Chevy's New Enclosure -Take a Look:)

[chevycham]

Please feel free to let me any feedback on what you think!
A long awaited process, but I am so happy with it. My Husband did a great job. Huge Enclosure 84x3x3 (Yep 7ft. by 3ft), Misting system installed, large bamboo tree (fake - waiting for the ficus to come in next week) Hanging pothos behind the bamboo with very long thick vines, large vines throughout, and the smaller pothos in bottom corner. Basking lights and UVB on top which I have a question about. All wood was handmade and pressure treated by a professional so we don't have to worry about the wood rotting, the screen was bought from a reptile onli supply store (I believe it is aluminum with no plastic but has a protective coating?) Please let me know what you think.

Question - in one of the pictures I have taken shots of where we placed the light on the top. Where should I put a basking area - as in 6 inches below on maybe a branch or vine?

Also - how long should I leave him be and let him adjust to his new environment? I believe someone told me at least a few days and he could also slow down a bit on eating while he is re-adjusting.

Thanks a bunch Cham-Friends

Super excited!!

 

[nick barta]

Tell your husband he did a good job. Your basking temperatures will depend on the type of chameleon you have. The distance from the basking light to the branches can be measured best by using an infrared heat gun. Most of us use 40 to 100 watt (old-style) bulbs on Panthers and Veileds; I think many chameleon owners put too much heat. Montanes as Jackson's often don't need a basking light.

Are you adding a 5.0 Reptisun fluorescent light fixture for UVB?

You will need lots of lateral branches/vines so Chevy can reach prey in the cage, and especially in the basking area to let him regulate his temperature.

Chevy will need a feeding cup with this big cage, if you don't already have one.

Enjoy the addiction!

Nick

 

[chevycham]

Tell your husband he did a good job. Your basking temperatures will depend on the type of chameleon you have. The distance from the basking light to the branches can be measured best by using an infrared heat gun. Most of us use 40 to 100 watt (old-style) bulbs on Panthers and Veileds; I think many chameleon owners put too much heat. Montanes as Jackson's often don't need a basking light.

Are you adding a 5.0 Reptisun fluorescent light fixture for UVB?

You will need lots of lateral branches/vines so Chevy can reach prey in the cage, and especially in the basking area to let him regulate his temperature.

Chevy will need a feeding cup with this big cage, if you don't already have one.

Enjoy the addiction!

Nick

Hi Nick!
Thank so much for the feedback. I will tell the Hubby. He also made a feeding cup, it is actually built out of 2 3inch couplings attached to a 4 ft wood rod that he can reach from good heights in his cage, so I got that covered. He is a veiled Chameleon about 7 months old give or take a few days, he has MBD but I have almost stopped the progression of that with LOTS of help my ya'll and out wonderful new vet in Phoenix and the Arizona Reptile Center, I did add about 6 wines this morning which he seems to be really loving. I measured the distance from basking to where it seems he has picked the spot and it is roughly 6 inches between him and the basking light and the thermometer is showing a temperature of ranging between 81 and 82 degrees with humidity ranging between 45 and about 60 when the misting goes off.
I di have a UVB bulb, actually 2 of them, I have the long 5.0 repti UVB and a smaller done depending on where he is in the cage.

 

[jannb]

Your husband did a fantastic job on the enclosure. Chevy has a nice castle now. Nick provided some excellent suggestions and I'd like to add that you need to up his basking temps a bit. At 7 months old I'd recommend a basking spot of around 85 to 86.

Chevy is a lucky boy.

 

[chevycham]

Your husband did a fantastic job on the enclosure. Chevy has a nice castle now. Nick provided some excellent suggestions and I'd like to add that you need to up his basking temps a bit. At 7 months old I'd recommend a basking spot of around 85 to 86.

Chevy is a lucky boy.

Okay Thanks Jann. I will make those adjustments for the basking Temp. He is shedding again My daughter took an old wooden ladder and clean it up, we let it dry and she covered it in vines and he is loving it. He uses the ladder to sit on and look out the window. I got all the rest of his branches in there so he has been pretty busy and hiding very well.