Enclosure setup

[marthanova]

Hi Everyone, I’m new here and I’m currently trying to set up an enclosure for a male panther chameleon I plan to get in the next few weeks/ month. I finally got most of my stuff delivered so I started to put plants inside after disinfecting with water and soap as well as alcohol to kill germs. I was wondering if I could receive feedback and advice, I’m concerned about the top of my enclosure I think my sticks might be too close to the UVB & basking light but not 100% sure..I look some photos with a measuring tape to show you the distance. I have a Pothos hanging closer to the top I removed it but then I thought it looked too empty but if it’s too close to the top I can move it elsewhere.

My other question was if anyone knows if the “white milky “ substance coming out of my ficus benjamina tree Is safe ? I started to cut some of the dead branches off and noticed that it was sticky.

All my plants and sticks are real except 1 silk vine and 2 exo terra jungle vines.

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi and welcome! Your set up looks pretty good. You could add some more horizontal branches. The distance of your basking area depends on what type of uvb you have. If you have a T5 with a 5.0 or 6% uvb bulb, basking area should be about 8” down. If you have a 10.0 or 12% uvb bulb it needs to be 12” down. If you have a T8, another member will be better able to advise you than I can.
Weeping figs do exude sap when cut or broken which can be an irritant to your cham’s skin. As long as it has dried by the time you get him/her, it should be fine. Many use weeping fig with no problems.

 

[marthanova]

Hi and welcome! Your set up looks pretty good. You could add some more horizontal branches. The distance of your basking area depends on what type of uvb you have. If you have a T5 with a 5.0 or 6% uvb bulb, basking area should be about 8” down. If you have a 10.0 or 12% uvb bulb it needs to be 12” down. If you have a T8, another member will be better able to advise you than I can.
Weeping figs do exude sap when cut or broken which can be an irritant to your cham’s skin. As long as it has dried by the time you get him/her, it should be fine. Many use weeping fig with no problems.

Hi thanks for replying ! I will try to put some horizontal branches. I got my UVB from ReptiLighting it’s an Arcadia T5 6% with a 24” hood and the basking light I used a light bulb I got from home depot
I’m still trying to get the temperature correct as I can’t seem to get it passed 68 degrees at the stop and 65 at the bottom of the cage (before adding plants) now that I have most of my stuff in there I’m playing around with lighting to get it right.

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi thanks for replying ! I will try to put some horizontal branches. I got my UVB from ReptiLighting it’s an Arcadia T5 6% with a 24” hood and the basking light I used a light bulb I got from home depot
I’m still trying to get the temperature correct as I can’t seem to get it passed 68 degrees at the stop and 65 at the bottom of the cage (before adding plants) now that I have most of my stuff in there I’m playing around with lighting to get it right.

What kind of light bulb did you buy? If it’s an LED you won’t get heat from it. Incandescent are getting very hard to find in most places and you may need to order one on line or try a halogen. I use 60w which gives me around 78-82 at basking areas for my veileds. You may need to get a 75w for a male panther.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Finding the correct wattage incandescent bulb is a matter of trial & error. I had to go through several wattages before getting up to 82F with a 75W, and my ambient daytime room temperature is higher than yours. I also had to insulate a bit of the top screen to hold some of the heat in. Don't cover it completely; you still need sufficient air-flow.

I'm a little concerned that the weight of those light fixtures are deforming your top screen, which could cause issues over time. If you can, try to support them with blocks and/or slats of wood spanning between the frame.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/simple-uvb-fixture-supports.177896/

 

[marthanova]

Thank you ! I will try to find a way to put blocks to support the lights, I have a few extra pieces.
Im current using this brand 75w but it seems like it’s not working.

What brand of light bulbs are you using ?

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Yeah... that's an LED—no appreciable heat. You need an old-fashioned power-sucking household incandescent. They're not even available in some states, so you may have to mail order.

 

[marthanova]

Yeah... that's an LED—no appreciable heat. You need an old-fashioned power-sucking household incandescent. They're not even available in some states, so you may have to mail order.

gotcha ! Thank you
Would you be able to share some brands to check out ?

 

[marthanova]

gotcha ! Thank you
Would you be able to share some brands to check out ?

I also got this one from ReptiLighting but I saw online that they might not be the best??

 

[Mrjamwin]

I personally think it needs a sauna and a jacuzzi.

 

[Fchamel]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sylvani...ncandescent-Light-Bulb-2-Pack-11957/203117443
This is a good one.

 

[Flick boy]

Hi and welcome enclosure looks great. This is how I support and raise my lights

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I also got this one from ReptiLighting but I saw online that they might not be the best??

I prefer a plain old household incandescent or flood (not spot). Floods provide more of a gradient, where spots are more... heat/no heat.
Halogens are OK if not too hot.
If your plant lights are bright, a Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) is another option.

 

[Flick boy]

Just to add to the mix. Heat. uva light infared dimmable

 

[marthanova]

Just to add to the mix. Heat. uva light infared dimmable

Would you use this as a UVB light or a basking light ?

 

[marthanova]

Hi and welcome enclosure looks great. This is how I support and raise my lights

That looks great! I need to try that, where did you get your stand for your basking light ?

 

[Flick boy]

Hi it does not provide uvb just uva and infared i use it as my basking spot along with t5ho

 

[Flick boy]

Do you mean the frame . My brother made it.i have my basking light attached to it an exo terra light bracket screwed in so I can raise or lower my light

 

[marthanova]

Do you mean the frame . My brother made it.i have my basking light attached to it an exo terra light bracket screwed in so I can raise or lower my light

That’s awesome !

 

[Flick boy]

I wanted to make the most of my enclosure size it can b a pain in the butt getting up there but worth it lol ?