tisincirtis
New Member
Hello everybody! I Have been reading up on your forums and appreciate all the great information. Unfortunately I haven't found ALL the answers to my questions (darn) so if anyone could help me... I would be appreciative.
First my situation:
I just finished building a greenhouse, it has a glass front/ concrete back (heat sink) and clear corrugated fiberglass roof. The temperature seems to fluctuate between sixty on the colder nights and 100 F on the hotter days. I have windows and doors to open, which manages the temp. And if needed could use shade cloths on the roof. The area is 40 feet by 20 feet and I live in central California where the winters and summers are mild.
So my questions are these:
1. Is this a good environment for chameleons? It seems that the leopard chameleons are fairly hardy, so that would probably be what I'm asking about.
2. Does anyone know if fiberglass lets in UVB light? I know glass does not. If not, what sort of light source would I need for such an area, and how long should it be on each day - I'm assuming that they can still get the heat and 'basking' light they need without UVB light. Would the chams come over to the light, or would I need to blanked the entire greenhouse?
3. There aren't any screens on the doors/ windows now and I'm wondering if the chams would stay in the greenhouse without them (since it is a more desirable environment than outside,) or if I would have to enclose them.
4. I would like to start with one, to see how well they seem adapted to the area and then get a few more. How many would do well in this space, and is it better to get them all at once? (I've heard they are territorial and assume that there could be problems introducing new pals after one was established.)
5. There are native 'blue belly' lizards that absolutely love the greenhouse, (and all the bugs inside it!) which is what gave me the idea for chameleons, do you think there would be problems with the two interacting?
Thank you so much!
Tyson
First my situation:
I just finished building a greenhouse, it has a glass front/ concrete back (heat sink) and clear corrugated fiberglass roof. The temperature seems to fluctuate between sixty on the colder nights and 100 F on the hotter days. I have windows and doors to open, which manages the temp. And if needed could use shade cloths on the roof. The area is 40 feet by 20 feet and I live in central California where the winters and summers are mild.
So my questions are these:
1. Is this a good environment for chameleons? It seems that the leopard chameleons are fairly hardy, so that would probably be what I'm asking about.
2. Does anyone know if fiberglass lets in UVB light? I know glass does not. If not, what sort of light source would I need for such an area, and how long should it be on each day - I'm assuming that they can still get the heat and 'basking' light they need without UVB light. Would the chams come over to the light, or would I need to blanked the entire greenhouse?
3. There aren't any screens on the doors/ windows now and I'm wondering if the chams would stay in the greenhouse without them (since it is a more desirable environment than outside,) or if I would have to enclose them.
4. I would like to start with one, to see how well they seem adapted to the area and then get a few more. How many would do well in this space, and is it better to get them all at once? (I've heard they are territorial and assume that there could be problems introducing new pals after one was established.)
5. There are native 'blue belly' lizards that absolutely love the greenhouse, (and all the bugs inside it!) which is what gave me the idea for chameleons, do you think there would be problems with the two interacting?
Thank you so much!
Tyson
