How to make a basking spot
- Thread starter Rune
- Start date
Swayne8998
Established Member
Hi everyone, I just moved my cham from his little cage to his big cage, and I don't know how to make a good basking spot in that tall of a cage. None of the drift wood I can find is tall enough. Any Ideas?
Run vines to the top or get some live plants (like an umbrella plant/schefflera) and lead them to the basking corner. Mission success.
Swayne8998
Established Member
What type of cage is it? I've seen some members secure driftwood pieces to the side of the enclosure on cages like ReptiBreeze using thumbtacks.
Solid Snake
Avid Member
This is from my "Jackson Chameleon Cage Build" album, but the principle will work with any species.
If one places the heat lamp in a corner, on the top of the cage, and then runs a branch from that corner, to the dead center of the cage.
The bulb used should provide the highest temperature desirable for the animal, immediately under the lamp, where the basking branch lies.
This way the animal can bask comfortably on the branch without "screen climbing".
To adjust its temperature, the animal merely has to move up or down the branch.
I find this setup to be a good place to start when working with a new animal/species/enclosure/equipment, as it is fool-proof after its setup.
Just make sure to check temps often, to make sure the animal is not exposed to temperatures too extreme for it to handle, or too low for it to function properly.
I recommend trying different wattages of bulbs before raising or lowering a basking-bulb fixture.
The drift-wood I myself am familiar with is not ideal for chameleon enclosures. Some nice fresh-cut branches from a suitable tree should work out better for the animal.
If one places the heat lamp in a corner, on the top of the cage, and then runs a branch from that corner, to the dead center of the cage.
The bulb used should provide the highest temperature desirable for the animal, immediately under the lamp, where the basking branch lies.
This way the animal can bask comfortably on the branch without "screen climbing".
To adjust its temperature, the animal merely has to move up or down the branch.
I find this setup to be a good place to start when working with a new animal/species/enclosure/equipment, as it is fool-proof after its setup.
Just make sure to check temps often, to make sure the animal is not exposed to temperatures too extreme for it to handle, or too low for it to function properly.
I recommend trying different wattages of bulbs before raising or lowering a basking-bulb fixture.
The drift-wood I myself am familiar with is not ideal for chameleon enclosures. Some nice fresh-cut branches from a suitable tree should work out better for the animal.
reptilover
New Member
Driftwood is of little use unless its skinny. I ran a stick from side to side with a thumb tack outside if the screen securing it on eitger side. Then ran my vines from that to... Everywhere!
Psychobunny
Avid Member
That's what I do too.
Get about 6 (depending on cage size) suitable branches, cut to size, secured with thumbtacks.
Build up my vines and leaves and such around the main branches but dont have anything touching the bottom.
This give the cham plenty of places for him to choose from.
Get about 6 (depending on cage size) suitable branches, cut to size, secured with thumbtacks.
Build up my vines and leaves and such around the main branches but dont have anything touching the bottom.
This give the cham plenty of places for him to choose from.
