Melleri Enclosure

I have had quite a few of you ask me how I keep my melleri, and especially my use of large birdcages. So, I decided to post pictures of my latest creation. I have typically used large parrot cages (the largest size cages work best) or Iguanariums/Iguana Kingdoms when they still made them because of the size of the bars. It is very hard on melleri feet to climb on screen because of their weight. The larger bars allow them to surf their enclosure without causing any stress and/or damage to their feet and claws. I have had much success using these types of enclosures for my melleri and they have done very well. This particular cage was a used parrot cage I found at one of my local stores - it is 4.5' tall x 3' wide x 2.5' deep. Add a few plants, downed branches from a recent storm, a couple parrot perches, a vine and there you have it. The last picture is Magna Cham, dad to the melleri eggs that are cooking, in his new cage. Yes, GoFast, I FINALLY got it done. (P.S. I'm still not quite done. I still have to add some hardware cloth around the bottom openings.)

looks good i useta have a cage like that for my macaw....hows those eggs doin...

robmd1 said:

hows those eggs doin...

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It seems that they are taking longer than even my carpets (seems like it because I'm looking in on them every day) and it's like watching paint dry, but they are getting HUGE!!

chams1 said:

It seems that they are taking longer than even my carpets (seems like it because I'm looking in on them every day) and it's like watching paint dry, but they are getting HUGE!!

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lol i hear ya my nosy be eggs hatched well of the 19 one still has its head stickin out the egg... lookin forward to seein yours hatch out love lil ones...

robmd1 said:

lol i hear ya my nosy be eggs hatched well of the 19 one still has its head stickin out the egg... lookin forward to seein yours hatch out love lil ones...

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We are all looking forward to see Julies little CB melleri Im on the top of the list. That is if Julie didnt lie and why would she do such a thing ahahah


LOVE the cage idea. Looks GR GR G-R-E-AA-TTT!!

Cage and PaPa look great. Just when you least expect, viola melleri babies!

chams1 said:

Yes, GoFast, I FINALLY got it done. (P.S. I'm still not quite done. I still have to add some hardware cloth around the bottom openings.)

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OMG! You are just a "getting things done...finally" fool!! It looks great Julie!!

That's a great idea! Cage looks great! How big is your Melleri?

Whats the name of this particular enclosure and how much did you buy it for?

Here is another one of my latest creations.....

That looks really cool. You probaly have the happiest chams

pinocchiosmommy said:

That looks really cool. You probaly have the happiest chams

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Thanks!! While they haven't told me so, I'm pretty sure you're right.

Actually, the one I got from you is in this latest enclosure right now....

I like it Julie. I've been going bigger with the enclosures lately too. Bigger is better, I'm finding with panthers.

SSimsswiSS said:

I like it Julie. I've been going bigger with the enclosures lately too. Bigger is better, I'm finding with panthers.

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Absolutely! My house is overrun with extra-large enclosures.....especially since I have so many melleri....lol. This latest one is the new Zoo Med iguana enclosure but it's not nearly as big as the older version. The older version is so big, I have 2 melleri living in there. This one is only about half the size (I really don't understand how Zoo Med thinks a full-size iguana will really fit in there...) so I currently have 2 baby melleri in there and they love it.

Makes me want Melleri again, time to keep an eye out for an iguanarium.

I really like the idea & size of those cages. As far as feeding goes they would escape unless cup-fed so how do the chams like it? I,ve been considering adding a melleri to my family so just been gathering as much info as possible...

kongchi said:

Makes me want Melleri again, time to keep an eye out for an iguanarium.

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The iguanarium is actually too small. I currently have 2 babies in there, which is the only reason that I'm using it. Zoo Med's OLD one was much larger and just fine for an adult (or two) but they don't make that one anymore. If you want a proper sized enclosure for an adult, if not a free-range, I would either make one yourself or try and find the largest sized parrot enclosure. You can find used ones really cheap on Ebay or Craig's List.

Gijoe said:

I really like the idea & size of those cages. As far as feeding goes they would escape unless cup-fed so how do the chams like it? I,ve been considering adding a melleri to my family so just been gathering as much info as possible...

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Yep. I generally have feeding buckets down at the bottom for the adults but for the babies, I have the feed cups attached more towards the middle. As for information, there is plenty on here as well as melleridiscovery.com.