New Chameleon cage open for suggestions

[Allen Whitaker]

Here are the pics that i have been wanting some advise on. There are two 36" 30 W zoo med 5.0 bulbs hanging vertically in the front two inside corners. There is a ficus tree and a pothos vine. I just wanted to get some feed back, and to know if that is enough uvb light for the plants. Also i am well aware of the risk of having a waterfall and am prepared to clean and keep care of it. The waterfall will also be elevated in order to help with humidity.

Any helpful pointers or suggestions.

Also what is the best commercial feed for feeder roaches or other quiet feeders?

 

[mdrossncsu]

I'm sure some people much more experienced than me can chime in with better opinions, but this is my initial thought...

Do those lights inside the cage get hot? Can't your chameleon get burnt?

From what I understand you really only need one basking light and one UVB light (usually a ReptiSun 5.0 Fluorescent UVB lamp - 18" is what everyone seems to recommend.) Basking temperature will vary depending on what species of chameleon you have. A quick search on the forum should let you know the appropriate temp range. Usually both lights are placed on top of the cage.


For feed for roaches, I'm not sure about a good commercial feed, but here is a link to a recipe for making your own feed.
http://www.adcham.com/html/husbandry/gutload.html

 

[AndrewH]

if your using two 5.0's isnt he getting a bit too much uvb?

10.0 is recommened for desert reptiles and reptarium enclosures

i would just use 1 5.0 reptisun, and a 75 watt light for his basking spot. if you can, i would prop the cage up a bit on a night stand or shelf or something. they usually like to be the ones looking down at you.

as for quiet staple feeders,

medium sized crickets (only adults chirp)
dubia roaches
silkworms
superworms (zoophoba morio)

 

[Justin Carl]

Good and Bad

Ok, from the top.
You need to try and keep things a natural as possible.
Why are his lights suspended vertically from the inside of the cage?
You should only need 1 liner florecent bulb placed at the top of the cage.
Your basking bulb set up seems alright.
Have you gauged the temperature?
How tall is that cage?
It's recommended that the height should be around eye level or higher.

Look at those beautiful hardwood floors.
Do you plan on getting them all wet?
Letting them bake in high humdidity!
That could lead to expansion between the planks, discoloration, or even worse, cupping.
You might want to consider puttin something under the cage to collect water.
I dont think that plastic lid will be enough.

 

[ttshibby]

I would definatly take those 2 uvb lights out and replace them with a 18-24 depending ON TOP! on the size of your cage. Chameleons need to regulate thier own uvb, and if the lights are all the way down there is no escape for them. Other than that everything looks great!

 

[pmdavalos]

do you have stand for your cage?chams like to be higher away frompredators.it's a nice cage .i would take the waterfall out.

 

[Allen Whitaker]

cham cage

Every thing in the cage is natural and alive. Except for the 2 fake vines woven throughout the ficus.
The cage is 4 foot tall, 30" wide and 26" deep. It is this big b/c i plan on getting a larger chameleon, when i do. And i have already gotten the stand for it to go onto, once i have gotten it all aranged.

The uvb was there in order to keep the ficus and pothos alive; but if they, and the little guy, will do better with them on top then that is what i will do.

The lid under the cage is much bigger than one would think and will easily hold over 32 oz of water. Which is what i plan on using for a drip, each day.

The floor and walls are lined with a plywood fishtank epoxy and are waterproof.

And the gradient, with day bulb on, is 85 - 78. On average. Once i have elivated the waterfall off of the bottom the humidity should rise a touch from its current 40 - 60%.
As for the feeder insects i find the recipies and homemade feed very extensive and expensive. If there are better ways or easier recipies i would appreciate it, other wise i guesse its time to go shopping.

Thank you soo much for all of your guys help, the info is priceless. Keep the advise coming if there are any with some.