Young enclosure

[Trik]

I've noticed a lot of cham owners housing their young chams in a smaller enclosure, and upgrading them when they get bigger.

Is this required? If I get a 3-4 month old panther, do I need to house it in a smaller enclosure, and only transferring when he's big enough? What are the reasons he cannot live in the full sized cage?

 

[Decadancin]

Its not required, and to be honest, I wouldn't want to use a temporary enclosure, but it can be challenging to monitor feeding and enclosure details in a larger cage. I would suggest a full sized enclosure with a false floor to make the cage smaller. When a cham hits 4 or 5 months, you should be fine in a larger cage. I did start in a small tank, but only while I was building the new one. It is tough to find him since he is only 3 1/2 months old and not very colorful yet, but he loves it in there. I would suggest cup feeding so it is easier for your cham to find food.

 

[slinko9]

Damn thats a great idea!!! Gunna start working on the false floor idea rightaway to save the stress in about 4 months!!!!

 

[Trik]

Thanks for the advice, I forgot how size would mean hard to find!

I am in the recon/prep stage of building my permanent enclosure, so a temporary enclosure seems like the right way to go.

Did a scan on ebay, and found these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Screen-rept...686?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a79aa04ee

They're factory second, so they're broken/misshapen in some form or fashion, but they're only $35 shipped! Perfect temporary enclosure in my opinion.

Only issue: How quickly will the cham outgrow a 10x10x12 enclosure? Or is that just too small in the first place?

 

[Decadancin]

I wouldn't do an enclosure that small. 18" to24" tall would be the smallest I would start with, and this will allow for some temperature variance throughout the cage.

 

[kokom05lb]

Thats pretty small... I would purchase a 2x2x4 and but in a temp. floor and when he gets to the age of outgrowing open it up. Or make your own cage =)

 

[Trik]

This wasn't going to be the actual enclosure, just a temp for the first month or two while I build the permanent one.

I'll have to find a taller temp cage.... the $35 shipped seemed to good to pass up

 

[Decadancin]

This wasn't going to be the actual enclosure, just a temp for the first month or two while I build the permanent one.

I'll have to find a taller temp cage.... the $35 shipped seemed to good to pass up

You know what they say about things that seem to be too good to be true.

 

[Randi]

I have an 18x18x36 for my three month old cham and quite honestly it is way too big for him, but as far as lighting/temps it does work for him. He's such a tiny little guy and I have to be creative so that he can find his food. Finding him amongst all the foliage is also a challenge. Sectioning off an already existing cage is a great idea.

 

[yeahbuddy661]

If you have the funds always house a baby in less than a 36" then move up. Not only does it make it challenging to feed but its harder to control their environment when they are so little in such a big cage, but it can be done.

 

[yeahbuddy661]

By baby I mean 2-3mos.

 

[Sticktongue]

It also depends on the size of the animal.. First instance, my first panther i got was 3 or 4 months old, and was about 12 grams or so. the 36x18x18 seemed like a big cage for him. Then my second panther was the same age but like 28 grams. He was a MONSTER. I put him straight into a 24x24x36 because he fit it well. I would suggest getting on craigs list and look around on there. If you dont find anything, order a cage for DYI cages. get an 18x18x36.

 

[yeahbuddy661]

Well for your typical 2-4 mos old. Yes some are fatties but rarely if ever will your 2-4 mos. old be the size of a 6-7 mos. juvie. Maybe show some juvie color and be a lil bigger or a bit bigger but not huge. Same sex panther anyway