my terranium setup!!

Hey guys, Check out the setup I have in my room for my 8 month panther cham. I kno that I need to get some plants in there but other than that let me kow what you think because i am ocd with keeping my cham happy

No pictures

Is it a terrarium or a cage? I think I see screen, which is good. If it is a glass terrarium it will be inadequate for chameleons due to potential respiratory concerns. It is a bit on the small side and is low. Chameleons like high spots just over your eye level, the bigger the better. It would be a great setup for a small chameleon, but as it ages, you will need a larger cage. I have a juvenile Veiled in a 30X18X36inch tall flexarium set on a 40 inch shelf.

In all, your setup looks good for a small or juvenile cham.

i see the pics fine

you need live plants (i know you knew it already.. But, I am always an advocate of using real plants for chameleons to be happy. So, I am saying it again lol)

Also, are you using night light?
If so, no need for it. Since, it is in your bed room, I doubt you yourself gonna let the room temp drop below 50F.


If you can, try get a digital probe thermometer -with hygrometer built in- (Lowes and wal mart has them).
Those zoomed analog thermometer and hygrometer are really bad and inaccurate as well.

The water heater concerns me the most.
I might be mistaken; but, is it safe using plastic tupperware with an aquarium heater inside?
Seems like a fire hazard waiting to happen.

I see you put a lot of work into your set up. I like the heater you have on your misting system. How long does the pump have to run before you get hot water at the tips? Why two heat lights? Most keepers have one light on top off to the side. The good thing about you set up when you get a biger cage all your stuff will transfer over. Keep up the good work.

beeze

one of the heat light is for the daytime(uv bulb) and the other one is a red infrared light to keep the temperature up in his cage. I have that set on an automatic timer so the uv bulb is on from 8am to 8pm and the infrared is on from 8pm to 8am and it turns them on and off automatically. The heater is ok and the tuppleware is pretty thick so its deff not a fire hazard, plus the heater turns on and off so its not always on, it just maintains the temperature. I decided to use this infrared light because I called up screameleons (I bought my cham from them) and asked about what I can do to heat up the open air terranium as my room was getting pretty cold at night (59 degrees). I was told that temp was too low and it would be best if I purchase this light. Anyone else use this because judging by all the pictures I see on this site, it seems like im the only one

beeze said:

I see you put a lot of work into your set up. I like the heater you have on your misting system. How long does the pump have to run before you get hot water at the tips? Why two heat lights? Most keepers have one light on top off to the side. The good thing about you set up when you get a biger cage all your stuff will transfer over. Keep up the good work.

beeze

Click to expand...

roughly 4-5 seconds

pikebomb said:

one of the heat light is for the daytime(uv bulb) and the other one is a red infrared light to keep the temperature up in his cage. I have that set on an automatic timer so the uv bulb is on from 8am to 8pm and the infrared is on from 8pm to 8am and it turns them on and off automatically. The heater is ok and the tuppleware is pretty thick so its deff not a fire hazard, plus the heater turns on and off so its not always on, it just maintains the temperature. I decided to use this infrared light because I called up screameleons (I bought my cham from them) and asked about what I can do to heat up the open air terranium as my room was getting pretty cold at night (59 degrees). I was told that temp was too low and it would be best if I purchase this light. Anyone else use this because judging by all the pictures I see on this site, it seems like im the only one

Click to expand...

Check out this link it may help you with your light setup. Look under Temperatures and Thermoregulation.
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

Good luck

Beeze

Ok, im thinking this is a really dumb question, but what is the water heater for? Do you have an automatic mister or something? I havent come across anything stating i will need something like that...

YigosFlower said:

Ok, im thinking this is a really dumb question, but what is the water heater for? Do you have an automatic mister or something? I havent come across anything stating i will need something like that...

Click to expand...

thats his own thing not required, its his water dish for his automatic misting system, chams preffer warm water... who knows what youll have to do to keep humidity proper though till you set it up and do a test run for a week or two...

Thanks! I remember reading warmer water is best, but wasnt sure what that contraption was to be used for exactly.

Thanks again!

the heater warm water setup is optimal, really expensive, and nice - like wow that you set that up for a small cage probably for your first chameleon.

My temps are about the same here at night so I have a ceramic bulb - otherwise the same setup. I just recieved my thermostats today so I'm gonna run off that instead of manually switching it on off.

I was using a zoo med analog but it is horribly inacurate.
When I set my digital thermometer sensor in there today it was at 75(good) rext to where my analog said it was 62 (bad)

So those two purchases wouldnt be very much money, considering you already have stuff i'd be jealous to have

I think my thermostat was like um, $26 and my digital thermometer was like $7


So good start. Try to get a small ficus or umbrella plant and maybe a pothos and you will be set!

Check your basking spot temps a few times a day and you should be good to go.

wait... How old is your cham, 8 months? You should be going to a full size enclosure, not a Juvenile one... I think that might be a bit on the small side

and hey your power strip / timer looks like the one I have!
how do you program it? mine didn't come with any directions except what is on the back of the oackage... says see insert... I didn't get no stinkin insert

Drone said:

and hey your power strip / timer looks like the one I have!
how do you program it? mine didn't come with any directions except what is on the back of the oackage... says see insert... I didn't get no stinkin insert

Click to expand...

yea does your say power center on top, if yes then thats the one I have. You can get a pdf of the user manual on this site http://www.marineandreef.com/v/vspfiles/pdf/PowerCenterDigital.pdf

hope this helps!!

And im deff going to update my terranium soon. I just need to save up a little money because I just spent all my money on that mistking which really put a dent in my wallet lol

beeze said:

Check out this link it may help you with your light setup. Look under Temperatures and Thermoregulation.
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

Good luck

Beeze

Click to expand...

I have a panther though, does this also go toward panther chams? It says veiled on top of the page

most everything applies to panthers. The basking temps are a bit different.

And mine says "Newtek" but It EXACTLY the same powerstrip so I'm gonna give it a try! Thanks soo much! I spent forever looking for instructions!

dodolah said:

you need live plants (i know you knew it already.. But, I am always an advocate of using real plants for chameleons to be happy. So, I am saying it again lol)

Also, are you using night light?
If so, no need for it. Since, it is in your bed room, I doubt you yourself gonna let the room temp drop below 50F.


If you can, try get a digital probe thermometer -with hygrometer built in- (Lowes and wal mart has them).
Those zoomed analog thermometer and hygrometer are really bad and inaccurate as well.

The water heater concerns me the most.
I might be mistaken; but, is it safe using plastic tupperware with an aquarium heater inside?
Seems like a fire hazard waiting to happen.

Click to expand...

I have a panther cham thats 8 months old and I was told that temp should not drop below 65 degrees..was i told wrong?

Ideally keeping the temps above 65 would be nice. My Panthers may or may not have survived a night in a surprise 40 degree cold front before though. But don't tell anyone!