Finally set up!

[Jordyt]

After having the reptibreeze XL for about a month and a half, I have finally set up Priscilla's adult enclosure.

It includes dual mist king nozzles, ficus as well as a number of fake plants and vines. I haven't quite fingered out a good drainage solution yet, but I am working on it.

Any comments/suggestions for the setup, including drainage would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Jordyt]

Another pic

Another pic zoomed out a little further.

 

[Jordyt]

Sorry it didn't attach at first

 

[Jamire]

You should lift it off the ground. Put it on a coffee table. Chams like to be as high as possible anyway. You can then prop it up with something on all 4 corners, drill a hole where the water collects the most and slide a cooking sheet under there.

You shouldn't have that much water excess though. Try and manipulate it to go into your plant. I have found that a 10-20 sec mist is enough to bring up and sustain humidity for 2-3 hours. This never creates any excess water some bounty can soak up.

It sounds like most people over-water there cages. Things shouldn't be flooding with a litre of water a day. I probably only put in about 600ml a day from my dripper, and whatever 8x20sec (2min40sec) of misting works out to be. maybe 400ml?

Between my two live plants and evaporation, my cage can handle 1 litre of water a day, with no drainage system.

 

[Jordyt]

You should lift it off the ground. Put it on a coffee table. Chams like to be as high as possible anyway. You can then prop it up with something on all 4 corners, drill a hole where the water collects the most and slide a cooking sheet under there.

You shouldn't have that much water excess though. Try and manipulate it to go into your plant. I have found that a 10-20 sec mist is enough to bring up and sustain humidity for 2-3 hours. This never creates any excess water some bounty can soak up.

It sounds like most people over-water there cages. Things shouldn't be flooding with a litre of water a day. I probably only put in about 600ml a day from my dripper, and whatever 8x20sec (2min40sec) of misting works out to be. maybe 400ml?

Between my two live plants and evaporation, my cage can handle 1 litre of water a day, with no drainage system.

I was looking for something like a coffee table or a stand, but haven't had any luck finding anything with the right dimensions yet.

For the most part I agree with you. My last cage would dry out before the next misting. The only thing is I live in canada. The indoor heating in the winter dries everything out drastically. I have a had some stuck shed issues, so I would like to up my misting cycles.

 

[Jordyt]

I was looking for something like a coffee table or a stand, but haven't had any luck finding anything with the right dimensions yet.

For the most part I agree with you. My last cage would dry out before the next misting. The only thing is I live in canada. The indoor heating in the winter dries everything out drastically. I have a had some stuck shed issues, so I would like to up my misting cycles.

As I I said that I realized we are both from Winnipeg

 

[Big Gulp]

I was looking for something like a coffee table or a stand, but haven't had any luck finding anything with the right dimensions yet.

Keep an eye on craigslist.

 

[Kath44]

I got my table for my XL reptibreeze from ikea. £25. It's 78"x78" so has a couple inches all round spare. It also has a shelf underneath, which would be perfect for a drainage pan. Once the holes are cut in bottom of cage and table, with some drain pipe or similar.
Kath.

 

[Jordyt]

I got my table for my XL reptibreeze from ikea. £25. It's 78"x78" so has a couple inches all round spare. It also has a shelf underneath, which would be perfect for a drainage pan. Once the holes are cut in bottom of cage and table, with some drain pipe or similar.
Kath.

Perfect we just got an ikea about a year ago. I will check it out this weekend.
How did you cut holes in the PVC bottom. Multi small holes near the centre I would assume? Don't want to wreck it is all.

 

[SRTtoZ]

Yea you need to get that cage up, Chams will be stressed down low like that, they like to be high up in trees.

 

[Kath44]

I've not cut mine yet :/ but I should imagine a drill bit that cuts circles would do it. You could put duct tape in centre where your going to drill so it doesn't split.
Kath.

 

[Ninkylou]

Perfect we just got an ikea about a year ago. I will check it out this weekend.
How did you cut holes in the PVC bottom. Multi small holes near the centre I would assume? Don't want to wreck it is all.

I used a drill when I did small holes and then a hole saw when I did a bigger drainage hole.

 

[Ninkylou]

I'm really short so I bought a children's activity table for my enclosures. I was able to adjust the height of it, and it was expanded plastic. Little Tykes and Step 2 make a 24 x 24 table I believe. I got mine online at a com pay calle dchairbiz.com, it was crazy cheap and they shipped free...don't know if they would do that to Canada thought. I was able to get a 24 x 48 so both enclosures can sit on it.

 

[Zephalia]

As I I said that I realized we are both from Winnipeg

Yes, finally the Winnipeg crew is revealing itself! I have my enclosures sitting on a coffee table which raises them a couple feet off the ground. Also, because your ficus is small right now, you could purchase a small stepping stool ($2.00) at Dollarama and have it lifted in the cage so your little girl will make better use of the foliage. Also, I hear you on the humidity, especially with this winter. I don't have a MistKing yet - but I mist in the morning and after work. About a month ago I started using a cool mist humidifier and it's made all the difference. I went from barely being able to maintain 30% to never dropping below 60-70%. Most of the time it's around 80%. I would recommend this for our climate during the winter months at least. I didn't have this issue in the summer time. With the humidifier going, when I mist in the morning, the water stays on the leaves until mid-afternoon which provides water all day basically. Works great! The humidifier was $35 from Home Depot.

Where did you guys get your chams from, where do you buy your feeders and what are you feeding? I currently have only really been feeding crickets from Aardvark Pets in St. Vital with some meal worms in between. Winnipeg Reptiles has a good array of feeders but they are quite far for me so I don't visit them unless I need to make some big purchases.

I am glad to see some locals on these forums!

 

[Zephalia]

You should lift it off the ground. Put it on a coffee table. Chams like to be as high as possible anyway. You can then prop it up with something on all 4 corners, drill a hole where the water collects the most and slide a cooking sheet under there.

You shouldn't have that much water excess though. Try and manipulate it to go into your plant. I have found that a 10-20 sec mist is enough to bring up and sustain humidity for 2-3 hours. This never creates any excess water some bounty can soak up.

It sounds like most people over-water there cages. Things shouldn't be flooding with a litre of water a day. I probably only put in about 600ml a day from my dripper, and whatever 8x20sec (2min40sec) of misting works out to be. maybe 400ml?

Between my two live plants and evaporation, my cage can handle 1 litre of water a day, with no drainage system.

Ah Brian! Good to see you on here. Are you getting impatient with this weather yet? I am! Want my babies here!

 

[Jordyt]

Yes, finally the Winnipeg crew is revealing itself! I have my enclosures sitting on a coffee table which raises them a couple feet off the ground. Also, because your ficus is small right now, you could purchase a small stepping stool ($2.00) at Dollarama and have it lifted in the cage so your little girl will make better use of the foliage. Also, I hear you on the humidity, especially with this winter. I don't have a MistKing yet - but I mist in the morning and after work. About a month ago I started using a cool mist humidifier and it's made all the difference. I went from barely being able to maintain 30% to never dropping below 60-70%. Most of the time it's around 80%. I would recommend this for our climate during the winter months at least. I didn't have this issue in the summer time. With the humidifier going, when I mist in the morning, the water stays on the leaves until mid-afternoon which provides water all day basically. Works great! The humidifier was $35 from Home Depot.


Where did you guys get your chams from, where do you buy your feeders and what are you feeding? I currently have only really been feeding crickets from Aardvark Pets in St. Vital with some meal worms in between. Winnipeg Reptiles has a good array of feeders but they are quite far for me so I don't visit them unless I need to make some big purchases.

I am glad to see some locals on these forums!

First off awesome ideas. I have been looking for humidifiers as I thought that would be a good option. Thanks for the tip.

I bought my chameleon from Winnipeg Reptiles and get the majority of my feeders from there are well. They have the widest variety that I have found in the city.

 

[Jordyt]

I've not cut mine yet :/ but I should imagine a drill bit that cuts circles would do it. You could put duct tape in centre where your going to drill so it doesn't split.
Kath.

Thanks the duct tape is a great idea

 

[Jordyt]

I'm really short so I bought a children's activity table for my enclosures. I was able to adjust the height of it, and it was expanded plastic. Little Tykes and Step 2 make a 24 x 24 table I believe. I got mine online at a com pay calle dchairbiz.com, it was crazy cheap and they shipped free...don't know if they would do that to Canada thought. I was able to get a 24 x 48 so both enclosures can sit on it.

Interesting I will check that out.

 

[melble68]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/custom-drainage-system-121443/

Here is what I was able to create for my indoor set up. In the pic the plant is pushed off to the side to show the drain. Normally the shefflera sets directly over the drain and any overflow water makes its way out of the enclosure and into the small 2 gallon bucket.

 

[Jordyt]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/custom-drainage-system-121443/

Here is what I was able to create for my indoor set up. In the pic the plant is pushed off to the side to show the drain. Normally the shefflera sets directly over the drain and any overflow water makes its way out of the enclosure and into the small 2 gallon bucket.

I will be trying to create something like that this weekend. Thanks for the input everyone.