acceptable set up?

[Blevine1292]

so the screws on my screen cage got stripped somehow so now the sides fall off with the slightest touch. i had an extra tank lying around so i figured i could put my baby veiled in it until i can rake up enough dough to buy a new screen cage. its a glass exoterra, 18x18x24. since the uvb tube is a bit high i figured id leave the doors open and have another uvb pointed about mid way in the tank where most of the branches are, mid cage is about 14 inches from the tube...i figure that the UVB rays arent reaching that far down. the tube is a reptisun 5.0 and the bulb is a repti glo 5.0, here are the questions i have: too much UVB? and is the set up acceptable and how long can he stay in there for? my veiled is around 1 month-1.5 months and is 4 inches. here are some pics:

 

[flyty808]

is the uvb bulb inside or outside the glass cause i dont believe it goes through the glass ?

 

[Blevine1292]

is the uvb bulb inside or outside the glass cause i dont believe it goes through the glass ?

the tube rays go through a screen top, and the one in the front doesnt either because im leaving the doors open to the cage.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

You're going to need alot more plants and vines, they like places to hide, that size cage will grow out pretty soon, Veilds can get pretty big. One UVB would probably work, if you get the right amount of plants it can climb where it needs to be.

 

[Blevine1292]

I've got a bunch more plants to toss in, but do you think I can just leave him in that until he out grows it?

 

[Ace]

i beleive so, just watch for the temps to not get too high, looks decent for young ones, but when he gets bigger you need a larger size cage, most likely a screen cage

 

[Blevine1292]

i beleive so, just watch for the temps to not get too high, looks decent for young ones, but when he gets bigger you need a larger size cage, most likely a screen cage

I've got a 65 gallon screen cage in my garage waiting but I'm leaving the doors open during the day for ventilation. It stays at like 84 in the basking zone. And what do you think about the UVB, just the tube up top is good? It's about 14 inches from mid cage.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

Yes, just the tube is fine. If you have plants and vines so it can climb it will get as much as it needs.

 

[chameleoman]

NICE i have to try the newspaper

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

@chameleo


I wouldn't recommend it, I use paper towels, the ink comes off newspaper when wet and gets all over your hands and bleh, it's not as cheap either.

 

[Blevine1292]

alright, got a bunch more plants and vines in place. and you're right, dont try the newspaper, its all i had at the moment i just didnt want him to be over the glass. i gotta run out and buy more paper towels in the morning.

 

[lumbasammler]

Hello,
good work so far, but i would place the lamp on top of the screen-top.
It´s simply more natural for them to get their light from above, not from the side.
Also i don´t think it´s a good idea to leave the door open while you´re not around.
Mine escaped once and it took me about a week to find him- INSIDE the couch!

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I agree the doors should not be left open. All it takes is one escape attempt and if you have any other pets or accidentally step on him he's gone. Not sure why there is a big tank of water next to his cage...humidity? Well if he got out and fell into that he'd be a goner too. No need for the additional light on the side. Those UV bulbs reach at least 12" and it's okay that it doesn't reach all the way to the bottom. Chams need to be able to regulate what kinds of light they get and when, so allowing some escape is good for them. The tube on the top is sufficient. All of us with 36" tall cages just have UVB lights on the top.

If you really want to leave the doors open why don't you use some of the screen that fell off your old cage to cover the front of this one while the doors are open? Then no worries!

 

[Blevine1292]

I agree the doors should not be left open. All it takes is one escape attempt and if you have any other pets or accidentally step on him he's gone. Not sure why there is a big tank of water next to his cage...humidity? Well if he got out and fell into that he'd be a goner too. No need for the additional light on the side. Those UV bulbs reach at least 12" and it's okay that it doesn't reach all the way to the bottom. Chams need to be able to regulate what kinds of light they get and when, so allowing some escape is good for them. The tube on the top is sufficient. All of us with 36" tall cages just have UVB lights on the top.

If you really want to leave the doors open why don't you use some of the screen that fell off your old cage to cover the front of this one while the doors are open? Then no worries!

the tank of water next to it is my turtle ive got a bunch of lizards and thats just one wall of them and ive been free ranging him while im around, so im not worried he'll escape. i do close the doors when i go out for the day, but if im around the doors are usually open, ive been free ranging him for a couple hours a day, so im pretty confident. but the screen idea is pretty good, i think im going to do that

 

[lumbasammler]

Screen would be best i think.
I used to free-range the one that escaped into the couch for several days before this happened and before this incident he never left his tree.
Never trust a chameleon ;D

 

[Blevine1292]

haha i think ill keep the doors closed while im not around...and wait until he is full grown to free range