Bathroom/Chameleon Room???

[ChuWuti]

Maybe this idea is completely crazy, but here goes . . . please critique it thoroughly!

We have an unfinished bathroom upstairs in our house (we've been remodeling). Currently, there's only a toilet in that room; eventually, there will be a sink, tub, and enclosed shower as well, but it's actually a fairly good-sized room for a bathroom, long and fairly narrow.

I'm envisioning redesigning part of that room for a chameleon room. (ooooops; poor DH doesn't know what I'm thinking yet!)

I had already planned to hang pothos and spider plants in there to screen off the toilet area (there's only a half-wall between the toilet area and the rest of the area). At the other end of the room from the toilet (near the entrance to the room; the toilet is farthest from the entrance), there are south and east windows. That's where the tub is currently planned to go--but we don't currently have enough money to buy the tub, so it will be awhile . . .

There are (of course) doors that can be kept closed so the cats can't get in.

So I'm thinking of putting the chameleon screened enclosure near those windows (they are shaded by huge pecan and sweetgum trees, so it won't get super-hot) and of training pothos along a wire or fake vine from the toilet area to the screened enclosure to give a cham some arboreal free-range space. I would keep the plants/fake vines away from the light fixtures for the cham's safety.

Are there other considerations I'm not thinking about? Am I completely crazy to even think of trying this?

 

[Echoezra]

Main consideration of course, is making sure that toilet lid is always closed!

 

[Tay And A]

Sounds great to me! Bathrooms are perfect rooms for high humidity!

 

[Carlton]

Maybe this idea is completely crazy, but here goes . . . please critique it thoroughly!

We have an unfinished bathroom upstairs in our house (we've been remodeling). Currently, there's only a toilet in that room; eventually, there will be a sink, tub, and enclosed shower as well, but it's actually a fairly good-sized room for a bathroom, long and fairly narrow.

I'm envisioning redesigning part of that room for a chameleon room. (ooooops; poor DH doesn't know what I'm thinking yet!)

I had already planned to hang pothos and spider plants in there to screen off the toilet area (there's only a half-wall between the toilet area and the rest of the area). At the other end of the room from the toilet (near the entrance to the room; the toilet is farthest from the entrance), there are south and east windows. That's where the tub is currently planned to go--but we don't currently have enough money to buy the tub, so it will be awhile . . .

There are (of course) doors that can be kept closed so the cats can't get in.

So I'm thinking of putting the chameleon screened enclosure near those windows (they are shaded by huge pecan and sweetgum trees, so it won't get super-hot) and of training pothos along a wire or fake vine from the toilet area to the screened enclosure to give a cham some arboreal free-range space. I would keep the plants/fake vines away from the light fixtures for the cham's safety.

Are there other considerations I'm not thinking about? Am I completely crazy to even think of trying this?

You'll want to paint the walls and put some sort of waterproof floor. If surfaces are left porous or unsealed you could end up with structure molds that could be very hard to get under control later.

 

[laurie]

You'll want to paint the walls and put some sort of waterproof floor. If surfaces are left porous or unsealed you could end up with structure molds that could be very hard to get under control later.

Carlton is completely accurate about the mold getting started. We have replaced 3 windows based on me having chams in a bathroom. Same window each time. First was the wood when we bought the house, replaced with another sealed window- wrong. Next we put in vinal windows, still molded. This time we have vinyl with the inside having a second glass barrier inside. Put that in Sept of 2012, still waiting to see if it will last. So far so good, well good except for all the crap I get about my chams destroying the house.

 

[ChuWuti]

Carlton is completely accurate about the mold getting started. We have replaced 3 windows based on me having chams in a bathroom. Same window each time. First was the wood when we bought the house, replaced with another sealed window- wrong. Next we put in vinal windows, still molded. This time we have vinyl with the inside having a second glass barrier inside. Put that in Sept of 2012, still waiting to see if it will last. So far so good, well good except for all the crap I get about my chams destroying the house.

Carlton and Laurie, thanks for the input. I was thinking that the bathroom would be the perfect room to keep the humidity up!

Currently the floor is just subflooring, but we'll be putting in tile, and we'll be mudding and painting the walls. Sounds like I should definitely use mold-resistant paint throughout the room.

Laurie, is it the windowsill or frame that molded? Gotta think about that one . . .

Keeping the toilet lid always closed--I do, but not everyone who visits does, so I will make a note that I should check the toilet. Or keep the chams locked up when we have visitors that would be upstairs (granddaughter).

I'll put up a sign, too.

This is a long room that basically looks like a U with very short legs and a very wide body. I guess I should take pics to make that make sense. It's too dark now, though . . . tomorrow!

Lots of planning to do!

 

[Carlton]

Carlton is completely accurate about the mold getting started. We have replaced 3 windows based on me having chams in a bathroom. Same window each time. First was the wood when we bought the house, replaced with another sealed window- wrong. Next we put in vinal windows, still molded. This time we have vinyl with the inside having a second glass barrier inside. Put that in Sept of 2012, still waiting to see if it will last. So far so good, well good except for all the crap I get about my chams destroying the house.

I learned this the hard (ie: expensive) way when I cleared out the closet in my melleri free range room right before moving...black and grungy. Believe me, you DON'T want this at all! OK, the whole free range thing spooked my real estate agent but she's lucky she never saw that closet!

 

[ChuWuti]

Echoezra and Tay and A, thanks to you as well!

So I told my DH, "You know, the bathroom would be a perfect place for a chameleon." He responded, "So you asked the forum people and they said it would be a great way to keep up the humidity?"

He's never fazed by anything I do . . . wonderful man! Our entire house is planned around animals in one way or another. Poor guy is overwhelmed by the long list I have, though, and now we've added a chameleon to the list of wants--but he suggested getting one first! So this time I get to blame him!

He was really taken with Lea the short time we had her.

The builder put in pipes for two sinks even though I was resistant--I told him I didn't want to have to clean two sinks and that we never fought over one, so one would be plenty. The builder persuaded us that having the plumbing for two would add to the resale value, though, so all the pipes are there. But if we put in only one sink and a shorter vanity, there is PLENTY of room for a 24 x 24 x 48 cham enclosure. We can do this!

I'll let you know more as we make progress on this project of ours, or rather, projects--the house as well as the chameleon room! (Not to mention the special shelf and lighting for the bumblebee ball python, the stands for the cinnamon and normal pythons, the vivaria . . . )

 

[Popliteal]

Another thing to consider is that there are some pretty crazy chemicals used in bathroom cleaning supplies.

You would need to make sure that you wouldn't be using anything with any bad fumes, or with any way for water or chemicals to leak anywhere near your animals.

-Dan

 

[ChuWuti]

Ah, excellent point, Dan!

So,

1) There wouldn't be a way for water to leak near them except from their own cage(s) (not meaning to imply I would ever keep more than one per cage; I know they are solitary and each individual needs its own cage).

2) The bath soaps and shampoos, etc. that we use are all fragrance-free, because I'm allergic to perfumes.

3) However, I do use regular toilet cleaners . . . but the toilet would be 15-20 from the cham's enclosure, so would that be safe? Especially if I opened a window to clear the air?

Hmmm . . . I wonder if there are fragrance-free toilet bowl cleansers? I've never looked for any, but I guess I should.

Thanks for pointing out such an important consideration, Dan!

Sandy