Wooden Vivarium

[guycarter24]

Hey all,

After doing some more extensive research and taking measurements of the area where my Chameleon will be, and having read up a significant amount on the pros and cons of each respective enclosure type, I have decided on a wooden vivarium. Specifically the Vivexotic Viva Arboreal Vivarium in small (look it up if interested!)

The size is adequate enough until the Cham becomes fully grown, and the ventilation of this particular model seems to pretty good.

However, having never used one of these, I have some questions!

Where do the lights go and will I need to buy smaller lights to fit?

What are the major negatives with a Wooden vivarium like this?

Thanks guys any help is appreciated!

 

[mhfan305]

What are you doing for substrate?

 

[guycarter24]

Not sure, either none or a fake substrate. What is generally accepted as the best? Sorry for the many questions; I'm trying to learn as much as I possibly can!

 

[mhfan305]

Sorry I dont know much! A vivarium to me is an all live/real cage. So I would think as substrate it would be organic soil with leaf litter on top. Other wise you could use tile, carpet, or nothing if you are worried about impaction for the chameleon.

 

[guycarter24]

Thank you for your response anyway! I have looked at getting Repti-Bark. How well does this absorb moisture and how often does it need cleaning/replacing?

 

[sandrachameleon]

if you get the one with a screen top, the lights go outside the cage on top of the screen. If you get one with a solid top, the lights have to go inside, and great caution must be taken (minimally, a Bulb Guard). You could opt to cut the solid top, install screen or hardware cloth wire, and put the lights above.
I think the small is too small - get the 575mm x 490mm x 915mm (w x d x h)

I would not go with reptibark (or anything else that crickets can hide in or chameleon might accidentally ingest). try reptile carpet or bare floor

 

[mhfan305]

Dont use that. There is a chance your chameleon will strike a cricket on the floor and get pieces in his mouth and swallow it. It holds moisture well, but dont use that stuff. If you want a good substate for a vivarium. go to www.blackjungle.com and search for there substrate products. Buy some hydro balls, which is the first layer, this layer holds any access water and evaporates it back up into the vivarium with time. and then on top of that hydroball layer place some plastic screen you can purchase at a hardware store. This seperates the hydroball layer from the actual soil. Now that the plastic screen is in place, lay some soil down, then add some magnolia leaves, or any really, I recommend magnolia because there the largest in that sites collection. These magnolia leaves from black jungle have been cleaned so that it wont caused harm bacteria wise to your chameleon. The leaves and soil (use organic potting mix from hardware stores I.E. home depot) will hold moisture well, and just in case you over water (try not to!) the hydroballs, which are clay balls, the same clay use to make clay plant pot water saucers, will hold that excess water and evaporate it back into your live plants.This is all for IF you have an actually LIVING vivarium. Google/Bing actually vivariums to fill in the gaps I maybe left. Some others here will chime in and say no substrate because of impaction. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[jamjam]

use nothing on the bottom substrates can cause impaction or accidental choking. carpet can build mold or bacteria from excess water when misting. Other than that dont know much about vivariums like you do. since it is for reptiles id like to assume the wood is treated for water otherwise you may have to do so. ventilation should be okay mesh would more than likely be better and glass in the front could cause stress from relection. the height should be fine for now however seems like an expensive buy if your going to eventually upgrade it to something bigger. Goodluck with the lights because i have no idea about them, i have seen vivarium specific fixtures before..

 

[sandrachameleon]

I disagree re glass reflection causing stress. Have never known this to actually happen (I think its a myth)

 

[DakotaB]

Correct me if im wrong but these dont seem to be solid wood. Looks more like particle board with a fancy laminate over. (Basically high end Melanin) If thats the case there should be no problem with mold and what not. But even if it is solid wood. Being designed as a vivarium it should have a good sealer on it to protect it.

As for substrate. To me a vivarium should be all natural. I'd go with what Mhfan said. Except I would try to get a moss layer established on top of the soil instead of using leaves. No concern for impaction with moss, hold humidity, helps keep the cage clean.

Found this pic of the inside.

Not sure if thats how they come or if this person did this. Screen to cover a recessed heat lamp. Then the UVB just mounts inside.

 

[DakotaB]

Yep they come with the mesh protector and places to mount the lights.

 

[jamjam]

I disagree re glass reflection causing stress. Have never known this to actually happen (I think its a myth)

I agree just said it thinking someone else might say it. when i was younger and had my first cham it was in an all glass enclosure lived 5+ yrs seemed pretty happy but it was wrapped in a plant backing as well.

 

[guycarter24]

Thank you for all the replies guys! All are very helpful and I'll take them into consideration! Getting very excited!

 

[splashtech]

Apologies for bringing back a very old thread, but I wondered if the OP (or anyone else) had anything to add to this - experience of it or anything?

I currently have the small arborial non-chameleon-specific version of this and I'd not recommend it due to the fact that you have to mount the basking light inside and you lose a LOT of vertical space due to the fact you need to keep everything so far away. Otherwise the chameleon inevitably finds a way onto the (hot) light guard and I'd be worried that there's quite a risk of burns.

I've got the UV tube mounted across the inside of the top like the picture DakotaB shows, and even with that I've found that my little panther girl finds a way to get herself up there (!!) and the tube gets hot so that's a concern too. I find it a little odd that the chameleon-specific one doesn't seem to address this at all, it only considers the basking light.

Needless to say, my cham is getting older and bigger now and I'm looking at a replacement for the near future. The problem is nobody seems to make anything comparable; I ideally would like something which can be placed on a matching cabinet. Perhaps the chameleon-specific one is good enough, although I think it's a little small for an adult, even an adult female...?