726cham
New Member
I have wanted a chameleon for a while but when I started researching I realized it is a ton of work. I have been lurking around these forums for a while and I have been doing tons of research. I’ve been listening to most episodes of Chameleon academy. I ended up deciding to build a hybrid enclosure out of a Reptibreeze 2’x2’x4’. The video that inspired my build was @Bradsbioactivebuilds chameleon enclosure on YouTube. I used foam insulation board on 3 sides. Duralocked it, installed foam planters, plexiglass bottom, cut out a ventilation window (5”x24”) along the front that can be covered up at night to lock in the humidity. The branches were sourced locally and heat treated and measured out the basking branch to be in compliance with the uvb and basking bulb clearance. I also ended up using window insulator sheet for the front screen cage to creat a more humid environment. I also have a digital hygrometer that is ran with temp probe near basking spot and humidity probe near the center of enclosure. I also have a hand held digital temp probe. All of this is sitting on a table that is 2.5” tall. There is also a pvc ball valve at the bottom just in case there is some water build up. All of this is in an office room with low to no traffic.
I ended up doing a bioactive substate. 2.5” of leca balls, substrate barrier, 6 bags of joshes frogs ABG mix. A good amount of cork bark, seed pods and leaf litter for my clean up crew which consists of 60 powdered orange isopods and 2 colonies of springtails. All the plants I have in the enclosure are real. To include some bromeliad, pothos, Arica palm, spider plant, dracaena, parlour palm, and pink nerve plant. I HAD Exo terra jungle vines but removed them once I read up on it, and ended up putting in sand blasted manzanita branches instead.
For lighting I currently run a 75w basking bulb (Zilla) out of a Fluker’s delux clamp lamp 8.5”. A zoo med reprising terrarium hood (24”) with 24w, 22” t5 HO 5.0 uvb bulb. An Arcadia jungle dawn LED bar 22w 18.5” for my plant growth.
I’m also running a petspioneer digital timing fogger. All of these are on timers. Lights are 12 on 12 off (7am to 7pm). Fogger turns on at night around midnight fogging for 15 min every other hour (12, 2, 4, 6am) and last fogger is on for 25min. Misting is done by hand about 30min after lights off and 30 min before lights on. These times work best in my situation and in my climate. I ended up building my set up about a month and a half before purchasing my little guy.
I purchased my little guy last Thursday from west coast chameleon bros. A beautiful Ambilobe panther that is 3 months old. I’m not going to lie, I’ve peeked my head kinda often and I know I just gotta let em be and get adjusted to the new set up. I have seen him eat a couple dubia roaches and small crickets. I have also caught him getting up on the top screen. I try not to handle him, but when he gets up there I try and use my hand to guide him down the sides. It’s happened a total of 3 times so far. I am currently trying so switch up his meals. So far small crickets, dubia, and some small horn worms that I have for my beardie.
So it hasn’t even been a week, is it normal for the feeding to be kinda hit and miss the with the first couple days? I’m just hoping I do it all right. I’m planning on purchasing a feeder run from full throttle feeders because the roaches and crickets kinda just chill there and don’t move after a while. I’m pretty sure I’m just being impatient, Any recommendations for the enclosure or the way to feed would be greatly appreciated.
Below are pictures of the father, the enclosure and the baby.
I ended up doing a bioactive substate. 2.5” of leca balls, substrate barrier, 6 bags of joshes frogs ABG mix. A good amount of cork bark, seed pods and leaf litter for my clean up crew which consists of 60 powdered orange isopods and 2 colonies of springtails. All the plants I have in the enclosure are real. To include some bromeliad, pothos, Arica palm, spider plant, dracaena, parlour palm, and pink nerve plant. I HAD Exo terra jungle vines but removed them once I read up on it, and ended up putting in sand blasted manzanita branches instead.
For lighting I currently run a 75w basking bulb (Zilla) out of a Fluker’s delux clamp lamp 8.5”. A zoo med reprising terrarium hood (24”) with 24w, 22” t5 HO 5.0 uvb bulb. An Arcadia jungle dawn LED bar 22w 18.5” for my plant growth.
I’m also running a petspioneer digital timing fogger. All of these are on timers. Lights are 12 on 12 off (7am to 7pm). Fogger turns on at night around midnight fogging for 15 min every other hour (12, 2, 4, 6am) and last fogger is on for 25min. Misting is done by hand about 30min after lights off and 30 min before lights on. These times work best in my situation and in my climate. I ended up building my set up about a month and a half before purchasing my little guy.
I purchased my little guy last Thursday from west coast chameleon bros. A beautiful Ambilobe panther that is 3 months old. I’m not going to lie, I’ve peeked my head kinda often and I know I just gotta let em be and get adjusted to the new set up. I have seen him eat a couple dubia roaches and small crickets. I have also caught him getting up on the top screen. I try not to handle him, but when he gets up there I try and use my hand to guide him down the sides. It’s happened a total of 3 times so far. I am currently trying so switch up his meals. So far small crickets, dubia, and some small horn worms that I have for my beardie.
So it hasn’t even been a week, is it normal for the feeding to be kinda hit and miss the with the first couple days? I’m just hoping I do it all right. I’m planning on purchasing a feeder run from full throttle feeders because the roaches and crickets kinda just chill there and don’t move after a while. I’m pretty sure I’m just being impatient, Any recommendations for the enclosure or the way to feed would be greatly appreciated.
Below are pictures of the father, the enclosure and the baby.