My Terrarium is ok? Do I need to change? Veilled Chameleon

[bro123]

I will have a chameleon male yemen , there is something that must change in my terrarium ? What do you think? Typically always has between 75-85 % of humidity.

I am open to constructive criticism , just want to improve the habitat of my little chameleon.

Thank u !

 

[Remkon]

I will say what I think based on what I can see so I could be wrong on some points...
In general this doesn't look like an enclosure I would use for a chameleon and here is why:

- I don't see ventilation under the doors on the front or on the sides so the only ventilation I can see comes from above which will get no proper airflow inside which will lead to repository issues on your cham and increased chance of mold in the enclosure.

- Your lights are inside the enclosure, this way your cham can burn itself on the lamps and it will also have less usable space in the enclosure. I'd advise lamps on top everytime, better/safer for your cham and more secure for you (less chance of short circuit).

- On the red light (why do you have it?) I see part of the wiring is open, with high humidity and a lot of misting this will eventually get wet/condensed and this will increase the chance of a short circuit...
The TL armature looks metal to me, this will also start rusting in no-time and is most likely also not water resistant so even more chance on short circuit there.

- I don't see drainage, you will need proper drainage to deal with the amounts of water used when misting the enclosure for 3-4x a day for some minutes at a time.

 

[bro123]

I will say what I think based on what I can see so I could be wrong on some points...
In general this doesn't look like an enclosure I would use for a chameleon and here is why:

- I don't see ventilation under the doors on the front or on the sides so the only ventilation I can see comes from above which will get no proper airflow inside which will lead to repository issues on your cham and increased chance of mold in the enclosure.

- Your lights are inside the enclosure, this way your cham can burn itself on the lamps and it will also have less usable space in the enclosure. I'd advise lamps on top everytime, better/safer for your cham and more secure for you (less chance of short circuit).

- On the red light (why do you have it?) I see part of the wiring is open, with high humidity and a lot of misting this will eventually get wet/condensed and this will increase the chance of a short circuit...
The TL armature looks metal to me, this will also start rusting in no-time and is most likely also not water resistant so even more chance on short circuit there.

- I don't see drainage, you will need proper drainage to deal with the amounts of water used when misting the enclosure for 3-4x a day for some minutes at a time.

Yes the terrarium is only open on top, only have ventilation at the top . How can it by more air inlets to be air circulation in the terrarium ? So I put the lights out of the terrarium , it will be safer and less likely to make short circuit. Regarding the red light is only to maintain the temperature in the terrarium during the winter, because the very low temperature in winter, here in Portugal . I do not have a drainage system as you said , what is the easiest and safest solution? Again Thanks

 

[Remkon]

Getting extra ventilation in glass will be tricky since you need to drill the glass and it will likely brake.

Mostly ventilation in the front in glass enclosures is done like this:

or the more fancy solution:

What are the night temperatures in your house during the winter? Chameleons do well on a drop in temperature at night so odds are you don't need to heat him extra. Íf you need to heat him at night better not use a red lamp but a ceramic lamp since chameleons will be able to see the red light with their parietal eye (3rd eye on top of their head) which will disturb his sleep and will cause health issues over time.

Drainage will be an issue, you'll need to find a way to collect the water you spray without having the risk of your cham drowning.

If it were me I'd probably take out the bottom glass plate, then build a wooden frame to fit the terrarium of 15~20 cm high where I can fit ventilation and a drainage hole with a piece of garden hose. Make the wood watertight with a couple of layers epoxy or yacht varnish. But I like being creative

 

[bro123]

Getting extra ventilation in glass will be tricky since you need to drill the glass and it will likely brake.

Mostly ventilation in the front in glass enclosures is done like this:

or the more fancy solution:

What are the night temperatures in your house during the winter? Chameleons do well on a drop in temperature at night so odds are you don't need to heat him extra. Íf you need to heat him at night better not use a red lamp but a ceramic lamp since chameleons will be able to see the red light with their parietal eye (3rd eye on top of their head) which will disturb his sleep and will cause health issues over time.

Drainage will be an issue, you'll need to find a way to collect the water you spray without having the risk of your cham drowning.

If it were me I'd probably take out the bottom glass plate, then build a wooden frame to fit the terrarium of 15~20 cm high where I can fit ventilation and a drainage hole with a piece of garden hose. Make the wood watertight with a couple of layers epoxy or yacht varnish. But I like being creative

So let me get this straight , or cut glass in various places to have air circulation , or can also always be open terrarium doors, which is not very advisable as it can get away , right? Can you show me more examples of how to get more ventilation ? In winter , perhaps between 5 degrees to 15 degrees in the coldest times. Okay, then I will remove the red light , did not know that , however until the winter will not be necessary as well can withstand temperatures , and then I buy a ceramic . Thanks again for ur help

 

[Remkon]

Well it's less fancy than having ventilation but I had it like this for some time:

I didn't have drainage but could fit in a hose to the bottom of the enclosure and drain it like you would an aquarium...

 

[bro123]

Well it's less fancy than having ventilation but I had it like this for some time:

I didn't have drainage but could fit in a hose to the bottom of the enclosure and drain it like you would an aquarium...

Okay, so I will do the following .
Placing lights over the network so that there is no short circuit and the chameleon does not arrive there.
Taking the red light and buy a ceramic .
I also take my terrarium a glassmaker to 10 holes of about 2/3 cm in diameter on both sides of the terrarium.
Riding a drainage system ( I've been searching and I know what I will do , simple and cheap).
They think I need anything else?
Thank you for information , it is a new experience and it is always good to learn .
Sorry for the english, is not my main language .

 

[bro123]

Well it's less fancy than having ventilation but I had it like this for some time:

I didn't have drainage but could fit in a hose to the bottom of the enclosure and drain it like you would an aquarium...

You have glass sides and wood around the doors with a fine network ahead in the picture?
Nice terrarium!

 

[Remkon]

What I find hard to believe is that the temperature in your house will be between 5 and 15C at night...
I'm in the even colder Netherlands but my house doesn't drop below 19C in winter (unless I leave windows open).

I don't think a glassmaker will give any guarantee on the drilling a hole in the glass... Especially multiple holes have a big chance of failure.
Maybe it's easier to have him cut a few cm off the doors, then you can put a roster under the doors and glue in a new sliding profile on top of that ventilation (just like in the 1st picture I posted).

 

[Remkon]

You have glass sides and wood around the doors with a fine network ahead in the picture?
Nice terrarium!

It was a full glass terrarium but because I have a jacksonii that has an increased need for ventilation I decided to remove the glass doors and make some mesh doors myself

 

[bro123]

What I find hard to believe is that the temperature in your house will be between 5 and 15C at night...
I'm in the even colder Netherlands but my house doesn't drop below 19C in winter (unless I leave windows open).

I don't think a glassmaker will give any guarantee on the drilling a hole in the glass... Especially multiple holes have a big chance of failure.
Maybe it's easier to have him cut a few cm off the doors, then you can put a roster under the doors and glue in a new sliding profile on top of that ventilation (just like in the 1st picture I posted).

Yeah, sometimes in winter makes some cold over where, I am closer to the beach in a region with low temperatures, but yeah I never measure the temperature, but yeah it is cold for a couple of months .
Humm, yeah, nice ideia, big chance of failure, its true. but I can't understand the 1st image like you say, the terrarium has two doors on top or is it ? not perceived very well.

 

[Remkon]

No, the doors are in the front.
Here you can see it more clearly on my acanthus terrarium.

The ventilation is bend in an U shape.

 

[bro123]

No, the doors are in the front.
Here you can see it more clearly on my acanthus terrarium.

The ventilation is bend in an U shape.

I can already see , but do not know what is that and never seen anything like it . There is for sale or have you done it?

 

[Remkon]

I've purchased the whole terrarium like this.
What you could try is go to the DIY store and see if they have a ventilation strip for doors that's just as wide as your terrarium, you can glue in a piece of mosquito netting if it doesnt have it already.

Something like this:

 

[KapitalJ]

Check the link. I am not suggesting the product for you to use, however there is a good description and visuals as to how the ventilation works as @Remkon is trying to explain to you.

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/natural_terrarium_large.php

Hope this adds a little clarity for you.

 

[bro123]

Check the link. I am not suggesting the product for you yo use, however there is a good description and visuals as to how the ventilation works as @remikon is trying to explain to you.

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/natural_terrarium_large.php

Hope this adds a little clarity for you.

ohh, i see! yeah thank u so much !

 

[bro123]

I've purchased the whole terrarium like this.
What you could try is go to the DIY store and see if they have a ventilation strip for doors that's just as wide as your terrarium, you can glue in a piece of mosquito netting if it doesnt have it already.

Something like this:

yeah man, now I understand. Thank u!

 

[bro123]

I've purchased the whole terrarium like this.
What you could try is go to the DIY store and see if they have a ventilation strip for doors that's just as wide as your terrarium, you can glue in a piece of mosquito netting if it doesnt have it already.

Something like this:

One more thing, sorry man.. I can use 1 or 2 fans in the top right? Its easy

 

[Remkon]

As a replacement for good passive ventilation? I wouldn't.
I can't imagine it's good for your Cham if wind was blowing on him all the time.

If you plan to use a fan anyway I would try to let the fan blow against the glass on the inside of the enclosure rather than directly on the animal.

 

[KapitalJ]

I wonder if you placed a fan on top facing up, if it would draw air out and gently pull fresh air back in from the other side??