Naturalistic vivarium for panther chameleon?

Is it ok to put a panther chameleon in a naturalistic vivarium like this: http://www.caudata.org/forum/attach...2d1261075176-salamandra-vivarium-img_2982.jpg

I won't necessarily have the water part (unless it's safe) but I just love the look of them.

Conventional wisdom says you'll be better off with a screen cage instead of a glass viv. This makes the whole "natural" thing harder, but not impossible.

That's an invitation to a URI. You can do the same type of thing minus the water with a screen enclosure.

If you just have to have a glass front to it, the other sides should be screen. I admit, the glass front does look better than screen as long as it is clean. After they get water spots etched into the glass, not so much.

I've seen a few really nice setups like that, but the thing they have in common is some sort of active ventilation system to keep the air from being stagnant.

I had one set up like this without the water for my panther when he was a tiny tot. It was a medium tall extoterra and it worked great but…you must account for all the water! I was thrilled he only had to be in it for a few months. Cleaning these are a bit time consuming and labor intensive! I however want to do this in a screen version. We will be using acrylic sheets to fit (removable for summer months) 3 sides of the screen. I will have the lower portions "fixed" in the acrylic sheeting to hold in the substrate layers and moisture (soil and large rocks). Good luck and have fun! Vivs are so exciting to plan out, plant and enjoy Post plenty of pics!

Just consider that Chameleons are arboreal creatures, there natural habitat is in trees or bushes, they really prefer to go "UP" a happy Cham is a Healthier Cham! The idea behind any animal enclosure that will promote the best health is so get as close to natural as possible. They truly feel safer the higher they are, so if at all possible the top of the enclosure should be at or above eye level, that way the Cham can climb to the top and feel safe. And what ever foliage you use should really take up around 70% or more of the available space in the enclosure. You can get real creative with hibiscus or pothos and make a really kick butt screened enclosure. With the glass enclosure you are almost certainly inviting a URI and eye infections from bacteria.

Thanks for the help everyone! I'm going with a screen cage and somehow hang some cork bark on the back and leave the other panels open screen. I might make the door glass one day but for now I'll leave it like that.