Critiques Please

[So Pirate55]

ok, I wanted a panther chameleon about 3 years ago only to find out that i didnt have the resources nor the room to have one. Fast Foward to the fall and i get my own place, and ended up getting a juvie set up for christmas, went ahead and bought an adult cage so that i could be setting it up while the juvie was growing. I couldnt find exactly what i want and as time went on i got caught up in the hustle of my wedding, still no chameleon. Well, i have finally reached a point where everything is settled down and i have the resources, plus i already had all the equipment, so i'm finally getting a panther chameleon, but first i want you guys to take a look at my juvie setup and tell me what you think.

Here are the specs:

18"x12"x20"
Reptisun 5.0 UVB linear Bulb
5.5 dome for heat (with rheostat)
75 watt basking bulb
Basking Temp ~87 degrees F
Cage Floor Temp~ 75 degrees F

Little Dripper

1 Schefflera arboricola
1 Epipremnum aureum
the plants were washed and rinsed (roots and all) and repotted with organic soil and some stones placed on top to limit the access to the soil.

a couple wooden rods for climbing
some fake vines around the rods as well as one to the floor of the cage to allow access to the bottom from the plants

I have yet to get a max min on what the humidity is because i havent gone through a full day of the dripper as well as misting, so i'll get the info on that tomorrow. Oh well, i can't write all this without putting up at least one picture. Tell me what you think.

 

[ChrisnLisa]

Looks great! What type of panther are you planning on buying?

 

[Nicodemayo]

You look like a well educated keeper to me! A great start! Keep in mind a male veiled or panther will need a much larger enclosure after about 4 months of age. If that size is right for your housing arrangement, perhaps a carpet chameleon would be a great choice!

 

[So Pirate55]

I had been looking a Sambava, something with a lot of red in it. I found some 3month predominantly red bar ambilobes for sale so i think that's the route i'm going to go. If all goes well, i'm sure this won't be my only one.

oh yeah i know about the size. i actually have a 18"x36"x48" inch cage that i had ordered earlier that i'm going to start getting ready so that i'll be ready when the time comes to make the move. I probably won't make any moves until my cham is cup trained. That's a lot of room to cover to be hunting for a youngster.

 

[FOREVER ENDEAVOR]

they are hard to come across but you might want to look into a tamatave locale if you like alot of red..or a red barred ambilobe..

 

[FOREVER ENDEAVOR]

great set up btw.. sounds like youve done your research! your going to make a a lucky chameleon very happy!

 

[FOREVER ENDEAVOR]

depending on wich locale you get it can very a bit.. but generally speaking for a panther you can keep the humidity at around 40-50% and peak to 90% about 2-3 times a day..

 

[bucky]

Looks like your set up! Sambavas tend to take longer to get their color than most panthers if im correct.

 

[FOREVER ENDEAVOR]

Looks like your set up! Sambavas tend to take longer to get their color than most panthers if im correct.

but when they reach maturity it is worth they wait..a Sambava is my going to be my next panther endeavor.. kammers has some that look like they might be worth taking a look at..wow..

 

[bucky]

I know they are REALLY beutiful!

 

[bucky]

But all of them are really beutiful, you cant go wrong with either.

 

[So Pirate55]

yeah i'm going with the red bars myself, for the first one anyway

 

[dodolah]

nice cage. but i just want to clarify that 18X12X20 is good for 2 months or 3 (if you buy a juvenile chameleon -assuming that he is 5 months old).

you will want to start investing on 24X24X48 for male panther.
It's great that you are doing all of this BEFORE purchasing the animal.
You are going to be a wonderful keeper. and the chameleon will certainly be happy under your care.

Good luck!
PS: be careful of chamaeleophilia.

 

[So Pirate55]

i'm good, i have a 18x36x48 in waiting for when i need it. i could seriously see a case of chamaeleonphilia developing in the future. thanks for the warning

 

[summoner12]

i'm good, i have a 18x36x48 in waiting for when i need it. i could seriously see a case of chamaeleonphilia developing in the future. thanks for the warning

Is this a reptarium or metal screen cage?

As your cham gets older having a tall and square cage might be better. And if you get more than one cham down the road you will have uniform cages.

 

[So Pirate55]

metal screen cage. i can't ever remember which dimension goes first. the height is 48". if the height is going to remain the same as a square cage (24x24x48) i can't see how enlarging the footprint will hurt, assuming he's able to find food. (i plan on cup training). the cage was built to fit on top of a 40 breeder stand that i already had. I figured if i end up with more down the road, i could divide it to hold 2 females or subadults.

 

[Fidel]

We live in the same town! Too bad I'm moving next week, we could have gone in on feeders. oh well.

 

[mika]

I like........

 

[summoner12]

I figured if i end up with more down the road, i could divide it to hold 2 females or subadults.

That would be a good cage for splitting.