Free ranging chams indoors?

petkel

petkel

New Member
Hi..i have 2 chams 9 weeks old male and female veiled. I want to free range them indoors but at the moment they are in an exo terra viv (they each have their own) i was wondering at what age should i free range them? and also how would i feed them? as all the feeders would escape all over my room, should i cup feed? also what plants would be good to use? also i would not be able to free range together so i thought 'would it be good if i get 1 enclosure and a free ranging area and alternate free ranging between them so they both get the benefits? help appreciated..thanx..
 
Could people who free range indoors post some pics of their set-ups please as i need inspiration ;) thank you
 
I am looking to have an area in the corner of my room with out an enclosure using tall plants this will give them more freedom..it will be in my bedroom in a low traffic area..with uv and a basking spot, is this ok?
 
Syn said:
But would that be a free range or a cageless enclosure? I suppose it's not really free if it's confined in walls.

Any who, there are many people who "free range" their chameleons. I will do a quick search for you and post the results.
Click to expand...

oh ok lol..i live in England so i cant put them out doors so i guess it is called a cageless enclosure..
 
I have a male Jackson's cham "Triton" that free ranges in my home..(no cage) and he and I both love it. He's been free ranging for over a year now since he was about 6mos old. I think if I were to put him in a cage now he would just die!
But, if you have questions ask away :)
Natalie
 
JaxyGirl said:
I have a male Jackson's cham "Triton" that free ranges in my home..(no cage) and he and I both love it. He's been free ranging for over a year now since he was about 6mos old. I think if I were to put him in a cage now he would just die!
But, if you have questions ask away :)
Natalie
Click to expand...

Thanx for the reply :) i think i will leave it till about they are 6 months..will it be ok to alternate my chams between free range indoor? as i can not put them together as my female HATES my male..i am thinking of getting an enclosure and a indoor area without a cage i was thinking about putting 1 there a week then alternating that way so they will get 2 weeks each between them every month..what plants do you use? how do you feed your cham without feeders everywhere? do they get more friendly when they live like this? Do you have any pics of your set-up? thanx
 
petkel said:
Thanx for the reply :) i think i will leave it till about they are 6 months..will it be ok to alternate my chams between free range indoor? as i can not put them together as my female HATES my male..i am thinking of getting an enclosure and a indoor area without a cage i was thinging outting 1 there a week then alternating that way so they will get 2 weeks each between them every month month..what plants do you use? how do you feed your cham without feeders everywhere? do they get more friendly when they live like this? thanx
Click to expand...

I think it would be fine to alternate your chams in and out of the free range just as long as your free range also has a UVB light and a basking light. His main Free Range area has two large pothos plants which I hang from the ceiling. I have a 10.0 UVB light and a basking light that also hang from the ceiling with branches so he can easily reach them. I have a fake ficus plant that he can climb down and up when ever he wants to and then in the corners of my living room I have additional plants that he can climb on. He pretty much owns the living room and goes where he wants. He is hand fed so I don't have any problems with crickets running around the house. Many people will cup feed..my guy just never took to it. But, he is very friendly and doesn't mind handling. Jannb on the forum also free ranges and has great ideas about it. All I can say is once you free range one of yours it's going to be hard getting them back in a cage again :)
 
i would only be skeptical about free ranging a 9 week old. i would at least wait until it is a sub adult. that is just my opinion though.
 
I wish you luck getting them back in their cage once they start free-range. That's how Swyft ended up just staying out of his cage, he pouted and fussed and refused to go back in, would claw and fight at the cage when returned to the cage, it became easier to just leave him out. When in his cage, he would shove aside the cup for cup-feeding and climb out like a crazy chameleon, he really hated cage-time until I had the room chameleon-proofed.

PLEASE consider how you will keep them hydrated this is a huge issue in my opinion. An entire room is more difficult to keep humid enough and I have to return Swyft to his cage several times a day to make sure he is drinking off his plant as his large tree and plants are the only areas that really hold the water and sometimes he likes to hang out in his other areas. Also, ensure they are getting their uvb light exposure.

Ok I'm done rambling, I am loving Swyft free-ranging the spare bedroom but it has taken a lot more effort to ensure his needs are being met than if he was just in a cage forced to have the water and uvb and basking area.
 
I free range my chameleons - they have cages that are open at all times but can leave whenever they like - I have a large tree outside of the entrance to their cage. I have newpaper on the floor below the tree to catch cham poop. It seems they have picked a spot that they like to poop so it has been easy to know where to put the paper!! This has worked very well for me. They split their time between the tree and inside the cage - by the way, their cage is a 260 gallon reptarium (huge). When I have to go out of town for a few days, I put them inside the cage to make things easier for the sitter when feeding and watering.
 
reptimom said:
I free range my chameleons - they have cages that are open at all times but can leave whenever they like - I have a large tree outside of the entrance to their cage. I have newpaper on the floor below the tree to catch cham poop. It seems they have picked a spot that they like to poop so it has been easy to know where to put the paper!! This has worked very well for me. They split their time between the tree and inside the cage - by the way, their cage is a 260 gallon reptarium (huge). When I have to go out of town for a few days, I put them inside the cage to make things easier for the sitter when feeding and watering.
Click to expand...

I am kind of doing this with my 4.5 month male panther (Diesel) his lights, heat and fogger are in the viv and a little vine walkway to a 4.5ft tall Benjamin ficus in my bedroom. He loves being on Ben and if im home often suns himself on there . At night when im at work or out hes shut in his viv. but im worried, he hapily walk to the tree but ive never seen him walk back to the tank I think he'd stay there day and night if id let him but I worry about him getting cold my room is between 21-19c as its winter/spring in the uk. Is he ok being at this temp? Will he digest hes food ok if he's this cool? He just dosent seem bothered about basking other than when his lights first come on or if I take him out into the sunshine (when its warm enough) ???? Confused new owner please help Xx
 
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