Looking for cage.

[emmanasi]

Ok so my friend moved away and gave me her 6 month old jackson chameleon. I was over joyed with him and have been learning alot and think he is the coolest thing i have ever seen . My friend gave me all the essentials for him But he is bigger now and would like a bigger cage unfortunately im in school and paying for rent so cash is tight . Can anyone help me out with an old cge at a cheaper price? I want my chameleon to be healthy and happy.

 

[ForrestJungle]

if you go onto ebay and look up b grade cages they are decently priced, AND they have free shipping! check it out! If that doesn't work for you write me a pm and I might have one that I could get rid of. Also here is a link for a good Jackson care sheet if you haven't already seen it

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

 

[emmanasi]

Thnk you yeah im new to this and just want everything perfect because like i said before i absolutely love my chameleon.

 

[ForrestJungle]

Then you are in the right place! The only stupid question is the one not asked! So ask away and listen to what everyone on here says! I have learned so much form the awesome people on here! welcome to the forums!

 

[kuskye25]

i built mine for pennies on the dollar....

2x2's from lowes are your friend, then some screen and screws, and some 4mil to 8mil plastic, done deal make it any size/design you like cheap...

i can post pics of mine if you like... for ideas

 

[emmanasi]

Thanks both good idea. I think i will enjoy these forums and people in them

 

[kuskye25]

Prolly $30 in this...

its huge though, you may not want such a huge cage...

6ft tall x 3.5ft deep x 4ft wide

 

[SaintJimmy]

i built mine for pennies on the dollar....

2x2's from lowes are your friend, then some screen and screws, and some 4mil to 8mil plastic, done deal make it any size/design you like cheap...

i can post pics of mine if you like... for ideas

Not to steal the OP thunder here, but can you post a picture anyways? I'd like to see. I am building my own cage soon.

 

[kuskye25]

Not to steal the OP thunder here, but can you post a picture anyways? I'd like to see. I am building my own cage soon.

i must have posted the pic while you were typing

i used pet resistant screen you can get at lowes, very tough stuff, and i stapled velcro to it so i can open the top and the bottom anyway i please

the sides and back are covered in plastic then screen, and then a plastic bottom and screen top, both screen front pieces top-half/bottom-half are removable via velcro...

 

[JoseBean]

I gotta say that I found a lot of inspration with my cage in the enclosure forum. You can always buy a premade one but when you have a perfect custom made one for your little guy it will make you feel so good!

I got a 48x18x18 cage for my jackson and he loves it! He crawls all over the place!

 

[emmanasi]

Could u share your plans on how to build it.. not sure if i should though im not the best handyman

 

[kuskye25]

haha it was no exact science sorry, just bought 2x2's and went to town cutting them to the sizes i wanted.... honestly it wasnt that hard... i do have prior experience making stuff from 2x2's and 2x4's but i swear anyone could, youll need a electric saw though for sure...


only reason i went so huge is cause i love having 1 single huge live ficus for the cham to live in... instead of a bunch of smaller plants...

 

[kuskye25]

here it is after it was all done and my misting system, vines, and extra light fixture for the plant bulbs were installed, and the cham in it finally of course... you can just barely see her shes bright yellow in the light cause its shining on her shes hard to see, and she looks so tiny, but is actually big, and 5 years old....

 

[kuskye25]

oh and BTW make sure and get untreated wood, the cheap stuff you dont want chemicals on it, and predrill your holes or youll crack the wood... just a heads up incase you do make your own...

 

[SaintJimmy]

i must have posted the pic while you were typing

i used pet resistant screen you can get at lowes, very tough stuff, and i stapled velcro to it so i can open the top and the bottom anyway i please

the sides and back are covered in plastic then screen, and then a plastic bottom and screen top, both screen front pieces top-half/bottom-half are removable via velcro...

Oh you did post it while I was typing. Whoops!

Thanks!

 

[JoseBean]

here it is after it was all done and my misting system, vines, and extra light fixture for the plant bulbs were installed, and the cham in it finally of course... you can just barely see her shes bright yellow in the light cause its shining on her shes hard to see, and she looks so tiny, but is actually big, and 5 years old....

Good advice. I think making your own cage like this is awesome since you decide what it is gonna look like. Also, if you don't have the tools to cut the wood then you can always get Lowes to cut them to size. If you have a friend with a finishing nail gun it makes it 20 times faster! Also, I would recommond a door rather than velcro if you have the ambition.

kuskye, Why did you opt to have the lights inside the cage rather then outside? The only thing that can think of is that you didn't want the screen to block some of the UV's/heat. I solved this problem by buy a thinner screen for the top. I would always be worried that he might tag something on one of the lights and burn himself. I do feed my man flies though. Crickets also always seem to migrate to the top though.

The enclosure section has a ton of examples of great custom cages. That's where I got my inspration.

 

[kuskye25]

Good advice. I think making your own cage like this is awesome since you decide what it is gonna look like. Also, if you don't have the tools to cut the wood then you can always get Lowes to cut them to size. If you have a friend with a finishing nail gun it makes it 20 times faster! Also, I would recommond a door rather than velcro if you have the ambition.

kuskye, Why did you opt to have the lights inside the cage rather then outside? The only thing that can think of is that you didn't want the screen to block some of the UV's/heat. I solved this problem by buy a thinner screen for the top. I would always be worried that he might tag something on one of the lights and burn himself. I do feed my man flies though. Crickets also always seem to migrate to the top though.

The enclosure section has a ton of examples of great custom cages. That's where I got my inspration.

yeah i get asked this question a lot accually, usually people are concerned with it burning my cham.... the fixture i used for the incandescent bulb doesnt get hot enough its a bigger fixture then most, plus shes had it this way for 3 years and hasnt been burned once even crawling around on the light, but i took heat readings from a temp gun all over it before i let her of course....

as for why i didnt put it up top instead of in the cage i wanted to get the light "UV" within 6 to 8" of her pirch on top of the cage it would be 10 to 12" from her pirch she always uses, and to get the heat close enouph to her pirch to get the temps i required i put it inside the cage also...

She kind of choose where i put them in a sense, someday once my ficus gets taller maybe...

my original cage i built for her when she was little had a wire top, and the lights were outside the cage... https://www.chameleonforums.com/buying-veiled-cham-soon-14178/index2.html post #18 is the finished cage before i ever got my cham

and the door i didnt want to mess with cause i would have had to really take my time to make sure it sealed 100% everywhere, and that not a single corner could be pushed open by the Cham.... i really like the velcro it seals perfectly...