General questions

[Sunstatereptiles]

Hey all,

Hi, I have been talking to a few cham people recently, and have a few questions I would like answered in depth

1. I live in a very nice part of sunny California, and was wondering if you think it is a good idea to keep the chams out for most of the year in the sun. I have talked to a few that says its absolutely fine, but just making sure.

2. I breed a few species of reptiles, and am not new at all to geckos and lizards. I would like to possibly breed veiled (as they are my favorite cham) or Jackson’s chams. What would you recommend a good size screen cage for them? I love the open air cages LLL sells, or I would be making my own.

3. What size enclosure do you use for hatchlings?

Thank you, and I hope to get some of these guy as soon as I can

Sydney

 

[carol5208]

As far as leaving them outside in the sun, just really depends on how low your temps go at night and how high they go in the daylight hours. Sun is fantastic for them, just not too hot! I have my chameleon outside on my patio right now, as I live in Florida. I will be bringing him in at night if the temp gets below 60 or so. I have had him in all summer long in the AC because our summers are brutal and the temps are in the mid 90's with no breaks and chameleons need to be able to cool down.They prefer temps in the low to mid 70's. They can bask in higher temps 80-85 or so but need to be able to go somewhere to cool off.
The preferred cage size for an adult veiled chameleon is 24 X 24 X 48. You can have them in smaller cages as babies and juveniles and then graduate up. Here is a good link for you to read by one of our members on veiled chameleons https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[Sunstatereptiles]

Ok that sounds fine. I have a nice large tree I would hang the cage on so they have actual shade and sun spots like in the wild

Cool, any more advise?

 

[carol5208]

Just keep an eye on the temps and make sure as the sun shifts that your cham is not stuck sitting in the sun with no shade. Also, that it is a safe area where no predators could get to him in the day and especially at night if you were going to leave him outside.

 

[Sunstatereptiles]

Yeah, my father lives at home and would be able to scare off any crows or so. Nothing really lives here, and chams blend in so well, it would be kinda hard to spot them. Only thing I would have to look out for really is ants, and even those are scarce here, unless there was pollen or something in the cage.

I am really excited, I love doing natural cages, and I have a ton of cool ideas for plants and setups

 

[carol5208]

So you are talking about leaving him out of a cage then? Not a great idea! I don't know if I would attempt that. My chameleon was almost snatched up by a hawk and my quick reflexes luckily were able to stop the hawk in its tracks. Iwas sitting about 1 1/2 feet away and the Hawk still tried to swoop in. If you are not going to cage him, then he would have to be "baby sat" at all times. Is your father willing to sit outside with him? Not only the predators to worry about, but they have been known to wander off and have never been seen again.

 

[Sunstatereptiles]

NO! Lol! I would have him in a cage, haha.

I am really excited, I love doing natural cages, and I have a ton of cool ideas for plants and setups

Lol, I will be making a few cages, as well as buying a few smaller ones from LLL. I think I want to start with a veiled...

 

[Sunstatereptiles]

Any more advice?