Hey everyone!
This may be a lengthy post!
I joined the forum only a few days ago and this is actually my first post! I have however been lurking around the place in the shadows reading and researching for a couple of months just as a guest! Creeper I know
Anyway as I said I've been researching for a few months now about 'Yemen' Chameleons and obviously all their requirements and needs, as I would love to give one of these little guys/girls an awesome home.
During this time I have been buying a few bits I know that will be essential, I have bought a mistking system, a stupid amount of plants haha!, grape vines etc
I have previously kept a leopard gecko, who I had for just over 13 years; and was fully grown when I took her into my care, however she sadly past early last year.
I know the care for these 2 is TOTALLY different in regards to things such as temperatures, housing, heating etc etc but I obviously have experience with gut loading feeders, dusting etc.
Now after everything I have read, my first port of call I guess was looking into a fully mesh enclosure; with this in mind over the last 4/5 months while researching I have monitored the ambient temperature of my room as well as humidity levels every other day. Bearing in mind that its summer (and what a great summer the uk had!) my room stays really cold (it has 3 outside walls, made from brick) and therefore I will struggle to keep the terrarium at the needed temperatures and humidity. As I result I believe that a wood and glass terrarium would be best suited as I could maintain humidity and heat much easier. Looking whats available on the market I would rather custom build an enclosure, so have been researching into that, I have found some great reference pictures and inspiration from you guys, but have a couple of questions that will help me finalise a design, that way I can get building and get everything running asap so I can fully test it before I get my lil guy/girl; which won't be until the start of april next year haha! Call me crazy setting up the enclosure now, but I would rather have it up and running asap so I know that everything is correct and more important consistent!
Im thinking the enclosure itself will be wooden sides, base, and top, glass front, with the light fittings on the inside of the enclosure but then they will be protected by a mesh ceiling.
So my first question is for the UVB bulb what fitting do I need that I can connect inside? Also with how the temperature can be so cool in my room particularly at night I want to install a ceramic heat lamp also just to keep temperatures correct even with the lower night temps.
Second question; In the enclosure I am only going to put live plants, Im worried that they won't necessarily thrive due to lighting conditions etc do I need a light just for these as I have seen bulbs such as an arcadia one I think specifically for plants. I love the thread by Chameleopatrick; Reasons why real chams need real plants! Although I know have an air plants obsession!
Question 3; Ventilation! Mega important, Im going to pop numerous vents along the top left side and bottom right to circulate fresh air. I have read that a couple of people use computer fans to circulate air and personally think that in the type of enclosure I will be providing that this would be a good idea or at least just have the option there if needed once I 'test drive' the enclosure. Should I put the fan in, in the top vent of the enclosure, drawing out the 'stale' air, forcing cool air in through the bottom, or put the fan in the bottom vent breezing cool air in at the bottom forcing the warm air out the top vents without it being 'windy' for the resident and I think this way it would give a better ambient gradient. (the latter of the 2 makes more sense to me)
Thats all I can think of at the moment, sorry its turned out so long!
Thanks in advance for any advice or tips, Im looking forward to some responses!
Ash
(I hope it all makes sense also its 1am; I can't sleep as I have enclosure questions and ideas flowing through my head haha)
This may be a lengthy post!
I joined the forum only a few days ago and this is actually my first post! I have however been lurking around the place in the shadows reading and researching for a couple of months just as a guest! Creeper I know
Anyway as I said I've been researching for a few months now about 'Yemen' Chameleons and obviously all their requirements and needs, as I would love to give one of these little guys/girls an awesome home.
During this time I have been buying a few bits I know that will be essential, I have bought a mistking system, a stupid amount of plants haha!, grape vines etc
I have previously kept a leopard gecko, who I had for just over 13 years; and was fully grown when I took her into my care, however she sadly past early last year.
I know the care for these 2 is TOTALLY different in regards to things such as temperatures, housing, heating etc etc but I obviously have experience with gut loading feeders, dusting etc.
Now after everything I have read, my first port of call I guess was looking into a fully mesh enclosure; with this in mind over the last 4/5 months while researching I have monitored the ambient temperature of my room as well as humidity levels every other day. Bearing in mind that its summer (and what a great summer the uk had!) my room stays really cold (it has 3 outside walls, made from brick) and therefore I will struggle to keep the terrarium at the needed temperatures and humidity. As I result I believe that a wood and glass terrarium would be best suited as I could maintain humidity and heat much easier. Looking whats available on the market I would rather custom build an enclosure, so have been researching into that, I have found some great reference pictures and inspiration from you guys, but have a couple of questions that will help me finalise a design, that way I can get building and get everything running asap so I can fully test it before I get my lil guy/girl; which won't be until the start of april next year haha! Call me crazy setting up the enclosure now, but I would rather have it up and running asap so I know that everything is correct and more important consistent!
Im thinking the enclosure itself will be wooden sides, base, and top, glass front, with the light fittings on the inside of the enclosure but then they will be protected by a mesh ceiling.
So my first question is for the UVB bulb what fitting do I need that I can connect inside? Also with how the temperature can be so cool in my room particularly at night I want to install a ceramic heat lamp also just to keep temperatures correct even with the lower night temps.
Second question; In the enclosure I am only going to put live plants, Im worried that they won't necessarily thrive due to lighting conditions etc do I need a light just for these as I have seen bulbs such as an arcadia one I think specifically for plants. I love the thread by Chameleopatrick; Reasons why real chams need real plants! Although I know have an air plants obsession!
Question 3; Ventilation! Mega important, Im going to pop numerous vents along the top left side and bottom right to circulate fresh air. I have read that a couple of people use computer fans to circulate air and personally think that in the type of enclosure I will be providing that this would be a good idea or at least just have the option there if needed once I 'test drive' the enclosure. Should I put the fan in, in the top vent of the enclosure, drawing out the 'stale' air, forcing cool air in through the bottom, or put the fan in the bottom vent breezing cool air in at the bottom forcing the warm air out the top vents without it being 'windy' for the resident and I think this way it would give a better ambient gradient. (the latter of the 2 makes more sense to me)
Thats all I can think of at the moment, sorry its turned out so long!
Thanks in advance for any advice or tips, Im looking forward to some responses!
Ash
(I hope it all makes sense also its 1am; I can't sleep as I have enclosure questions and ideas flowing through my head haha)
