New cage

[zsazsa85]

I will have my veiled new cage in couple weeks. It will be 24"x24"x48" reptibreeze.
So I am not sure how to manage the feeding. Should I use a feeding cup or just let the crickets in and they probably will go to the top?
And I have the Flukers small dome and a big. Are those enough as heating and UVB? I have in the bigger the UVB, in the smaller a 75 Watts Exoterra heat bulb. Or I should have fluorescent lamps?
Thank you!

 

[Decadancin]

As for feeding, its up to you. I like to cup feed so I can keep better track of how much is actually eaten, but many prefer to let the chameleon hunt down its meals. (It is more difficult to remove feeders this way!)

In that size enclosure I would try to use a tube style UVB. Minimum 5.0 or 6% would be good. You will get lots more coverage through the enclosure that way. The dome fixtures can work for heating, especially if they have a reflective inside. All depends on what the basking site temp will be. I had to use a 60 watt because it was actually too hot with a 75. All depends on your setup and how close the light is to the basking site. The key with lighting is to make sure to offer some shade so your chameleon can decide how much light is too much .

 

[zsazsa85]

Thank you Decadancin!
Is UVB ok for 8 months? I will buy a tube then. Yeah, it seems better to me too. Can produce more "sunlight" in the enclosure...
I know she loves to hunt (of course), but will see how it works..

 

[nick barta]

Welcome to the Forum,

See if Todd at Light Your Reptiles (sponsor top right corner of the home page) ships to Canada, his lighting setups are the best. Get a 2 light setup with 1 bulb being a 6500K plant bulb so your plants don't die, saving big $ in the long run.

You want to cup feed, that is a large enclosure, and crickets hide well… You will still get escapees when you cup feed, so hunting still will happen.

Use the SEARCH button and look for Sunny D feeding cups, and you will see how to build a cup with screen for the feeders to climb on, and screen in the bottom for water to exit the cup.

Get an infrared heat gun to verify your temperatures at the basking spot. The guns run about $15.00. Best gadget for Cham keepers to have!

CHEERS!

Nick

 

[zsazsa85]

Thank you very much nick barta! I'll check, but usually even if someone ship to Canada, sometimes they don't ship to the Yukon... But will see!
What is that infrared heat gun? (I have infrared heat lamp for my girl as well.)
Is your family name hungarian?

 

[zsazsa85]

Oh one more question: do you think I should cover the screen cage's sides with something? Because I covered the one she has now ( only the sides), just to keep the moisture and heat in. And I also heard it is better if chams don't see that much,so they won't freak out of anything and can be more calm...
Any ideas?

 

[Decadancin]

Most important reason to cover sides would be to keep humidity levels up(only if you are having issues with that) or making sure to block another cham from view. As a general rule you should try to keep the enclosure in a low traffic area, so blocking the sides from activity shouldn't be necessary.