How big does an enclosure need to be for a cham to be 'comfortable'?

[SliK JiM]

I know the minimum size people suggest for an adult is 24" x 24" x 48", but to me that just doesn't seem big enough. My veiled is a 1 year old male, currently in an enclosure of this size, but I feel he should be in something much bigger. I want the height of his enclosure to be 1.8m, but how big should the width and depth be to make him more than comfortable? I would go crazy, but I obviously have space constraints, and I'd also like to get a couple more chams in the future (they're just too fascinating to only have the one ). So realistically, how big should I make it? How big have you all made yours?

Thanks all!

 

[Malicious]

Here is my 30"x30"x72", aka "The Phone Booth"

 

[luevelvet]

2x2x4 is a general rule of thumb devised from years of success with it. Now, that doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't go bigger. IMHO, I would agree with you, our Mellers was in a cage sized appropriately, and confirmed by others on board, but I just couldn't see him in there very long since he was starting to get antsy. So we opted to free range him because nothing seemed big enough. Funny thing is, he free ranges an area only 3 wide x 2 front to back x 4 feet tall, not much bigger than a 2x2x4 cage. It's all how you can place the plants and how much yo ucan give them. I once had a veiled that almost required free ranging since no cage was big enough for him!

Go bigger if yo ucan, your cham will thank you fot it. But if you can't afford the space, then try to make his current place as roomy and comfortable as possible.

Luis

 

[pr3mo15]

im doing mine 3feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 4 feet high....its pretty big...but i think he'll like it

Heres the start of it

 

[reptilemancan]

im doing mine 3feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 4 feet high....its pretty big...but i think he'll like it

Heres the start of it
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/Pr3mo14/more072.jpg[/IM

you could custom make a cabnet, you could make a huge one!

 

[SliK JiM]

I would love to free range him, as he does come out to explore every now and then, but if (well when) I get some more chams in the future this won't be a viable option as they'll all be bumping into each other!

This is his current enclosure:

The first plan I had for one is in the attachment and it's 0.8m x 1.2m x 1.8m (roughly 3' x 4' x 6') so pretty big. Problem is, I don't know if I'd be able to fit more than 2 of these in the room.

Do you think 0.8m x 0.8m x 1.8m is good enough? Or should I make it a little bigger?

 

[reptilemancan]

I would love to free range him, as he does come out to explore every now and then, but if (well when) I get some more chams in the future this won't be a viable option as they'll all be bumping into each other!

This is his current enclosure:

The first plan I had for one is in the attachment and it's 0.8m x 1.2m x 1.8m (roughly 3' x 4' x 6') so pretty big. Problem is, I don't know if I'd be able to fit more than 2 of these in the room.

Do you think 0.8m x 0.8m x 1.8m is good enough? Or should I make it a little bigger?

that is pretty big, i think that would be fine, you could breed 2 in there, that would be a great amount of space!

 

[SliK JiM]

Which one?

 

[eisentrauti]

that is pretty big, i think that would be fine, you could breed 2 in there, that would be a great amount of space!

Even in such big enclosures you won't have long success with calyptratus ! They are an aggressiv and territorial species. Some chameleons of the subgenus Trioceros could housed in pairs in cages like this, Bradypodions would also be possible. But no calyptratus or pardalis

 

[SliK JiM]

Even in such big enclosures you won't have long success with calyptratus ! They are an aggressiv and territorial species. Some chameleons of the subgenus Trioceros could housed in pairs in cages like this, Bradypodions would also be possible. But no calyptratus or pardalis

Don't worry, I'm not looking to house a pair, I just want one very happy veiled!

 

[eisentrauti]

Ok, that sounds nice ! For breeding calyptratus you will always need two cages, so I couldn't understand why some people house them together

 

[SliK JiM]

Well, I want to breed Diego Suarez panthers, but not for a while, which is why I want to get the plans for a good sized enclosure now so I can just build a few and have them all being comfortable! What size do you think I should go for?

 

[eisentrauti]

Hi,

I think for pardalis the minimum 100x70x120. But that's for males and because most of the people here have much smaller enclosures you could keep them as well in such little ones. But if you want to do the best for your animals and if you have enough room/space, make bigger cages.

Regards
Benny

 

[SliK JiM]

Ok, well I'm set on the height being 180 anyway, so that'll increase the volume of space they have greatly, but would the compromise 90x80 be alright? Maybe even 90x90 if I have the space?

Cheers

 

[eisentrauti]

That would be very nice for them ! Great that you'll give them so much space !

 

[SliK JiM]

I would give them more but then I won't be able to keep as many as I want! Cheers for all your advice!

 

[eisentrauti]

I know this problem

 

[laurie]

Man you guys are making me feel bad, my male veiled is in a 24 x24x 36 and he is happy. He has been in that size since was about 4 months old, he is now 14 months. Also all my male panther are in that size cages. My females get 18 x 18 x 36. Maybe I go small to be able to house 12 chameleons. Now I will have to see if I can find a way to increase cage size, here comes WORK!!!

 

[eisentrauti]

Man you guys are making me feel bad, my male veiled is in a 24 x24x 36 and he is happy. He has been in that size since was about 4 months old, he is now 14 months. Also all my male panther are in that size cages. My females get 18 x 18 x 36. Maybe I go small to be able to house 12 chameleons. Now I will have to see if I can find a way to increase cage size, here comes WORK!!!

Did you ever asked him if he's happy in such a little case ? Maybe your chameleons look nice at the moment and I'm quite sure you haven't any problems with them, but if you want to keep them alive as long as possible, please give them larger cages

 

[SliK JiM]

I've had my veiled in his since I had him at 3 months, which is probably why it looks small for him now!

Looking at it, I should be able to fit 2 80cm x 100cm x 180cm cages for now, which is perfect, as I want to get my male a bit before I get my female Diego Suarez. I'll make the room for her when I'm getting close to having the time and space to breed them! I'll probably keep the female in 80cm x 80cm x 180cm. Sound good?