Enclosure suggestion's/review

[LisaMichelle]

Hi everyone! I don’t get my panther chameleon until mid-March. I bought the basic kit by Neptune and added a different mister and fogger. (My husband is making a stand so the crate it’s sitting on is just temporary)

Plants- Monstera deliciosa, adansonii, nerve plant, heart leaf philodendron, Begonia maculata, variegated rubber plant, burgundy rubber plant. I’ve added a Barrina T5 grow light to the top- is this alright?

Lights set to go off at 8pm and come back on at 8am. Mister set to spray at 8:30pm and again at 7:30am.

The fogger I am still struggling with. Has anyone used the Reptizoo Digital Timer humidifier and can recommend a good YouTube video of how to set the time up or if I need to buy the humidity controller? The day time humidity was around 45-48% today.

I set up the hygrometer around the top basking area and have to move the heat dome up a few inches since the temp was reading 92 degrees.

I am probably missing something else as my brain is in overload with learning and setting up his enclosure. I want to make sure I have everything working correctly before he comes home. Thank you in advance!

 

[Lt.WorfReportingForDuty]

I think your setup looks nice! I will leave it to the veteran experts to do a full review.
I will say, on a safety level, it looks like some water could drip from the electrical cords into the extension cord you have. There is an easy way to fix this— just make sure that the plug is not the lowest point that water would travel ie. Elevate the plug strip a little to create a “drip loop,” like this (below) so water will not accumulate at the plug.

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi! I love that you’re getting everything set up and ready before getting your chameleon. Your basking temp of 92 is too hot. Ideal temp will depend upon the age and gender of chameleon that you will be getting. Young chams (below 6 months old) and all girls basking temps should be around and no higher than 80. For boys older than 6 months, they can have as high as 85, but no higher. For all young chams, they like to walk upside down along the screen top and that places them at risk for getting burned. Until they get too old/big to do this, it’s best to raise your lights by a few inches. I just use little wire baskets I get from the dollar store. Not very pretty but it works well. Your humidity is ok, but could be just a tad higher though. If you place a shower curtain at least on the back side and maybe one side, that will help maintain humidity and protect your walls from overspray. Speaking of spray, I would change the misting time from 8:30 PM, to 7:30 PM. The use of a fogger is only for night time and only provided your night temps are below at least 68. While it’s the ideal to fog at night, not everyone can achieve that temp drop. I would go bankrupt if I even tried, so I do have a couple of 15 second mistings during the night for a subtle humidity increase and that’s all I dare.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Not to hijack the thread, but I was also going to mist 30 minutes after the lights go off. So it's more beneficial to mist while the lights are still on in the evening? 30 minutes before lights out?

 

[LisaMichelle]

I think your setup looks nice! I will leave it to the veteran experts to do a full review.
I will say, on a safety level, it looks like some water could drip from the electrical cords into the extension cord you have. There is an easy way to fix this— just make sure that the plug is not the lowest point that water would travel ie. Elevate the plug strip a little to create a “drip loop,” like this (below) so water will not accumulate at the plug.
View attachment 362427

Thanks! My husband built a 36” stand to put it on and all of the plugs are under the stand with the U shape to stop the water from getting to the power strip.

 

[LisaMichelle]

Hi! I love that you’re getting everything set up and ready before getting your chameleon. Your basking temp of 92 is too hot. Ideal temp will depend upon the age and gender of chameleon that you will be getting. Young chams (below 6 months old) and all girls basking temps should be around and no higher than 80. For boys older than 6 months, they can have as high as 85, but no higher. For all young chams, they like to walk upside down along the screen top and that places them at risk for getting burned. Until they get too old/big to do this, it’s best to raise your lights by a few inches. I just use little wire baskets I get from the dollar store. Not very pretty but it works well. Your humidity is ok, but could be just a tad higher though. If you place a shower curtain at least on the back side and maybe one side, that will help maintain humidity and protect your walls from overspray. Speaking of spray, I would change the misting time from 8:30 PM, to 7:30 PM. The use of a fogger is only for night time and only provided your night temps are below at least 68. While it’s the ideal to fog at night, not everyone can achieve that temp drop. I would go bankrupt if I even tried, so I do have a couple of 15 second mistings during the night for a subtle humidity increase and that’s all I dare.

Hi! I appreciate your tip on the metal basket! I bought a riser from Petco that just isn’t very sturdy. I was going to move the branches down just a tad bit. And also the shower curtain idea is brilliant- I was looking at sheets of pvc but that would be the easier route. My office does get down to 67 degrees at night during the winter months, but just set up the mister to go off for a few seconds a few times a night. Thanks again for the tips!!

 

[MissSkittles]

Not to hijack the thread, but I was also going to mist 30 minutes after the lights go off. So it's more beneficial to mist while the lights are still on in the evening? 30 minutes before lights out?

I think so as it gives them time to take one last drink before sleep. Once the lights are off, they go to their spots and sleep.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Okay, I'll keep that in mind! I saw people say to do it after lights were off, but it makes sense to give them more hydration opportunities too.

 

[Eileen]

Okay, I'll keep that in mind! I saw people say to do it after lights were off, but it makes sense to give them more hydration opportunities too.

I was confused about this too. although my cham HATES misting. So I do it when she is sleeping, once in the middle of the night when I usually get up anyways, and then again right before the lights. She usually gets a drink then.