R. brevicaudatus enclosure question

Hi,

I've been browsing the boards looking at information regarding enclosures for pygmys... However, I don't understand why these little critters need "adequate ventilation" or what constitutes good airflow. Has anyone kept these in an enclosure that was, well enclosed (i.e. glass top vs. screen)? I can't imagine keeping the humidity in a vivarium above 50% through much of the year without a tight fitting lid.

Anyone?

Thanks,

Matt

i have a screen tops on my brevs cage and with 2 mists a day it stays at around 40% humidity

I keep mine in a glass cage with no top at all.
Humidity when I mist them in the morining is at 50% the rest of the time it is near 70-80%.

http://www.chameleonnews.com/stumphabitat.html

We have a 55gal tank with a 3 part lid- the center third is glass, the left and right thirds are pull out screen tops. I mist twice a day, and the humidity stays about 70%, with a spike after misting, and a slight drop in the morning, before misting. You don't want the tank furnishings to remain wet all day. There must be some air flow for fresh air and some evaporation. I think the goal is to have (along with proper humidity) periods of dampness followed by periods of somewhat drier conditions (though certainly not arid). If the substrate gets dry and the humidity drops, I know I am not misting well enough. In the morning they get pretty good saturation. We have 7 pygmys in there and I want to be sure they all get a chance to clean their eyes and to drink. And, we hope they will breed, so I need to be sure to keep the substrate moist enough for egglaying.

Gesang; are you keeping both the brevicaudatus and the temporalis together in that tank? The temporalis enjoy much cooler temperatures than the brevs and would maybe do better in their own set-up.

Oh and I'd be highly surprised if that big group of brevicaudatus hasn't bred for you. They don't stop it seems! If you have the time one day, dig around the top inch or two of soil and I'll bet you find eggs.

Cheers,
t

Trace said:

Gesang; are you keeping both the brevicaudatus and the temporalis together in that tank? The temporalis enjoy much cooler temperatures than the brevs and would maybe do better in their own set-up.

Click to expand...

Agreed. I lost a few of my temporalis to a hot summer here. I should have realized and moved them into my cold room, but I was too dense to realize that just because my Brevs were more than happy that it would be the reason the temporalis were stressing.

As I've said before, Pygmy chameleons don't like their own species, let alone other intruders in their miniature territories.