial lighting.
More options for producing different levels and spectrum of UV radiation
How about options for modular panel caging that can be expanded, with bottoms that provide DRAINAGE!
How about soft screen mesh that is larger than windowscreen but not as open as galvanized hardware cloth?

 

[jannb]

A long time ago they use to make the Chameleon condos and they quite making them. Now more people than ever have chameleons and way more people free range and I wish you would bring the condo back. I have two of these condos and wish I could buy more. I'll put a link to a photo below. The top pot houses the light with a screen over the light so the chameleon can't get to the light and get burned. The black spout at the top is where you pour the water for the dripper, you can also mist and there's two pots at the bottom to catch the water. The larger top pot has holes in the bottom and the water catches below in the smaller pot and you just empty and clean it as needed. Sometimes I set a tree next to them to make a larger free area for my animals. https://www.chameleonforums.com/mem...lces-cuban-knight-anole-free-range-condo.html

 

[Dewback]

Jordan, excellent topic.

-Automated environmental controls that can be monitored and controlled remotely from an app.
-Terrestrial cages that have built in, climate controlled, hiding/nesting boxes.
-Quality incubators with built in humidifiers in addition to fans for air circulation and thermostats, again, monitored and controlled via app. Right now most of us are using re-purposed refrigerators and food warmers, or converted closets.

I keep a number of different types of reptiles so there really isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of enclosure that would work for me. As you have already ascertained, environmental controls are a huge issue. I already have my snake racks and incubators on automatic thermostats, but something like an automated system with an app (like Nest) is something that would really help people like me. For example, I recently had to go to travel while I had eggs incubating at home. If I had something that monitored temperature, humidity, or detect mold I wouldn't have to pay someone to check on them every day (which could also lead to accidents like mishandling of egg boxes).

Caging seems like less of a problem nowadays since there are a number of choices that are specific to certain groups of animals already (chameleons especially), but there are improvements to be made. Nesting boxes/hides being the biggest issue.

It'd be nice to see more products for large reptiles (other than snakes), which are not well represented in most markets (lizards, turtles, tortoises and crocodilians).

 

[OldChamKeeper]

Very interesting post. I've been keeping reptiles for over 40 yrs, to be honest many of us who have been keeping these animals since before books actually printed the correct picture on the cover have been improvising for decades. You may have come to the right place since chameleons are easily the most environment needy animal we keep in captivity (reptile wise).


Things that can be added to an existing cage are of most use. I would think smaller items of tech would be suited to our needs.

I for one would like a sensor that lets me know the amount of UV output lights are putting out as well as standard things like Temp and humidity. An app that lets me see that info in real time, records it, and also lets me remotely adjust some of those things (via other methods like a dimmer switch, humidifier, fans, or a mister system) would be of interest.

Essentially a way to not just monitor the habitat but make adjustments remotely is what I'm getting at.

 

[jordanianishere]

I would like to personally thank everyone who responded to this thread. You have been most helpful in helping with my project and I hope one day technology will help reptile owners out. If you have any questions about the project, please feel free to inbox me.

Thank you and have a blessed life.

Jordan

 

[Eric Adrignola]

There are programs available for the raspberry pi to monitor and control your enclosure's environment. The pi is essentially a tiny computer processor and RAM, coupled with flash memory. You plug it into a monitor and it allows you to have the functionality of a smart phone using pre-existing hardware (TV screen Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, etc.)

Using commercially available components, you can connect sensors to the device, wirelessly. Humidity sensors and temperature sensors. This enables you to program the device to control your lighting/heating as well as misting.

It's pretty neat, but requires a good deal of knowhow. The components are affordable, and a streamlined package would be a neat product for serious keepers in the future.

Here's a link:
http://www.raspiviv.com/

things like this could be very useful.

 

[reptileguy112]

Kind of like how a handle on a bag can get longer or shorter I want a cage that can change frame sizes by pressing down one of those little metal tabs then sliding out the bar and the enclosure frame can get bigger or smaller. Obviously you would also need elastic screening or just different size regular screen you can pop in for every size the cage has an option for. When you get rich remember me lol

 

[leedragon]

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned what seems to be most missing in chameleons produce, a way to cool down the terrarium, we do have heat lamps and what not but we don´t have any product to cool down a terrarium that would solve countless problems.

also products such as the exo terra incubator/hibernator would be really nice if someone could fix the problems it seem to have

 

[reptileguy112]

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned what seems to be most missing in chameleons produce, a way to cool down the terrarium, we do have heat lamps and what not but we don´t have any product to cool down a terrarium that would solve countless problems.

also products such as the exo terra incubator/hibernator would be really nice if someone could fix the problems it seem to have

Nobody has mentioned it because usually if thats a problem people buy air conditioners.

 

[ChameleonUES]

An all-in-all chameleon enclosure that can accommodate the more popular chameleons (Veiled's,Panthers, Jacksons).
A cage that can preserve humidity and still provide airflow (lightweight)
Proper cage lighting, misting unit with reservoir and drainage.
Basically a cage that compacts all the needs and items that most owners have.
Perhaps an enclosure that comes with a stand and lighting canopy of some sort, but still large enough for an adult chameleon.

 

[leedragon]

Nobody has mentioned it because usually if thats a problem people buy air conditioners.

watering the chameleon could done with a spray bottle but we have rain and misting system, many of the thing mentioned here had already a some sort of solution, I was going on something more compact, that can be attached to the terrarium or something like that

 

[NvC Dex]

A long time ago they use to make the Chameleon condos and they quite making them. Now more people than ever have chameleons and way more people free range and I wish you would bring the condo back. I have two of these condos and wish I could buy more. I'll put a link to a photo below. The top pot houses the light with a screen over the light so the chameleon can't get to the light and get burned. The black spout at the top is where you pour the water for the dripper, you can also mist and there's two pots at the bottom to catch the water. The larger top pot has holes in the bottom and the water catches below in the smaller pot and you just empty and clean it as needed. Sometimes I set a tree next to them to make a larger free area for my animals. https://www.chameleonforums.com/mem...lces-cuban-knight-anole-free-range-condo.html

That doesn't look to hard to make... I have similar stuff at my work that could be made into something of that sort...