New to chameleons

[ehdee6]

Another question. I bought some plants today and I don’t know if I should put the fern on the bottom of the enclosure or if I should hang it.

That's all up to preference and the cage layout. But I would recommend a mid cage placement, away from the mister soaking the soil. Ferns mostly absorb the water through their leaves/ moisture in the air and aren't happy with their soil being drenched by water.

It's common that you may have to change out plants, or replace them entirely depending on the situation. It's recommend to double pot your plants to switch them out as needed.

This is a good read on keeping plants in your cage:

https://chameleonacademy.com/keeping-plants-alive-chameleon-cage/

 

[Bro Bott]

Is it ok if the temperature and humidity fluctuate? Like it is 40% humidity and 80 degrees and then it mists and it’s 50% humidity and 70 degrees?

 

[Bro Bott]

I’ve had my new enclosure up for 8 hours and the humidity has been in the Low to mid 30s some times high 30s and when the mister goes off it is 50s but then the heat lamp kills the humidity. I do not have a shower curtain on any sides of the enclosure which I have heard is helpful. I just need tips on how to keep the humidity up. I have 6 plants in there and a dripper but no curtain. I also don’t know if I should have a grow light so that the plants don’t die. Anyone have any suggestions or anything.

 

[ehdee6]

When is the humidity dropping into the 30s?

30-60 is perfectly fine during the day when the heat/lights are on. It's actually perfect... You want everything in the cage to dry as much as possible during the day when the heat rises. When the temperature gets above the 70s you need lower humidity.

High humidity plus high heat greatly increases the risks for, and can cause, respiratory infections; so, it's a bit of a balance.

At night in order to have higher humidity, you should have temps lower than at least 68-70. This is when you want the high humidity.

I personally use window film to keep up the humidity in my cage, it keeps everything transparent like glass. This is a good guide to apply it: ... An even easier method is to apply it while the cage is disassembled, but we all live and learn.

I personally only mist for 5min, 1hr before all the lights are off, then for 30 seconds twice through the night; and again for about 2 min 30min before lights on.

 

[Bro Bott]

This is at 8:41 a few minutes after the mister
Second picture is at 9 o'clock
at 9:50 am it was 80 degrees and 26% humidity
I also just bought the duck film

 

[Bro Bott]

I also heard you can use a Stansi growth light because they’re cheaper than Arcadia, but I don’t know which one to use and all that so some advice on this as well would be much appreciated

 

[JuniorC]

I also heard you can use a Stansi growth light because they’re cheaper than Arcadia, but I don’t know which one to use and all that so some advice on this as well would be much appreciated

I had a sansi grow light and plants did well I will say from my experience I got better results from the Arcadia light which is what I'm currently using and will continue to use in the future. If the funds are available I personally would say arcadia.

 

[Bro Bott]

This is at 8:41 a few minutes after the mister
Second picture is at 9 o'clock
at 9:50 am it was 80 degrees and 26% humidity
I also just bought the duck film

What about this?

 

[ehdee6]

At night you want a temperature drop, so that the room temperature is around 55f to 65f; the temperature drop helps them sleep. The film will 100% help keep humidity too.

Just to mention, the heat/humidity device you're using at the back of the cage is more for ambient room temperature; so, may not be accurate. It's better to use a wired one, like (my example) this. I also use this Wi-Fi one that tracks the heat and humidity for up to a year.

If you've not yet read this, it's super helpful with vailed care. It's really intensive and a lot to take in; but is full of some of the best information available. https://chameleonacademy.com/veiled-chameleon-care/

 

[Bro Bott]

Thank you so much!

 

[Bro Bott]

So another question…as you might know I have a Russian tortoise and they require 85-90 degree basking spots and so I don’t worry about making it cold. But for my chameleon it needs to be cold at night. The lights have been off for about 45 minutes and it is still 75 degrees 51% humidity. I have a dripper but can’t lower the heat. I need help.

 

[Bro Bott]

Ps it got up to 85 degrees!! Is that to hot for a female? If so what should I do?

 

[Bro Bott]

Pps it is a 65 watt bulb

 

[Bro Bott]

Ppps it was 86 degrees as a high outside today so idk if that plays into it at all

 

[Bro Bott]

At night you want a temperature drop, so that the room temperature is around 55f to 65f; the temperature drop helps them sleep. The film will 100% help keep humidity too.

Just to mention, the heat/humidity device you're using at the back of the cage is more for ambient room temperature; so, may not be accurate. It's better to use a wired one, like (my example) this. I also use this Wi-Fi one that tracks the heat and humidity for up to a year.

If you've not yet read this, it's super helpful with vailed care. It's really intensive and a lot to take in; but is full of some of the best information available. https://chameleonacademy.com/veiled-chameleon-care/

How do you keep it that cold!?!?!!

 

[ehdee6]

These are great questions, my friend!

Are the turtle and cham kept in the same room?

Are these readings with, or without a film around the cage to keep humidity?

Temperature can be a fickle thing, as we all have to personally adjust to the environment of our location. So, say I'm in Western Canada, my environment will be vastly different from yours.

Ambient temperature, which is your outdoor (or house) temperature, totally affects your temperature. Imagine being in a heatwave next to a heater... Do you want that extra heat?... Probably not.

Again, because these resources can explain it more than I can , these are a great read

https://chameleonacademy.com/basics-heat-for-chameleons/

https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-environment-basking-temperature/

 

[ehdee6]

How do you keep it that cold!?!?!!

I live in Canada?

You might need an air conditioner in your cham room.

 

[Bro Bott]

These are great questions, my friend!

Are the turtle and cham kept in the same room?

Are these readings with, or without a film around the cage to keep humidity?

Temperature can be a fickle thing, as we all have to personally adjust to the environment of our location. So, say I'm in Western Canada, my environment will be vastly different from yours.

Ambient temperature, which is your outdoor (or house) temperature, totally affects your temperature. Imagine being in a heatwave next to a heater... Do you want that extra heat?... Probably not.

Again, because these resources can explain it more than I can , these are a great read

https://chameleonacademy.com/basics-heat-for-chameleons/

https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-environment-basking-temperature/

Thanks! And yes the tortoise and Cham are in the same room but on opposite sides. And his heat doesn’t affect hers as far as I know. And I have wrapped it in film

 

[Bro Bott]

I live in Canada?

You might need an air conditioner in your cham room.

Yea I have a fan

 

[Bro Bott]

I also just talked to framschams and they said that the Cham will adapt and that in summer I should just switch from 65watt to a 50watt