New enclosure looking for opinions

[Katnis]

Hey lets start with the pics:

http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt329/katniss_photo/IMG_0392.jpg
http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt329/katniss_photo/IMG_0392.jpg
http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt329/katniss_photo/IMG_0397.jpg

i have a 20w Rapti glo 5.0
a normal heating lamp
Viv size is 45 X 45 X 60 cm

i have one question about the rapti glo id like to get an answer on..
at what distance abouve the cage should i set it up in?

Feel free to ask questions and please please give me comments now before its to late and the Cham is here

 

[Julirs]

I will assume you are in the US since you did not state otherwise. The glass cage is a no go. Substrate is a no go. You don't have any live plants. What kind of chameleon were you thinking of getting?

 

[Chamero]

Im afraid I have to agree with Julirs on this one... Most of the time, for us U.S. keepers, glass does not work out well...but it does depend on your climate and where you are. What is you ambient temp, summer time and winter time? Also, Do you have an A/C/ or heater that you run in the house?

2) the substrate does need to go.
3) The fake plants would be ok, only if they were accompanied by twice as many live plants.
4) If your temps aren't good for glass, you could try popping out some sides of the glass and screening that.

 

[Katnis]

Actualy im from the U.K...London and the top is net so i figured it should be alright im having some problems on the live plants still because im not sure my light is strong enough but i might get another one when i get some more cash maybe?
starting off a yemen cham about 9 weeks old from a local shop i get a pick out of like 8 geting it next week

 

[chambabysitter1]

While the glass maybe argued among members, the substrate usually isn't. Chameleon could accidentally pick a piece up while eating and die. Not to mention a bottom with no substrate is so much easier to clean.

Whipe it up and walk away. Easy, sanitary, visually appealing.

 

[Syn]

9 weeks old is a tough cham to start out with.

 

[Katnis]

Well i can pick it up whenever im ready basicly the shop wont make problems on that but id rather have firast pick...

anyway trying to figure all this out i was thinking to start off with fly's but they seem to be in short supply right now in the UK,
should i start off with brown circkets then?
Regarding the flooring i had a feeling it would be a problem but id rather resolve it then just let it be plain and ugly
ideas?
Thanks btw

 

[Julirs]

OK-being that you are in the UK you could certainly start your baby out in that cage, but be prepared to move him to a larger cage in a matter of months. The Repti-glo UVB bulb should sit right on top of the screen of the cage. Do remove the substrate-it poses a real life threatening impaction hazard. Make sure you have a good digital thermometer to measure your temps with-you don't want it much above 80F for a baby that young.

 

[Katnis]

hmm i want a creative idea here for a very visualy appealing viv

 

[Syn]

hmm i want a creative idea here for a very visualy appealing viv

Sometimes visually appealing isn't the best for your cham. Get what's best for your cham FIRST and them try to think about what you can do to make it better.

 

[Katnis]

yea i totaly agree on that but aslong as i have time to work somthing out im trying to find a creative way out of it :S if i wont have anything ill take it out before i put my cham in... anybody ever here about a better solution?

 

[chambabysitter1]

hmm i want a creative idea here for a very visualy appealing viv

How is a clean floor uglier than a one covered in old wood?

Plain cages with a nice live plant are much more visually appealing in my opinion, than the ones covered in fake biovines and silk leaves.

But that is just opinion, in the end do what would ensure a long healthy life for the cham.

 

[Julirs]

There really isn't a better alternative, except maybe to put a real vine-y Pothos in the bottom-but that will be covered with poop. I would not put too much work into that Viv-since by 6 months you will need something considerably larger-as in 2X2X4 foot high.

 

[Katnis]

Food to start with? what would give a 9 week old a good start on life?

 

[Julirs]

Plenty of 1/4" crickets that are well gutloaded, as well as small silkworms or even roach nymphs. Have you researched supplements?

 

[ciafardo 4]

gutloaded crix can be a staple its whole life and are easily obtained.

 

[Katnis]

yea iv had a product recomended to me by the breeder of the shop he says its a vetrinery supplment? and he doesnt sell it himself but i can get buy it from vets.. dont remmber the name right now but ill drop by there next week agin
a vitamin supplment with D3

im finding it kinda hard to get live foods here in London >.< most of what is offerd on the market around here is locust and black/brown crickets and also mealworms

 

[ciafardo 4]

you're gonna here alot about calcium but let me tell you i have raised alot of veiled hatchlings among other species i use calcium with d3 five yes i said five days a week until they are 6 months old also i use reptavite once a week jim from chameleon company has informed me that this is the only multi vite with pre formed vitamin a the rest use beta carotene wich is useless to reptiles.you will have to change this once the cham is 6 months.

 

[Katnis]

change to what exectly :s?

 

[Julirs]

Mealworms are bad-if you think you will have trouble getting feeders I would reconsider getting a cham-they won't eat non-live food.