New guy needs help

D

Dukelax510

New Member
I have been researching and researching along with viewing threads here for a while and just decided to make an account so I can contribute and learn. I have been trying to decide the best way to purchase my Chameleon. I am in the Hampton/Roads, VA area. Any help would be greatly appreciated as well as which supplies to get (specific models/products) would be great! Thanks everyone I am excited to finally make this big step after about 3 months of research.:)
 
Hello and welcome to the forums. :) You can check out our sponsors from the link in the above right. You can also check the classifieds section of the forum for chameleons and supplies.
What type of chameleon are you thinking about getting?
 
focus on which breed you are really interested in. keep you eye out for a reputable breeder . there are tons that are members and sponsors here on the forum. 2x2x4 enclosures are generally good for full grown adults. LLL and DIY make some very nice and cost effective enclosures. LLL even has some drainage pans that their enclosures can set in. Pop a custom drain into it, and flow into a bucket.

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/-/24-x-24-x-48-screen-cage-water-tray/

get your enclosure dialed in and all ready prior to the arrival of you cham. take you time.

BTW, Welcome to the forum. Keep asking questions. There is a lot of info at your access right here.
 
Need a little help

Welcome to the forum. DIY makes a good cage. You can purchase them on ebay. Possibly get free shipping. If not LLLreptile carries them.But not sure about the shipping. Now as for a veiled Chameleon I purchased Walter from Lance (LanceCham) Here on the forums. He's very knowledgeable and he offers his support the whole life of chameleon. He always answers his phone. And if he don't answer he always calls you back. And his Chameleons are pretty reasonable and they are very beautiful. Just look for him in Classifieds Veileds by mango. They are very pretty. Now please note that veileds are very shy and love their territory. It never hurts to have your research complete. Now as for supplies.You will need a 24(2ft)x 48(4ft) cage at minimum for a male.You will need a mister system and a cool mist humidifier works great.And some kind of sides in the cage like a backing and some acrylic for the sides. Make sure if you buy this thin acrylic buy some frosting film for it or take a sander to it to make it not so reflective. All this will definitely stabilize/control humidity levels. I purchased cool mist humidifier at walgreens. I ran a 2 inch PVC from the top of humidifier to the top of cage it hits a 90 degree elbow to a 22 inch piece across the top with a cap.(Use plumbers putty to fill gap between outlet of humidifier) Drill small holes in the top piece aiming in the cage and Booya you have a humidity controlled environment.I love everything automated.So everything I have is timer controlled. It makes it so much easier.Ok now you will need a little or big dripper for water/Hydration. Place several fake vines/dowels and foliage in the cage.(For Chameleons privacy) Now for Lighting. What goes great with the2ftx4ft cage is a Zoo Med Combination Reptile Hood (24 inch) it has a slot for three different lights. One for UVA/Heat. I use a 60w Daylight bulb(Blue), UVB(5), UVB tube(13W). Now you can choose whatever you like. This is just my setup and my veileds are very happy and healthy.Oh yea for drainage build a small shelf to fit the cage. You can buy a Washing machine drain pan its plastic and it comes with a drain hole.It cost about $24.00 at lowes drain it right in a bucket under stand. And there you go......... :D If you have any other Questions ??????? Feel free to Just Ask...........
 
Thanks for the info TNChameleon! Yeah I definitely want to get the cage set-up and working the way I want before I bring a cham home. I am going to go check out mango's veiled chams and try your mister set up diy.
TNChameleon could you dm some pics of your set up so I can get a better idea of how you did your mister?
 
TNChameleon said:
And some kind of sides in the cage like a backing and some acrylic for the sides. Make sure if you buy this thin acrylic buy some frosting film for it or take a sander to it to make it not so reflective. All this will definitely stabilize/control humidity levels.
Click to expand...

Can you explain this better I am trying to picture this as well as well as why. Is the sanding so that they can't see their reflections? and I thought the purpose of the cage was for airflow but if you put this on the sides wouldn't it defeat the airflow?
 
My Mister is just a Monsoon RS 400. Sure Here are some photos of the humidifier setup I couldn't get current pics because my Chams are Sleeping......The Monsoon has two nozzles you can place in your cage. Some people say that there junk but I've had mine for over a year and it works fine. But as for the Humidifier system its great. You could probably come down from the top and into the cage to if you want.I never really tried that....
 

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If you leave the front open and the top open thats more than enough clean air flow.... The acrylic on the side is to help stabilize humidity levels. I use a rock foam in the back of the cage with acrylic on the sides only. And I place a small sheet of sign plastic at the bottom of the front part of the cage. So when the Cool mist blows down the back wall it hits the bottom and moves to the front and hits the small plastic piece on the small clean out front door and roles in the cage and not out of the cage completely.
 
Ok, so you have both a mister and a humidifier setup? What type of stand is your system on and how did you make your drain set up?
 
And yes the sanding is for so they can't see their reflections. The hardest thing about having a screen cage is to maintain proper humidity. Not enough is not good. And to much is not good either this setup works perfect. Especially at night. The Mister shuts off with my 12 on 12 off cycle and the cool mist helps in the night. By the time the morning comes everything is dry but the air. It runs about 25% .Spray the cage with some warm water. Then the Mister comes on and stabilizes back to 40-50%. You don't want to make it to wet. You don't want your cham to get a respiratory infection. But remember they are tropical.....:)
 
Right, I am trying to get a better visualization of your sides/bottom setup I have an idea of what it looks like but not as much as I'd like. Your idea seems perfect for maintaining the proper humidity level. Now just to figure out how to do it. hmmm.... where did you buy your acrylic, and rock foam from. Also what do you mean by sign plastic? like the things Realtor and campaign signs are printed on?
 
I made my stand with 2x2 framework. Make sure that the Chameleon can look down on you. They love that security.It makes them feel safe being high up in there territory. I use a small step stool to work on my cages. Use a Washing Machine Drain pan its made of durable plastic and its just about the perfect size for this size cage. It usually comes with a drain. But it would be best to find a bathroom sink drain. There pretty cheap. You will need a hole saw for the hole in the pan for the drain. After you get all that. Drill holes in floor of cage plastic so the water can drain in washer pan. Find something to raise the cage about a half inch so it can drain properly. I used acrylic trim at lowes. It comes in a eight foot piece cut it to go all the way underneath and around the bottom structure.that way it can hold up the weight of the plant pots.ETC.
 
Yes, the plastic is pretty much realtor sign plastic. Its actually called perforated plastic sheeting. The foam rock backing you can Look up on ebay (reptile cage background) Now this thing is a little expensive. But its well worth it. The acrylic sides you can get at ACE or a mom and pop hardware store. You want the thinnest you can get. It costs about $20.00 a sheet. and the usually will have to cut it for you to 23inchs x 47inches and it fits perfect. Use double sided tape stripes to hold it in place....
 
So I have been collecting things on an Amazon wish list. I do a lot of my purchases there since the pricing is usually much better than what physical stores charge and jack up the prices on. I am going to pick up some acrylic side panels and perforated plastic for the bottom as well as some rock foam for the back. Here is a link to my list if you guys could look it over and verify that I have the things I need besides food and supplements. This was the best bang for buck enclosure I could find on there does anyone have any experience with it? Some of the reviews say its "flimsy" and some say it isn't. Can anyone who has used a DIY enclosure or a LLLR Enclosure sound off on the quality of theirs and if it feels "flimsy"? I think its just because its well...alluminum, which every one I have looked at is. So maybe they are just picky reviewers? Thanks again guys!

Amazon Wish List
 
Don't skimp on the lights. Instead of the dual hood you should get a seperate basking w/ an incandescent, and get a 2' tubular UV hood and tube instead of the CFL on your list. I also a huge fan of live plants.

I have a DIY and am happy with it.
 
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