Some people think that if your house gets too cold, it's probably better to keep your chameleon in a glass cage rather than a screen so they can be warm enough. My house can get as low as 68 degrees, so is this too cold to have a chameleon in a screen cage? Can't they develop respiratory illnesses if their tank is too humid like a glass cage would be?
Glass Terrarium or Aluminum Screen Cage?
- Thread starter Ryandog99
- Start date
Not too cold at all, mine gets around 65 at night and they both are in screen cages. If your house stays above 55 degrees no need for a heat source or using glass cages. They need plenty of cross "wind" to keep stagnat air at bay. One cage I built with both sides and top screen and the back is plywood and front is plexiglass. Works great, humidity drops to about 60% between mistings.
Brassaxe
New Member
If you use a glass cage just use a tiny computer fan to blow air down into the bottom of the cage. I have done this on all my cages and the humidity/conditions in the cage are more stable than in a screen cage. Not saying one is better or worse than another but I like glass cages better.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
Actually, summer heat is more of an issue than cold in the average house (depending on the weather where you live). Heat can build up in a tank with lights over it. Plus the problem that there are few tanks large enough to provide a cham with enough living space.
MsCham
New Member
Height would be an issue that you'd have to address if you went with a glass terranium... Chams need more height than width, and most terraniums have a set height with a varying width. You'd have to build on top of the glass with mesh and supports, or have a partial free range (with the top open where you'd have your trees). I saw a good build later in this thread that has a glass set up - but is then expanded to have a tall section as well.
So there are ways - but mesh/screen is better if you dont want to get into the complicated builds where most of it would be DIY. If you're worried about cold - just put in an extra lamp or two!
So there are ways - but mesh/screen is better if you dont want to get into the complicated builds where most of it would be DIY. If you're worried about cold - just put in an extra lamp or two!
Brassaxe
New Member
That was a lot of DIY. My other one is one of those glass cages with the front door that swings open. I removed the back glass panel and added a drain and a fan that blew air into the cage. That and the humidity on both is monitored with one of these-
- So having a glass cage is a lot more tedious but if you're up for the fine tuning it is much much more controllable.
leedragon
Chameleon Enthusiast
no no no, chameleons dont do well in wind draft
leedragon
Chameleon Enthusiast
what species is it btw? they have different needs, use an exoterra if you want an glass enclosure. the ari circulations is quitwe good in them as long as the temperature inside of the enclosure is different then the inside it will be aircirculation
if you are looking for a glass enclusure use an exoterra they are quite good,
no no no, chameleons dont do well in wind draft.
Brassaxe
New Member
I'm not sure I understand that logic as they live in the wild where there is wind. But, it's not for the chameleon but for the humidity and stagnant air. It's just small computer fan. Unless my chameleon finds the fan and gets right in front of it, she will never know it even exists. The air hitting the chameleon's living space might only be moving at 0.5mph. You absolutely can't feel it. But it does keep the humidity much more balanced if you get your misting schedule right. Here you can see how steady all my numbers are in my cage. (This is not the chameleon cage but another lizard. Which is why the temps are lower. The chameleon cage is near identical in humidity but no misting at 1am.) Humidity goes from 62%-84%. Without a fan those humidity levels spike from 52% to over 95%.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
I'm not sure I understand that logic as they live in the wild where there is wind. But, it's not for the chameleon but for the humidity and stagnant air. It's just small computer fan. Unless my chameleon finds the fan and gets right in front of it, she will never know it even exists. The air hitting the chameleon's living space might only be moving at 0.5mph. You absolutely can't feel it. But it does keep the humidity much more balanced if you get your misting schedule right. Here you can see how steady all my numbers are in my cage. (This is not the chameleon cage but another lizard. Which is why the temps are lower. The chameleon cage is near identical in humidity but no misting at 1am.) Humidity goes from 62%-84%. Without a fan those humidity levels spike from 52% to over 95%.
In the wild where the entire regional forest is much more humid than the average human indoor home wind wouldn't be as much of a concern. But obviously the size of the fan, speed, and the humidity level in the room would play into it as well. In a dry room even a small fan could speed up drying enough to create a problem. But as we all know everyone's particular situation is different. What works for one person may not for another.
Brassaxe
New Member
The drying is definitely the main attribute of the fan setup. But you have to mist more and pay attention to all the details to get it right. Admittedly, thats not easy or cheap for better control but it works. And it is absolutely not for screen cages or ones without automatic misters. A tinkerers paradise though if you're into DIY.
leedragon
Chameleon Enthusiast
yes there is wind in the wild and the chameleons move away from it, in a terrarium they dont have that option they are in a contained space in wich they can not selfregulate as in nature, we have to do that for themI'm not sure I understand that logic as they live in the wild where there is wind. But, it's not for the chameleon but for the humidity and stagnant air. It's just small computer fan. Unless my chameleon finds the fan and gets right in front of it, she will never know it even exists. The air hitting the chameleon's living space might only be moving at 0.5mph. You absolutely can't feel it. But it does keep the humidity much more balanced if you get your misting schedule right. Here you can see how steady all my numbers are in my cage. (This is not the chameleon cage but another lizard. Which is why the temps are lower. The chameleon cage is near identical in humidity but no misting at 1am.) Humidity goes from 62%-84%. Without a fan those humidity levels spike from 52% to over 95%.
the are snakes who pradete them in nature too but we dont put some insede their cage just for the natural sake
Brassaxe
New Member
yes there is wind in the wild and the chameleons move away from it, in a terrarium they dont have that option they are in a contained space in wich they can not selfregulate as in nature, we have to do that for them
If I could I would actually try and completely replicate the wild. Different temps, lighting conditions, wind, and humidity on a daily and a seasonal basis. But that a level of commitment and money i'm not sure is even practical. Cool, but almost impossible. I do think I can get the lights to do that and the misters to kinda do that.. But thats about as far as i'll go.
Maybe i'll put a fake snake in the cage for a few minutes every month just to keep my chameleon on her toes...
Off topic... Someday I'de like to visit Sweden. Eskilstuna, Ostersund, and Lulea. Never got the chance when I lived in Europe.
leedragon
Chameleon Enthusiast
HAhahahahaha, do that and take pic please haha.
you should sweden is the most beautiful country in the world if you like forest and wildlife. it is a symbiosis between nature and urban here that I have not seen anywhere else in the world. I just love it
