Need help with enclosure setup ideas

[lgstang]

Our Chameleon (known to us as Louie ) is getting a bit big for his cage and we want to upgrade to a much bigger one. Only thing is, right now he's in our bedroom and we want to move him into our front room. I cannot for the life of me find a stand/table/cabinet that is big enough for the big screen enclosure we want to get. Also, standing water in the bottom of the cage... drives me insane. Right now I've got a baking sheet with a lip in it, and I use a turkey baster to get the water out that overflows from the plants saucer. Another issue I'm having is with the plant itself, I'm not sure what's wrong with the soil but it's almost like the water (we have a dripper on SLOW and I manually mist him several times a day, I'm a stay at home mommy) goes straight through the soil and drains through to the saucer.

I think we've already decided we're going to have to build our own stand, but I've got no idea as to how to construct a drainage system. We'll be getting a mister and a fountain so that we don't have to have the dripper AND manually mist it all day/everyday.

I'm not sure what to do about this plant, either. Should I just repot it in some fresh/new soil? I've got large river rocks sitting on top of the soil to prevent him from catching any of the soil when he eats.

Does anybody have any tips or advice?!

 

[gentlejamo]

I have seen some really cool set ups on here, where people use one of those plastic sinks as the base (you know one of the ones you may find in a garage or work area, really just plastic square with a drain in centre and four legs) and then there are some screen cages that can literally sit directly on top of these sinks very nicely. This way, you can set a big potted tree plant of some nature, in the sink and have it stand straight up filling the screen cage. Misting water drips right down into the drain, perhaps into a bucket underneath...

I am sure at this point someone on here knows what I am talking about and will post a picture of this type of enclosure seeing as though I do not have a pic.

come on guys...

 

[lgstang]

I have seen some really cool set ups on here, where people use one of those plastic sinks as the base (you know one of the ones you may find in a garage or work area, really just plastic square with a drain in centre and four legs) and then there are some screen cages that can literally sit directly on top of these sinks very nicely. This way, you can set a big potted tree plant of some nature, in the sink and have it stand straight up filling the screen cage. Misting water drips right down into the drain, perhaps into a bucket underneath...

I am sure at this point someone on here knows what I am talking about and will post a picture of this type of enclosure seeing as though I do not have a pic.

come on guys...

I think I know what you mean... and that's a good idea. Perhaps we would be able to just build a cabinet (or other structure) to go around the sink/stand to hide it, since we are looking for something to go in the front room of our house.

 

[lbesok]

Hello, I just wanted to suggest that the waterfall is definitely not a good idea. In short, it just provides a most excellent spot for bacteria and such to breed.

I'd like to share with you my parents cage for their Luie. My father constructed it on a wooden cart that rolls, with a cut concrete mixing bin as the basin. It could easily be constructed with enclosed cabinets for a water catcher and storage:

Also I'd like to mention to you that I absolutely LOVE my Wet/Dry 5g Shopvac! It makes cleaning out cages and drainage bins sooo easy. The $30 investment is sooo wort it

 

[lgstang]

Hello, I just wanted to suggest that the waterfall is definitely not a good idea. In short, it just provides a most excellent spot for bacteria and such to breed.

I'd like to share with you my parents cage for their Luie. My father constructed it on a wooden cart that rolls, with a cut concrete mixing bin as the basin. It could easily be constructed with enclosed cabinets for a water catcher and storage:

Also I'd like to mention to you that I absolutely LOVE my Wet/Dry 5g Shopvac! It makes cleaning out cages and drainage bins sooo easy. The $30 investment is sooo wort it

I knew I should have kept my mini-shop vac when we moved! ...and I thought I wouldn't use it.

That's a nice looking setup, do you know what size that cage is? I never thought of the waterfall like that. We had one when we first got him and had no problems with it, I cleaned it thoroughly on a weekly basis. But he was much smaller, and he has much bigger poops now!

 

[hawaiianice99]

Also I'd like to mention to you that I absolutely LOVE my Wet/Dry 5g Shopvac! It makes cleaning out cages and drainage bins sooo easy. The $30 investment is sooo wort it

just make sure you dont suck up and chams! hehehe!

 

[AndrewH]

Is that Louies guard dog?

 

[jannb]

Yes, Our dog Red is guarding Luie in his cage.

 

[lgstang]

Yes, Our dog Red is guarding Luie in his cage.

lol My dogs are scared of my Louie.

 

[LaserGecko]

Check your local craigslist for used shower pans. They usually clean up well with a pressure washer and are the easy way to get a large drainage area that's absolutely waterproof.

Don't get a fountain. They're a bad, bad idea for chameleons. One smell of poop dropped in water and you'll know.

If you need misting, well, I know a guy...

 

[THECHAMMAN]

lbesok, you have the exact same cage as me, or at least it looks exactly like yours.

 

[dodolah]

Hello, I just wanted to suggest that the waterfall is definitely not a good idea. In short, it just provides a most excellent spot for bacteria and such to breed.

I'd like to share with you my parents cage for their Luie. My father constructed it on a wooden cart that rolls, with a cut concrete mixing bin as the basin. It could easily be constructed with enclosed cabinets for a water catcher and storage:

Also I'd like to mention to you that I absolutely LOVE my Wet/Dry 5g Shopvac! It makes cleaning out cages and drainage bins sooo easy. The $30 investment is sooo wort it

wow. i'm impressed. it comes completely with a guard dog and a frog too