Hello Cham forums! and a Vivarium question.

[Jackal]

hello All! my names Kris, I live in anchorage AK and this site has been my #1 recourse for my little Milly. All of your advice and tips and oppinions have helped me be the best reptile owner i can be. and i thank you all I just want to introduce myself and my family and my little Milly to the forums.

I'm an experienced reptile owner and have recently took the next step and got our family a Veiled Female Chameleon, i have raised Watter dragons, Snakes, Frogs (yes i know their not reptiles , and turtles. I know Chams need alot of attention and specific guidelines for a long lived and healthy herp.

I have a question for an idea i had for a Vivarium for my little Milly. Right now she's no bigger than my thumb, however that will soon change. We have an unused closet in my home with sliding doors. i was thinking about retrofitting the enitre closet area into a verry detailed vivarium. real plants and all. the only concern i have is our centeral heating system. there is a duct in said closet. i know centeral air can contain alot of pollens, and dust. would it be best to block this off? or utilize a seperate hepa air filter in the duct it's self? I would modify the sliding doors and basicaly make the two doors a mesh type sliding door for ventelation and observation. Also, this space is about 3 feet deep, 7 feet long and 7 feet high. (approx) would this enclosure be way to big? would it make feeding verry hard for a captive cham? what do you guys think? any and all replies are appreciated.
Thanks in Advanced
Jackal.

 

[camimom]

There have been a few people that have done that.
For feeding I would recommend teaching her to cup feed. That way she learns where her food is and she can find it.
Other than that, go for it!

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello, welcome to the forum I'm not sure about the central heating thing, but it's a good plan. I have a converted wardrobe for my male and a chest of drawers for my female. It sounds like a very big enclosure, so making sure she's used to cup feeding before you get her in there would be easiest. There's not really any such thing as too big, but it ought to be quite packed with leaves and branches so she feels safe. It might be easier for you if you can fence some of it off
Here's my favourite caresheet for Veileds, it has all the basics there - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html