I want the best for her

[Adirondackgeckos]

Hi, I just can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for cage wise. I want big and the best cage out there for my female veiled, possibly with bottom drainage. Supports for vines and hanging plants. I also get confused with what misting system to get, something quite and sufficient. Right now I'm using a hand sprayer and that's gotta end.
Any recommendations for a real nice/big cage and watering unit?
Thank you,
Kathy

 

[absolutbill]

I bought a plastic utility sink at Home Depot and set my 2x2x4 cage right on top of it (don't use the bottom piece of the cage). I used duct tape to seal any cracks, keeping the sticky side out, away from my cham. I put a pvc pipe at the bottom of the sink that leads to a carboy under the sink to catch my misting water. The whole thing sits on one of those trays that you can put under a washer/dryer, but that's just because it's on hardwood and I don't want any accidents. The carboy holds 5 gallons, so I don't have to empty it too often and when I do I use that water on my outdoor plants. In this way Kibi has more space than the normal 2x2x4, and even though he doesn't use the bottom, I can buy larger/taller trees to put in his enclosure because I can put them on the bottom of the sink. Hope this helps with your question!

 

[laurie]

I have mine set up just about like the one above. I bought the tray that fits the 24x24x48 cage and put that under the cage, ran a piece of tubing down to a 5 gallon bucket from home depot. I use a mistking to mist my cages, they are efficient, reliable, and right now mist king, a forum sponsor, has a starter set on sale. Click on sponsors at the top right. Best of luck.

 

[Olimpia]

Unfortunately (and I can't believe I'm saying this either) there isn't anyone that sells chameleon cages with drainage already considered. You would think that by now someone would have thought of it but no. So far most of us are left to build our own solutions to drainage, getting creative with whatever we can.

If I had the funds right now I would stop building my own cages and drainage from wood and hire a proper carpenter or cage building company to make me a custom cage with drainage already built in. But as of right now no one offers a cage with it all taken into account already.

So if you're handy (or want to hide someone) building your own with your specifications and requirements is going to be your best option. The ones I built are not professional furniture grade, but at least I add in the supports and hooks for plants and branches that I want, along with any other customization that I want.

As for misting systems, the two top ones are Mistking or Aquazamp. I only have the first of the two and it is awesome. The pump makes no noise, and if you secure the tubing so it doesn't vibrate the whole system is silent. You hear the spray of water but it's very gentle.

 

[Adirondackgeckos]

Thank you all so much, I have decided to built my own, I am a Joanne of all trades. What i really want is a nice walk-in maybe 6Hx4Wx4D. I will raise off the floor with blocks about 2-3 inches and run a tube to the sub pump hole for drainage. I have these wonderful lights I just got from Exo Terra called Light cycle unit, electronic dimming terrerium lamp controller. Two bulbs for a max of 2x20. Should I use 2x5 or 2x10 instead? They can hang from the inside or just be put above the enclosure.
I am going to go with the MistKing. Now I have to find large plants, which might have to wait till spring here. All the stores are done with big plants now that the temps have been in the high 20's-30's.
I have her on artificial plants right now, with vines. I just cut a load of wild grape vines outside and will bake them tomorrow. I'm just wondering how sturty live plants are verses artificials.
Does anyone know if I can buy large plants online? And what do you all recommend. I have the list but I have no idea what eash looks like and how strudy they are.

Kathy

 

[absolutbill]

I have bought larger trees on e-bay, but they normally ship them bare root so you'd have to pot them and possibly let them grow/mature a little. My favorites to use are ficus and cane plants, but then again I live in FL, so I have the benefit of available plants year round I've found that they support Kibi the best, and they are sturdy enough to secure vines to them.