Exoterra enclosures .. what is your opinion?

[Brad Ramsey]

Dr. Ferguson:

"...as small as 12"x12"x18" for adult males have proven satisfactory. Small enclosures should be opaque on at least three sides..."

-Brad

 

[Chris Anderson]

Thanks Brad!

Now, I personally wouldn't recommend a cage that small for a male panther chameleon or male veiled chameleon but all of a sudden, some of the larger sized Exo-Terras don't necessarily seem as small for a female veiled as it originally did.

Chris

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Thanks Brad!

Now, I personally wouldn't recommend a cage that small for a male panther chameleon or male veiled chameleon but all of a sudden, some of the larger sized Exo-Terras don't necessarily seem as small for a female veiled as it originally did.

Chris

Agreed.
Dr. Ferguson does say that a wide range of enclosure sizes are suitable. The size I quoted was the smallest.

-Brad

 

[rcmike]

I have a male and female veiled both in 24"x24"x48" cages and the female uses much more of here space than the male does. The male pretty much parks it in one place all day while the female will move around a little. The male is a lot more nervous as well.

 

[pssh]

So then what do you guys recommend as far as adult male panthers and veileds go? Are the 2x2x4's too big?

 

[PardalisGirl]

Nothing wrong at all....

There's nothing wrong with a cage that size for a monster adult male. My biggest males go into big cages like that. It's a matter of having space and funds or ability to build/buy bigger cages. Furnishings, lighting and heating are a bit more expensive. But they look great. I've got small female groups in big cages too. They have room to each get their little territory. Territory is never even an issue with mine except when they are gravid.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

2x2x4 enclosures have worked well for my adult male veileds.
I keep one in a homemade 20x20x48 which works equally well.

-Brad

 

[tkilgour]

18x18x36 is the biggest enclosure I keep female veileds in.

-Brad

I keep my females in the same size enclosures. I also keep some males in them, once the males are larger I like keeping them in 2'x2'x4'. I also have been using some exoterra for raising babies and I like them. I just keep close eye on the temps.

 

[OOOst16]

Obviously chameleons in the wild live in the world. I cannot understand how a large enclosure with planty of hidding room and plants...(I'm talking full....like in nature) can be a problem. As long as the cham is getting its water food and heat. I can't see how cage size can be an issue. Cup feeding and multiple drippers and multiple heating/uvb lamps in a large enclosure solves it all( I'm talking like room sized cages). I would only keep chams in large cages....so they can escape the inside house world. (Heavily planted cageds)

 

[OOOst16]

Chameleons do infact live in the open world successfully. And in my opinion recreating this is mlst essential.

 

[Leilaskeeper]

thanks for this discussion everyone! proved to be quite helpful. im going to look into a hood for a linear 5.0 reptisun. im sure my brother in law will hook me up for a good price. im not really feeling the coils after all the comments ive read on em.

 

[xanthoman]

exo-terra drainage ?

one of the disadvantage to glass exo-terra is the fact that they have no drainage which can be problematic in more ways than one. i have drilled a 1/4" hole at the back center bottom of mine for just that reason. you can also silicone a plastic nipple to the under side if you wish to attach a hose (optional). you can get a carbide glass drill bit at home depot for about $7 depending on size, the bit looks like a pointy little shovel. you must turn the drill very slowly (and carefully) at probably about 60 rpm and the pressure must be constant , do not stop the drill while pressure is applied or it may break the glass, expect a horrible noise while drilling it, this is normal for drilling glass, the process can take at least 20 min. after the hole is drilled, you can ever so slightly chamfer the top & bottom edges of the hole with a pointed drill mounted grinding stone and water, this will reduce the chance of the glass cracking later on, do not breath the white smoke created by drilling or grinding, this is microscopic jagged glass powder , a mask is recomended. there is a small but real chance of breaking the glass while drilling (depending on experience, technique and luck) if that happens you can pull the plastic base remove the bottom piece of glass with a razor, get a cutom cut piece of glass,resilicone it in place let dry and reinstall plastic frame. also if your drilling attempt fails and you are forced to replace the bottom glass, you can have the glass shop that cuts your replacement glass, drill the hole for you for a nominal charge. sounds like a lot of hassle and maybe even expense ?, it is , but so is not having any drainage , and when you are done you will have one of the few glass exoterra with drainage , to me its well worth the risk and hassle. its the xantho way

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I have never had a need with these enclosure for any kind of drainage beyond layering hydroton and charcoal under the substrate.
In my opinion, drilling a hole in the bottom would create a whole new set of problems and ruin the enclosure.
If you are filling the bottom of the enclosure with water often enough to need a drain hole, I think you're misting too much.
Chris Anderson has success with montanes in these enclosures misting once a day.
I have a similar experience.

-Brad

 

[Cainschams]

I have never had a need with these enclosure for any kind of drainage beyond layering hydroton and charcoal under the substrate.
In my opinion, drilling a hole in the bottom would create a whole new set of problems and ruin the enclosure.
If you are filling the bottom of the enclosure with water often enough to need a drain hole, I think you're misting too much.
Chris Anderson has success with montanes in these enclosures misting once a day.
I have a similar experience.

-Brad

I also have a similar experience. However I do not use exo terras but. With all the humidity that they hold the water puddles and drops on the leaves stay much longer than in a dryer environment giving longer drinking ops. I use screen enclosures but with the humidifier in the room I only need to mist twice daily. Anymore and my enclosures do not dry out properly.

 

[xanthoman]

i never use any substrate in my exoterra, except for maybe a terry cloth liner, but then i only use my exoterra as a neonate nursery. the hole is easily plugged with a rubber stopper and the enclosure remains 100% water tight. as for drinking water off of the floor of the cage , thats tantamount to a drinking bowl, doesnt sound sanitary to me , as for ruining the enclosure ? my exoterra will hold the same amount of water as any other similarly sized exoterra (literally without leaking a single drop) the only difference, i have drainage if desired.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

No one said anything about drinking water off the floor.

-Brad

 

[xanthoman]

right, sorry, i misread the post by cains chams, my bad

 

[Leilaskeeper]

I have never had a need with these enclosure for any kind of drainage beyond layering hydroton and charcoal under the substrate.
In my opinion, drilling a hole in the bottom would create a whole new set of problems and ruin the enclosure.
If you are filling the bottom of the enclosure with water often enough to need a drain hole, I think you're misting too much.
Chris Anderson has success with montanes in these enclosures misting once a day.
I have a similar experience.

-Brad

Thanks everyone for your comments - Brad, where can I find hydroton and can I use charcoal used for bbqing or is this a special kind?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Thanks everyone for your comments - Brad, where can I find hydroton and can I use charcoal used for bbqing or is this a special kind?

Hydroton can be found at a specialty greenhouse, garden center or a hydroponics retailer.
I have also broken up unglazed clay pots and used the pieces for the first layer ... hydroton is fired clay.
The charcoal must be that sold at greenhouses or activated aquarium filter charcoal.
From the bottom up their should be a 1 to 2 inch layer of hydroton then fiberglass screen then 1/4 to 1/2 inch of charcoal, screen again, then coco fiber,peat, organic soil mixed or one or two of the three 2 to 3 inches or up to the vents on the front of the enclosure (don't cover the vents).
Usually I place the plants (in the pots they came in) on the last layer of screen and fill in the soil around them.

-Brad

 

[Leilaskeeper]

Hydroton can be found at a specialty greenhouse, garden center or a hydroponics retailer.
I have also broken up unglazed clay pots and used the pieces for the first layer ... hydroton is fired clay.
The charcoal must be that sold at greenhouses or activated aquarium filter charcoal.
From the bottom up their should be a 1 to 2 inch layer of hydroton then fiberglass screen then 1/4 to 1/2 inch of charcoal, screen again, then coco fiber,peat, organic soil mixed or one or two of the three 2 to 3 inches or up to the vents on the front of the enclosure (don't cover the vents).
Usually I place the plants (in the pots they came in) on the last layer of screen and fill in the soil around them.

-Brad

Great! Thank you for this information. I would assume the soil is suitable for sustaining tropical plants successfully as well. Much appreciated