Best Location For Chameleon Cage Outdoors

[Kecleon]

Morning Guys,
I attached a video and a couple of pictures so you guy's can give me some advice on the best location outdoors for me chameleon cage.

Cage dimensions 1m by 1m by 2m see attached picture.

What's the best location open for direct sunlight or agains the house right on top of the ficus tree?

https://goo.gl/photos/F2PW68zVHmVkPtzT6

 

[jannb]

If it's hot there I'd recommend a spot where he could get some morning sun and then shade. If you heavily plant the cage and mist often he could handle more sun but I'd never put a chameleon in the direct sun all day.

 

[Kecleon]

Ok,
Cause at the time i took the picture and made the video tit was 11:20am and at 1 o'clock or some the sun would be facing the cage till about 5 or 6 o'lcock.

So would it be ok to put the cage against the house right on top of the ficus tree that i have there?

 

[Kecleon]

Thanks for the help guy's i went to check if i have enough resources and space so i can install my misting system that far i was lucky that i ordered an extended hose so i can extend my misting system to where the cage is, but with progress i'll let you guy's know how i will finish it off.

 

[jajeanpierre]

It depends on the species of the chameleon and where you live.

Did you make that cage? Can you post pictures of it? It looks great.

 

[Kecleon]

It depends on the species of the chameleon and where you live.

Did you make that cage? Can you post pictures of it? It looks great.

Hi there guy's,

I live in the Caribbean, on an island called Curacao just of the coast of Venezuela next to Aruba.

The cage a college at work did it for me but i gave him the idea on how to do it.
I just ordered my RO Filtering System to prevent clogging of my Mistking Misting system that i just ordered, so as soon as i'm done with my setup i'll post on the forum.

i can send some unfinished pictures but as soon as i'm done with the whole thing i'll post it on the forum.

since 2008 i'm busy with this and i'm very happy that at last i'll be ready for my friend.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Hi there guy's,

I live in the Caribbean, on an island called Curacao just of the coast of Venezuela next to Aruba.

The cage a college at work did it for me but i gave him the idea on how to do it.
I just ordered my RO Filtering System to prevent clogging of my Mistking Misting system that i just ordered, so as soon as i'm done with my setup i'll post on the forum.

i can send some unfinished pictures but as soon as i'm done with the whole thing i'll post it on the forum.

since 2008 i'm busy with this and i'm very happy that at last i'll be ready for my friend.

You live in a perfect place for many species of chameleons! I used to live on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. Does Curacao allow chameleons to be imported? I know there are a lot of restrictions and bans of things like chameleons in the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and of course Hawaii. Being such a small island in the Caribbean you won't have too much heat to deal with but I don't think it will be cool enough for most montane species which really need a lower temperatures, especially at night.

Look very carefully at your maximum temps both day and night during the dry and rainy seasons. Then look at the climate of where the chameleon you choose comes from.

What species are you planning on getting? I think a panther would be in heaven although I know very little about panthers.

I would not place the cage in direct sunlight, but in a place where it will get dappled light and there is dappled light all around the cage. Chameleons live in the forests, which are much cooler than the same area that is open and covered only with shrubs. I would place the cage where the ground is quite shaded so the sun baking on the ground doesn't heat up the air around the cage. It is quite surprising the difference in temperature between under the canopy of a rain forest and a field 100 meters away. I have a veiled chameleon, a supposed heat lover, outside and he will blanch from heat stress if the area around his cage receives full sun. He basks in the morning and afternoon and hides during the mid day.

I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your cage, finished or not. Please tag me in any of your posts about your cage, etc. I do miss the Caribbean where I spent over 8 wonderful years. After eleven years in Saudi Arabia followed by eight years in St. Croix, I just cannot get used to the cold even though I've been in south central Texas for four years--even though I grew up in The Great White North of Canada.

 

[Kecleon]

You live in a perfect place for many species of chameleons! I used to live on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. Does Curacao allow chameleons to be imported? I know there are a lot of restrictions and bans of things like chameleons in the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and of course Hawaii. Being such a small island in the Caribbean you won't have too much heat to deal with but I don't think it will be cool enough for most montane species which really need a lower temperatures, especially at night.

Look very carefully at your maximum temps both day and night during the dry and rainy seasons. Then look at the climate of where the chameleon you choose comes from.

What species are you planning on getting? I think a panther would be in heaven although I know very little about panthers.

I would not place the cage in direct sunlight, but in a place where it will get dappled light and there is dappled light all around the cage. Chameleons live in the forests, which are much cooler than the same area that is open and covered only with shrubs. I would place the cage where the ground is quite shaded so the sun baking on the ground doesn't heat up the air around the cage. It is quite surprising the difference in temperature between under the canopy of a rain forest and a field 100 meters away. I have a veiled chameleon, a supposed heat lover, outside and he will blanch from heat stress if the area around his cage receives full sun. He basks in the morning and afternoon and hides during the mid day.

I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your cage, finished or not. Please tag me in any of your posts about your cage, etc. I do miss the Caribbean where I spent over 8 wonderful years. After eleven years in Saudi Arabia followed by eight years in St. Croix, I just cannot get used to the cold even though I've been in south central Texas for four years--even though I grew up in The Great White North of Canada.

They have no problem to import them here but the only thing that would be a bit troublesome is to get "Health Certificate" and "CITES" for my little pal.

The species that i would wanna start with is the Veiled Chameleon.

Here is a link so you can see about the climate and weather we have here.
https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,Curacao,Curacao

 

[jajeanpierre]

Your climate is perfect for a veiled or a panther.

A health certificate is no problem--that's just a piece of paper signed by a vet saying the animal is in good health. There may be restrictions put on by Curacao on who can issue the health certificate and what needs to be covered or tested for.

I wonder if you import directly from the Netherlands if you even need a CITES permit since Curacao is a territory of the Netherlands. Call your department of fish and wildlife in your local government and find out the rules. Sometimes local government officials, especially Caribbean government officials, are not fully aware of what is necessary, so you really need to dig very deeply into what is necessary. I've even had US Fish and Wildlife managers who would be inspecting my shipments not know what paperwork and permitting was needed.

For example, the US Virgin Islands is a US territory. I did not need any CITES permits to bring my CITES I (the most endangered species controlled by CITES requiring the most paperwork) and CITES II parrots to the St. Croix. I did require permits from the US Virgin Island's Department of Planning and Natural Resources to import and possess them. I also needed an inspection in Puerto Rico from their Department of Natural and Environmental Resources when my birds transited through even though Puerto Rico is also a US territory.

First go to your local department of natural resources--the department that manages wildlife--and start there. Even if you do need a CITES permit, it is not difficult to get for captive bred CITES II animals. Importing CITES I animals gets a lot trickier but as long as they are captive bred and are being exported from the country of their origin (where they hatched) and you have all the documentation such as a hatch certificate from the breeder, etc., it can be done. The country of export issues the permit. (CITES I animals need the country of IMPORT to also issues a CITES import permit for CITES I animals, which can be just a horror show which is why I would stick to CITES II animals only.) Just make sure the exporter gets the CITES permit stamped by the exporting officials. (Don't buy from the US as their fees are outrageous!) Wild caught animals add a whole other layer of complication as you will not be buying directly from the country of origin, but from a country they were exported to. They need a re-export CITES permit which requires all the original CITES permits from when they were first exported from their native lands.

Also check with your department of agriculture.

Good luck.

 

[Kecleon]

Did that already i'm actually ready for it but want to have everything done so i can order one.

see attached file

 

[jajeanpierre]

Did that already i'm actually ready for it but want to have everything done so i can order one.

see attached file

I suggest you definitely NOT import from the US as the fees and paperwork will be unbelievably complicated and expensive. Most countries other than the US and poor Third World countries supply CITES documents free of charge and as long as not CITES I, it is pretty simple. I do have a few contacts who have imported from Europe and can put you in touch with them if you want. I suggest you bring in several animals as it will be expensive and most of the costs are pretty fixed. The animals themselves will not likely be the most expensive part of it.

 

[Kecleon]

Ok ok, that would be great been looking for someone with all these info since for ever.

Thanks

 

[Kecleon]

It Has Finally Arrived guys.
My Mistking, Starter Misting System.

Thank @mistking

 

[Kecleon]

I'll try to set it up in the weekend so you guy's can see.
and for @jajeanpierre you will see the end result of cage setup and location.

Thanks guy's

 

[Kecleon]

Cage is done, going to set it up today.
I'll try to make a video and put some pic's by tomorrow

 

[Kecleon]

Guy's Got a question here.
Went home during break to see how my Mistking Mister is going i went ok it worked fine but i programmed a schedule of 8 in the morning 5min mist, 12 o'clock 15min misting and 5 o'clock 5min misting is that a good schedule for my Veiled Chameleon setup outdoors, in my previous post i put a link with the weather that i have here on the island but can someone shine some light on this subject for me, so i can save some money on water bills LOL

Appreciate the help guy's.

P.S. I Am Still Pending To Post Some Pic's And Video's

 

[Kecleon]

Here are a couple of shot's and a video
Crappy Phone pictures LOL

https://goo.gl/photos/bYamUyYtsLveRhBL6

Let me know what you guy's think.
Open to every info and advice guy's

Thanks

 

[Kecleon]

No one with any feedback for me about the setup and about the info for the misting?