New guy - need some information

[zosek]

Hello all, new member here.

I've been a lizard fan since i was little, but since i was living with parents at that time, they said no lizards in the house, so i obeyed. I have my own apartment now, and i'm seriously considering buying a chameleon.

I've been all arond the internet to find all the advice ppl can give me, then i stumbeled across this site. So much information over here, i'm really greatful.

Enough of jibber jabber, i have a few questions about this beautiful animals. I know most of them have probably already been answered, but this forum is so big, for now i'm content with basic knowledge.

1. I'm considering buying a panther chameleon. According to spreadsheets the cage should be 24x24x48" (60x60x120cm). I went and measured the space i have, there is really no restriction regarding height and width (apart from room dimensions ), but there is length restriction. So what i came up with was this: 24x39x59 (60x100x150cm). I'll be making the cage myself.
   
2. Regarding the cage. I was thinking of making all cage pages hard (wood or something) and the front side from net. Also the top will have some net for lightbulbs. Will this enable enough air ventilations?
   
3. Another cage question. Why do chameleons prefer to be in cages instead of terarriums?
   
4. Bulbs question. I think i'll go with exo terra lighbulbs because i have a store nearby that sells them. This is a question that i did not find an answer to. How many bulbs do i need? From what i've read i need 1 basking spot lightbulb (infrared or sunlight?) and 1 UVB lightbulb. Is nightbulb needed?
   
5. Are lightbulbs enough if they are on top of cage, or the heat wont spread over the cage?
   
   

I know i'll have more questions as i read more, but for now i think this is it.

 

[Wowbango]

Chameleons need full air ventilation, they should always be kept in open air cages. The one screen at the front is not enough. It needs at least three sides and top to be screened. If they do not have enough ventilation, they can develop respiratory infections. Additionally, they need to be misted A LOT to keep the humidity up. If you don't have enough airflow, that could cause mold with that much water. They need at least a basking bulb, and a 5.0 UVB bulb. Most people just buy normal incandescent bulbs and use those for their basking light. You don't need to buy a fancy overpriced one for $15. The basking spot should be around 85 degrees. One would be fine as the temperate starts to drop lower in the cage. This gives the chameleon the ability to self-regulate his temperature. The bulbs would be best at the top of the cage on the outside. There is no need for a nighttime bulb like with some other reptiles. 12 hours of light, 12 of hours of darkness.

 

[VincentChameleon]

Hello all, new member here.



[*]I'm considering buying a panther chameleon. According to spreadsheets the cage should be 24x24x48" (60x60x120cm). I went and measured the space i have, there is really no restriction regarding height and width (apart from room dimensions ), but there is length restriction. So what i came up with was this: 24x39x59 (60x100x150cm). I'll be making the cage myself.

Depending on the age, this may actually be a bit large. As a comparison, for my two-month-old panther, I've got her in a 16" x 16" x 30" and even this is pretty large for her...although plenty of room to grow (although I do anticipate having to upgrade eventually).

[*]Regarding the cage. I was thinking of making all cage pages hard (wood or something) and the front side from net. Also the top will have some net for lightbulbs. Will this enable enough air ventilations?

No, it won't. Chameleons need the free-flowing air and it's recommended to only use terrariums temporarily for babies, moving them into a screened enclosure as soon as feasible. I would aim for making it with as much screen as you possibly can, but especially the screened top to allow UV light penetration.

[*]Another cage question. Why do chameleons prefer to be in cages instead of terarriums?

It has to do with the airflow...in a terrarium the humidity really just sticks around, creating a constant damp environment. This leads to stasis of water, which in combination with the warmth from your lights, will create an optimal environment for bacteria to breed, which could really be bad news for your little guy. While chams do need a humid environment, the free air flow of the screened enclosures allow things to dry out in between drips/mistings, which helps to minimize the worry for bacteria multiplying and getting your baby sick.

[*]Bulbs question. I think i'll go with exo terra lighbulbs because i have a store nearby that sells them. This is a question that i did not find an answer to. How many bulbs do i need? From what i've read i need 1 basking spot lightbulb (infrared or sunlight?) and 1 UBV lightbulb. Is nightbulb needed?

Just two: Basking + UV. Both lights are shut off at night. Unless your home is substantially cooler than the national average, your guy should be fine overnight with no lamp.

[*]Are lightbulbs enough if they are on top of cage, or the heat wont spread over the cage?

Yes if the top of the enclosure is screened and your cham has a highway of vines which he/she can traverse to get to the top (where it should be mid to upper 80s), middle (where it will be a bit cooler), and then the lower level, where it will be about room temperature or a little above, just to allow better heat regulation.

 

[happy]

I would suggest starting at the caresheets. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/

watch plants, some are toxic.
watch other pets, chameleons look tasty.

as Wowbango stated, they ventilation is key. too much humidity, respiratory infection, wet spots, mold.

some of the more advanced enclosures are 1-2 mesh sided, but i would suggest are typically for more experienced keepers, or breeders that know how to control airflow and humidity with only 1-2 sides.

Chameleons are arboreal, and as such, typically require more height in an enclosure. usually filled with branches so they can move about, to self regulate body temperature and uv exposure.

bulbs can be tricky. as most people will say, you really need to try to find what fits your particular situation.
i use 4 t5 bulbs and a 125 watt uv heat bulb combo( until it changes)
depending on enclosure size, you may only need a linear uv(t5)bulb, or a t5 + a incandescant bulb for heat... .its environmentally dependent.

btw: Welcome to the forums.

 

[zosek]

Thank you all.

Regarding the cage, there should be no problem making all sides open, it's easier to make.

Also, i was just thinking making a barrier inside the cage to regulate the dimensions until cham doesnt reach full size.

 

[happy]

personally, i wouldn't worry about regulating the size of the enclosure. earth is the biggest enclosure.... its my opinion.... take it with a grain of salt...

 

[Carlton]

Chameleons need full air ventilation, they should always be kept in open air cages. The one screen at the front is not enough. It needs at least three sides and top to be screened.

Not necessarily! It really depends on your particular room situation, your local climate, and the species you plan to keep. Cool humid higher elevation species like T. deremensis can be maintained in a relatively closed in cage with plastic on most of the cage sides...I know, I've done it. But, at that time I lived at 9,000 ft elevation in the bone dry Rockies. My point is, the correct caging needs to be adjusted to your particular situation...its not all or nothing. turn this around...whatever it takes to provide the correct parameters is what you want. If a more enclosed setup does it, great. If an all screen cage does it, great. Just be prepared to modify whatever you build. A screen cage can be partially enclosed very easily, but something like an all glass tank can't be without major work.

 

[zosek]

Thank you all for your answers. I have another question. At the moment i'm gathering materials to start the build the cage, but i dont know what material to use for the net around the cage. Should it be metal or temperatue resistant plastic (polymer).

 

[jajeanpierre]

Thank you all for your answers. I have another question. At the moment i'm gathering materials to start the build the cage, but i dont know what material to use for the net around the cage. Should it be metal or temperatue resistant plastic (polymer).

Idealy I think you want window screen that will keep your feeder insects inside the cage.

As far as ventilation, all my cages are solid sides except for the top and doors. Personally, I hate all screen cages. I have had so many damaged toes from climbing on screens. Screens don't keep the over splash from misting in the cage and are harder to keep up the humidity. Many of the "your chameleon MUST be kept in a screened cage" crowd turn around and then shut in three sides with shower curtains.

Having lived in the tropics during rainy seasons, I don't understand the worry about too much humidity for a tropical chameleon that comes from an area with rainy seasons. I am not familiar with Panthers, but do believe some of their native areas receive over 20 inches a month during the rainy season. Average humidity is over 80% all year in any of the coastal areas I looked at.

If you don't have live plants and ventilation, you might have a problem with a small closed in terrarium, but lots of space and live plants sounds ideal to me. Caveat: I've not kept or researched panthers.