Let the Chameleon fun times begin

ha ha. I knew I was right to work on the tank without getting the chameleon.

It donsn't take much to confuse me when lighting and heating a terrarium are concerned. I just want to get everything right so I don't have problems in the future.

I don't think the dimmer and ceramic emitter are compatible. I will use the infrared bulb like you say and see how the Chameleon takes to this night time heat source.

Shopping list today, spray bottle, a lower wattage infrared bulb (currently 150 I will use a lower one), a light supply unit for the tubes, urmm... I think i'm nearly there.

A digital thermometer and hydrometer.
 
Ok, this is where I'm up to. I've been in contact with my local museums herp' department and they have an amazing Panther Chameleon exhibit. What they said may sound controversial but I'm giving it ago.
I’m creating a false bottom, bare with me. The substrate I’m using is a material that is used for crocking plants. I didn’t know what crocking was but its these natural clay balls that are put on top of plant soil. They are inert so won’t get bacteria on it. On top of that I’m putting peat block then I can grow plants in this material.
Under the substrate will be a shallow water filter sucking up the water passing it through a filter and pouring it down a waterfall. The plants can drink from the underground pool of water, the humidity can be easily regulated, the filter will help with maintenance and the terrarium will look natural.
I’ve ordered my starter unit for the UV, a dual light unit from exo-terra, that will fit the 2.0 tube for a daylight look and a 5.0 for the actual UV. So my lights should be up and running by Thursday.
 
Ive heard mention of those clay balls, apparently they work well.
The mob will start shouting about your waterfall no doubt (bacteria) particularly if it has an above ground reservoir.
Ill just say this, its a practical learning experience all the way, and there is no better teacher than ones own mistakes and hands on experimentation, nobody gets it right first time, you make adjustments, then lots more adjustments :) till you get it right.
The best tip at this point is to keep in mind regular maintenance, how tough or easy it will be to clean, change water etc etc
When you have an idea, have a good think about it before you go to the trouble of putting into practice, then have another think about it, if it still seems brilliant, go for it,
theres always time to make changes.
This is half the fun of owning any reptile! :)
 
Hi Jojackson,

I stand defeated. For now! Everything back out of the tank and re-set with plain old paper and artificial plants. I'm going to keep it simple while I mastermind my bigger goal. Im just struggling to get everything right so I'm going back to basics and I will work on the planting. I'm determined to have my cube of wild jungle!

Anyway, Tank is set up apart from the UV tubes as I am still waiting on the starter for the tubes. I'm running the heating today and tonight to see how the automatic stat works at night. Seems to be switching ok so far from day to night.

Vines look good and the artificial plants look... well... artificial. So UV tubes tomorrow then I think I will collect the Chameleon on tuesday so I have wednesday and thursday off work to monitor the new arrival.
 
Vines look good and the artificial plants look... well... artificial......

Thanks for the first laugh of the day!
:D I like your sense of humour!
Good stuff mate, keep us posted!
 
pennington said:
Hi Jojackson,

I stand defeated. For now! Everything back out of the tank and re-set with plain old paper and artificial plants. I'm going to keep it simple while I mastermind my bigger goal. Im just struggling to get everything right so I'm going back to basics and I will work on the planting. I'm determined to have my cube of wild jungle!

Anyway, Tank is set up apart from the UV tubes as I am still waiting on the starter for the tubes. I'm running the heating today and tonight to see how the automatic stat works at night. Seems to be switching ok so far from day to night.

Vines look good and the artificial plants look... well... artificial. So UV tubes tomorrow then I think I will collect the Chameleon on tuesday so I have wednesday and thursday off work to monitor the new arrival.
Click to expand...


I'd go with at lest 1 real tree/shrub as they help keep up the humidity (and give off O2) just make sure it's chameleon safe (there is a data base in the enclosures forum).

what you may want to do for now how ever rather than planting them in the cage is just keep them potted (repot them with organic soil) also it might be a good ideal to cover the soil with large rocks or screen, that way if he shoots a cricket and misses he doesn't ingest dirt/sticks (which can cause impaction and/or choking).

by using potted plants you still get the pros (natural looking, humidity, and O2) while still being able to easly remove and clean them. oh also due to pesticides/chemicals make sure to wash any plants well (real or fake) befor adding them to your cage.
 
Stanly,

Thank you for the advice. I must say having them in pots comes in at a very close second to actually planting them in. I may just use that option. Kind of the best of both worlds. To be honest I set out with a quest to provide the best home for my first chameleon and I'm at the stage now where I just want him! I'm fed up of watching an empty terrarium. Even my girlfriend is wanting him so we dont just have an empty tank in the house and she's not even keen on the bug thing.
 
UV tube stater arrived at the shop today and is in place and lit up! I need reflectors though. I'll order them now.
 
Awesome! pics as you can mate eh? :)

p.s No middle name? not even an initial? Can you Imagine how much confusion this will cause among the captive panther community, They will all say 'Which Keith Peterson?'
Keith the blue bar or.....Big keith? or smaller than big Keith, but bigger than small Keith, Keith?

:D
 
He's chilly Keith at the minute! damn brand new Habistat thermostat isn't working. Had everything set up days before he arrived and the first morning after having him the day time heat wouldn't kick in and he was stuck on night time heat. I moved the sensor of the thermostat and turned the dial to maximum and still at the very most it gives 85.
I've ordered a ceramic heat emitter (like you said) to see if it is the bulb that is making the dimmer work too hard. It's so frustrating and this stuff always happens on a Sunday! On a positive note he seems to be doing well, eating locusts, moving about his enclosure and drinking when I spray.
I will take some pictures tomorrow as many of my family and friends want to see him. His lights have just gone off so I'll take my snaps tomorrow.
 
Oh very nice, congrats Penn! :)

Id say theres a problem with the dimmer itself, rather than the bulb effecting it,
you get these things with mass produced devices, thats life. Maybe you can exchange it? :)
 
Yeah, I would imagine thats the case. Annoying though. Still I've got the temperature working right but I have manually changed the dial at night. I don't mind until I get it sorted. I'm over the moon with him, he's eating really well too.
My delivery of locusts come tomorrow and my ceramic heat emitter and basking bulb set up arrives Wednesday. When I am absolutly happy with the set up and I am feeling he is happy in his new envrionment I can start showing him off.
 
Though its just over 2yrs since I got my first Chameleon, I share your excitement and enthusiasm, its a bit like doing it all over again.
It will take a long time for the 'wow' to wear off, if it ever does! :)
 
I'm afraid the excitement will wear off around May when my first child is born. I'm expecting a little girl and that just might pip the Chameleon to the post for excitement ha ha. I'm sure she will grow up Chameleon mad! (as well as Chicken mad, poodle mad, etc...)
 
Oh Wow, big congratulations Indeed !! That's wonderful news, As a Dad of two girls, you can take my word for it, it'll be hard to see anything else! :D
 
3 days in...

jojackson said:
Oh Wow, big congratulations Indeed !! That's wonderful news, As a Dad of two girls, you can take my word for it, it'll be hard to see anything else! :D
Click to expand...

Cheers! Im very excited. Im almost set up for that arrival!

Now my chameleon, he's in is terrarium, he has all his vines to climb on, artificial greenery (for now) to hide in. He's eating his locusts which I put calcium on and he has a supplement once a week that has D3 etc.

Urmm... I mist him before work and when I get home, he has his two UV tubes, his heat bulb that provides heat and this dims at night. His heat his about 90 under the bulb and 75 at the opposite end, 75 all night under the heat.

What else is there?... I've posted a thread about shedding on the forum to prepare me for that. My locusts are eating cabbage and carrot.

I will start training him to drink from a pipet tomorrow as I am off work.

From everything I have done so far Im hopefull I'm doing everything right for him. I got worried when I saw how many posts are on the forum about sick, dying or dead chameleons.
 
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