Dragon Strand Cages?? Need Input
- Thread starter hpc1979
- Start date
Are the Dragon Strand cages covered on all sides except for the door side? If so, I thought chameleons need "good" ventilation and the covered sides would defeat that purpose right?
Also, if the sides are covered how do you go about putting branches that would usually work on a 100% screen cage?
Also, if the sides are covered how do you go about putting branches that would usually work on a 100% screen cage?
Mike Fisher
Established Member
Are the Dragon Strand cages covered on all sides except for the door side? If so, I thought chameleons need "good" ventilation and the covered sides would defeat that purpose right?
Also, if the sides are covered how do you go about putting branches that would usually work on a 100% screen cage?
Babies typically need higher humidity than adults, and with the front and top being screen, the enclosure still gets the "chimney effect".
hpc1979
Established Member
Are the Dragon Strand cages covered on all sides except for the door side? If so, I thought chameleons need "good" ventilation and the covered sides would defeat that purpose right?
Also, if the sides are covered how do you go about putting branches that would usually work on a 100% screen cage?
I actually live near the world largest all bird store and they sell a lot of branches that have these screws attache to them. I plan on drilling holes in the vinyl in places where a want to use them. I'll have to show pictures later but I also do this with some of my other cages.
steve O
New Member
steve O
New Member
cage
The valspar primer /paint in a spray can works great on framing for those DIY ers Bonds great and when done looks like a car paint job smooth and shinny. Powder coating the mill finish (silver) frame is fairly low cost if you find the right company near you. These are my inside winter breeder cages I'll post more pic when I complete a few more to give a better look of things
I use upper and lower swing doors on adult male cages as you see.i use top door for feeding.
The valspar primer /paint in a spray can works great on framing for those DIY ers Bonds great and when done looks like a car paint job smooth and shinny. Powder coating the mill finish (silver) frame is fairly low cost if you find the right company near you. These are my inside winter breeder cages I'll post more pic when I complete a few more to give a better look of things
I use upper and lower swing doors on adult male cages as you see.i use top door for feeding.
Solid Sides, humidity and branching
Having the front and top screen gives you the ventilation necessary. The ventilation is required to ensure you don't get trapped/stagnant air and the amount of screen on these cages is more than enough. You do get a higher humidity, which is good. One thing you have trouble doing in a screen cage is creating a humidity gradient.
As far as the branching, in the adult cages there are actually branch holders installed in the walls that make it very simple to install horizontal branches!
Bill
Are the Dragon Strand cages covered on all sides except for the door side? If so, I thought chameleons need "good" ventilation and the covered sides would defeat that purpose right?
Also, if the sides are covered how do you go about putting branches that would usually work on a 100% screen cage?
Having the front and top screen gives you the ventilation necessary. The ventilation is required to ensure you don't get trapped/stagnant air and the amount of screen on these cages is more than enough. You do get a higher humidity, which is good. One thing you have trouble doing in a screen cage is creating a humidity gradient.
As far as the branching, in the adult cages there are actually branch holders installed in the walls that make it very simple to install horizontal branches!
Bill
Caging Ideas For Dragon Strand Breeder Series Enclosures
Here are a couple of ideas from the simple to the complex for what you can do with the Dragon Strand Breeder Series cages (the solid side ones).
Simple: Compact Cages that are a great size for carpet chameleon size chameleons. With a can or two of Great Stuff and some potted plants you can create an outcropping of plant life up where the chameleon wants to be. It also creates hiding places and gives a complete different topography to the cage.
Simple but Bigger!: By moving up to a Medium Tall Breeder you get much more space to branch and create those planters. By placing your planters strategically you can create hidden "glens" and places for your mist to cascade down from leaf to leaf. At this level, the cages have branch holders which can be used to anchor potted plants.
Just a little complex: The Medium Wide Breeder Cage comes in a screen front form and an acrylic front version. This one is for a quad and I am using the acrylic front version and cork bark walls to keep his humidity up in my Southern California dry environment. I also am using a substrate tray to provide a moss and Magnolia leaf floor so I truly have a humidity gradient built up in the cage. I have hole drilled in the substrate tray so it drains into a drainage tray and that way I avoid any stagnant water.
Another take for Uroplatus: I did something similar for my Uroplatus phantasticus. I used the Compact Cage System (24" high cage) and added cork bark to the walls, a Great Stuff planter to the back and a moss floor. Due to the nature of the animal, I made a much larger planter and it creates a forest cave on the back floor which has Magnolia leaves that serve as a nesting area.
Carnivorous Plants: I used a Large Breeder Series Cage to combine a panther chameleon with carnivorous plants. I have venus fly traps, a Nepenthes tropical pitcher plant, Cephalotus Australian pitcher plant and “Judith Hindle” North American pitcher plant. The challenge with chameleons and carnivorous plants is getting enough light to the plants. I solved this by creating a planter up near the lights. Of course, that North American Pitcher Plant will out grow that space soon, but I will enjoy it in the background until it needs to move on to another location! The huge leafed plant in the middle is a Nepenthes pitcher plant. I am waiting to see if I can get it to produce pitchers for me. Until then it will provide a great source of water gathering and hiding spots. The male panther in this cage enjoys choosing whether he is seen or not!
Here are a couple of ideas from the simple to the complex for what you can do with the Dragon Strand Breeder Series cages (the solid side ones).
Simple: Compact Cages that are a great size for carpet chameleon size chameleons. With a can or two of Great Stuff and some potted plants you can create an outcropping of plant life up where the chameleon wants to be. It also creates hiding places and gives a complete different topography to the cage.
Simple but Bigger!: By moving up to a Medium Tall Breeder you get much more space to branch and create those planters. By placing your planters strategically you can create hidden "glens" and places for your mist to cascade down from leaf to leaf. At this level, the cages have branch holders which can be used to anchor potted plants.
Just a little complex: The Medium Wide Breeder Cage comes in a screen front form and an acrylic front version. This one is for a quad and I am using the acrylic front version and cork bark walls to keep his humidity up in my Southern California dry environment. I also am using a substrate tray to provide a moss and Magnolia leaf floor so I truly have a humidity gradient built up in the cage. I have hole drilled in the substrate tray so it drains into a drainage tray and that way I avoid any stagnant water.
Another take for Uroplatus: I did something similar for my Uroplatus phantasticus. I used the Compact Cage System (24" high cage) and added cork bark to the walls, a Great Stuff planter to the back and a moss floor. Due to the nature of the animal, I made a much larger planter and it creates a forest cave on the back floor which has Magnolia leaves that serve as a nesting area.
Carnivorous Plants: I used a Large Breeder Series Cage to combine a panther chameleon with carnivorous plants. I have venus fly traps, a Nepenthes tropical pitcher plant, Cephalotus Australian pitcher plant and “Judith Hindle” North American pitcher plant. The challenge with chameleons and carnivorous plants is getting enough light to the plants. I solved this by creating a planter up near the lights. Of course, that North American Pitcher Plant will out grow that space soon, but I will enjoy it in the background until it needs to move on to another location! The huge leafed plant in the middle is a Nepenthes pitcher plant. I am waiting to see if I can get it to produce pitchers for me. Until then it will provide a great source of water gathering and hiding spots. The male panther in this cage enjoys choosing whether he is seen or not!
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