Kharn
Member
Hello
I'd like to start off by stating what the title itself states, that I am new to Chameleons, however I am in the process of setting up a terrarium for one, I live in Indonesia and the Terrarium is being setup outside my house on a porch where it does NOT get any direct sunlight.
THE TERRARIUM
The terrarium is custom made glass tank open topped it stands at 48"L x 18"W x 36"H (so its quite tall and long but a bit slim).
LAYOUT
I have an idea of what I would like to do but am seeking input from those on here about my ideas.
I'm going with a fairly strictly Exo Terra setup which is mostly just plants & vines....
However what I am also doing is placing vertical bamboo poles in the terrarium which are positioned in each rear & front corner in front of the 3D background but behind hanging plants, to further hide the bamboo vertical poles they will be wrapped in vine, the idea is to give off a look of each corner just being hanging plants and the vine holding onto something in that bush.
FEEDING
There is a plateau in the middle of the tank (22.5cm from the rear & front & 60cm from both sides, so smack in the center). This plateau is going to be used for a place that holds food whether it a slow release of crickets through the use of the Exo Terra Termite Hill or the Worm Dish, seeing that I don't see 2 being used at the same time I don't see a reason to make 2 plateaus.
Luckily their are crickets EVERYWHERE where I live and because of where I live I very much feel like they are completely safe and not tainted with poisons, I live in a jungle secluded area where I cannot see my neighbors and the closest shops are a good drive away...
WATERING
I'm tackling this by making two DIY devices...
- DIY Fogger: Using a Humidifier & PVC fittings & pipe.
- DIY Sprayer: Using poly pipe, irrigation sprayers & a large aquarium pump on timer.
Hard to see in the photo up top but the terrarium does have 3x1inch drain holes in its based spaced evenly apart, one in the middle then either side evenly, plan is for these 3 drain holes to be linked together by piping underneath the terrarium when its on the stand which will transport this excess water to a bucket beside the stand.
HUMIDITY & TEMPERATURE
The humidity will be taken care of by the DIY water systems & the ambient temperature should be fine as well but for monitoring...
- Analog Hygrometer
- Analog Thermometer
LIGHTING
This is what I am most concerned about but please bare in mind that the lighting is only for the chameleon there are no live plants but so far this is the plan...
- 1x Intense Basking Spot (100W).
- 1x Extreme UVB Compact (26w).
Both of the above are going to be in 7" dome reflectors, I'm aware that the chameleon is a complete tree dweller so a heat mat beneath the tank isn't really much point...but I am not sure if this is overkill or underkill for the Chameleon?
OXYGEN
Since the terrarium is glass & has no air holes besides its open top and drain holes in the base I was thinking of utilizing a fan on a timer spread out throughout the day and for only short periods to basically "turn the air over" so maybe a 30sec run period spread out over 6 intervals (3mins total every24hrs) to simple get new air in and any old air out.
SUPPLEMENTS
From what I have been reading about I have broken it down to these 2 vital supplements...
- Calcium + D3 Powder
- Multivitamin Powder
___________________________________________
I think that covers it all....in the end I would just like to see my chosen chameleon phat happy and full of life, I know their not a handsy animal but I am more handsy with a camera and have done good work in the past with other animals & photography / filming.
___________________________________________
P.S. - I have thought about a sort of recirculating system where the drain plumbing in the terrariums base is hooked up to the water reservoir that the pump sits in to pump water up through the irrigation spray system back into the tank there by maintaining a cycle...
But my friend tells me this is a bad idea due to the toxic waste the reptile will produce and thus be circulated through that water as well.
___________________________________________
Anyway I think that covers everything glad to be apart of this forum and hope to become a new long time member!
Cheers
Kharn
I'd like to start off by stating what the title itself states, that I am new to Chameleons, however I am in the process of setting up a terrarium for one, I live in Indonesia and the Terrarium is being setup outside my house on a porch where it does NOT get any direct sunlight.
THE TERRARIUM
The terrarium is custom made glass tank open topped it stands at 48"L x 18"W x 36"H (so its quite tall and long but a bit slim).
LAYOUT
I have an idea of what I would like to do but am seeking input from those on here about my ideas.
I'm going with a fairly strictly Exo Terra setup which is mostly just plants & vines....
However what I am also doing is placing vertical bamboo poles in the terrarium which are positioned in each rear & front corner in front of the 3D background but behind hanging plants, to further hide the bamboo vertical poles they will be wrapped in vine, the idea is to give off a look of each corner just being hanging plants and the vine holding onto something in that bush.
FEEDING
There is a plateau in the middle of the tank (22.5cm from the rear & front & 60cm from both sides, so smack in the center). This plateau is going to be used for a place that holds food whether it a slow release of crickets through the use of the Exo Terra Termite Hill or the Worm Dish, seeing that I don't see 2 being used at the same time I don't see a reason to make 2 plateaus.
Luckily their are crickets EVERYWHERE where I live and because of where I live I very much feel like they are completely safe and not tainted with poisons, I live in a jungle secluded area where I cannot see my neighbors and the closest shops are a good drive away...
WATERING
I'm tackling this by making two DIY devices...
- DIY Fogger: Using a Humidifier & PVC fittings & pipe.
- DIY Sprayer: Using poly pipe, irrigation sprayers & a large aquarium pump on timer.
Hard to see in the photo up top but the terrarium does have 3x1inch drain holes in its based spaced evenly apart, one in the middle then either side evenly, plan is for these 3 drain holes to be linked together by piping underneath the terrarium when its on the stand which will transport this excess water to a bucket beside the stand.
HUMIDITY & TEMPERATURE
The humidity will be taken care of by the DIY water systems & the ambient temperature should be fine as well but for monitoring...
- Analog Hygrometer
- Analog Thermometer
LIGHTING
This is what I am most concerned about but please bare in mind that the lighting is only for the chameleon there are no live plants but so far this is the plan...
- 1x Intense Basking Spot (100W).
- 1x Extreme UVB Compact (26w).
Both of the above are going to be in 7" dome reflectors, I'm aware that the chameleon is a complete tree dweller so a heat mat beneath the tank isn't really much point...but I am not sure if this is overkill or underkill for the Chameleon?
OXYGEN
Since the terrarium is glass & has no air holes besides its open top and drain holes in the base I was thinking of utilizing a fan on a timer spread out throughout the day and for only short periods to basically "turn the air over" so maybe a 30sec run period spread out over 6 intervals (3mins total every24hrs) to simple get new air in and any old air out.
SUPPLEMENTS
From what I have been reading about I have broken it down to these 2 vital supplements...
- Calcium + D3 Powder
- Multivitamin Powder
___________________________________________
I think that covers it all....in the end I would just like to see my chosen chameleon phat happy and full of life, I know their not a handsy animal but I am more handsy with a camera and have done good work in the past with other animals & photography / filming.
___________________________________________
P.S. - I have thought about a sort of recirculating system where the drain plumbing in the terrariums base is hooked up to the water reservoir that the pump sits in to pump water up through the irrigation spray system back into the tank there by maintaining a cycle...
But my friend tells me this is a bad idea due to the toxic waste the reptile will produce and thus be circulated through that water as well.
___________________________________________
Anyway I think that covers everything
glad to be apart of this forum and hope to become a new long time member! Cheers
Kharn
