New mesh cage - cham falling a lot

Maybe this could have gone in the health section, not sure.

I just ordered a great new mesh cage for my Jackson's and I think Othello really likes the space. However, for the last few hours all I hear from the reptile room is "thud" every half hour or so. I run in and he's standing on the floor of the cage looking quite embarrassed. It looks like he's having a hard time climbing the mesh and keeps falling off - but I don't know why he's putting himself through that, seeing as he has branches and trees to climb up the cage with. And yes, he's still awake this late, which is also weird but I guess he decided to spend his night falling since he's so busy basking during the day. So much to do, so little time!

His previous cage was a ferret cage wrapped in mesh, so he had horizontal bars to climb the walls with, along with the mesh.

Is this, perhaps, normal for a cham getting used to the new walls? Or is he just being a tard?

Usually when chams get new cages, they're reluctant to get off the screen. He should stop climbing on the mesh in the next couple of days. It the problem persists, however, then you'll have to line the inside of the enclosure with a wider mesh so he can clime on it (there is a thread about this).

He's not hurting him self, is he?

Anyway, I'm sure he'll stop soon.




Adam

If he keeps doing that I would put something soft for him to fall on until he stops climbing the mesh. Can you post a picture of your cage?

I don't think he's hurting himself, there's nothing on the floor to land on that would be painful. Just the bare plastic.

I don't want to take a picture since the rep room is dark for the night, but I can take one tomorrow morning. In case you just want to see the cage itself it is this model:

Olimpia said:

I don't think he's hurting himself, there's nothing on the floor to land on that would be painful. Just the bare plastic.

I don't want to take a picture since the rep room is dark for the night, but I can take one tomorrow morning. In case you just want to see the cage itself it is this model:

Click to expand...

You really should put something for him to land on because that is bare plastics that can do some damage.

Do you have any light on in the room? any red heat lamps?

If so make sure they are off and the room is black, he should go right to sleep....

he is in a new space so he is climbing to check things out... I would expect him to stop climbing the walls when he feels more secure. Might be a couple of days though. Just keep an eye on his toes... Jacksons get toe infections pretty easily for some reason.

my cage is just like that but i got it a bit custom and did the left and right along with the back bottom and ft bottom solid and the front screen and top i have no problems with it.....im sorry he keeps falling

He stopped now, finally. The room is totally dark, except for whatever light goes under the door, but I guess he didn't want to go to sleep just yet.

If he does it again tomorrow I'll put a towel on the cage floor. Hopefully he's had enough of climbing around where it's obviously not working and stick to the branches and trees I have for him.

glad to hear

Sometimes it helps to install a plastic mesh on the inside of the cage that chams can climb better. saves their nails and the can hold on better. You can find this stuff at home depot i think.

same caging....

We've got 4 chams total.... a male veiled, right around 5-6 mos....2 female panthers, both between 3 1/2 -4 1/2 mos....and a male panther, right around 5 mos.... all of our cages are basically just like the stock photo, just in different sizes and our "little-est" girly, Astrid, seems to be the only one having the problems...lol. Scrye (the other female) is not quite as active, but is more cautious in climbing anyway...and the two boys, Gargamel (panther) and Stryder are both quite a bit bigger and climb all over with no problems. I'm thinking I'm going to need some safety netting or something for Astrid though....this has been her only cage, it's not too big, and she's not stressed, just curious...lol.....

I've found that stuffing the cage in plants usually solves the problem for me and my guys. It just seems like they need more to climb and do. And if that fails, then I let them run around the free ranges/rooms to stretch their legs and that definitely cures their cabin fever.

I added that plastic 1/2"X1/2" mesh from home depot to both my brothers ambilobe, and my sambava cage. My chemleon had never fell off before but I just gotten him his new cage (taller) and I didn't want him possibly injuring himself... On the other hand my brothers fell a couple times from his 4' tall cage. OUCH!!! but he's okay. And now has something to grip himself better. Check out my album you can see some pictures if it.