New to the Chameleon world and would love some input

[Sara]

Hey everyone..... I have been doing lots and lots of reading for a while. Finally decided to join here after a long time of researching. Lots of great info but thought I would ask for some input.


I went with the reptibreeze cage, 2x2x4 - its not nearly as sturdy as what I had hoped for. Looking for ways to reinforce the inside for my live plants. Are bamboo rods a good choice? Are they a long term use or short term due to baterica, etc?

Thanks for any input or other suggestions.

 

[Sara]

Also, what can I use to either elevate plants in the cage for different height levels or can what i use to suspend them. Im afraid of the weight and ripping the screen. TIA

 

[melble68]

I too am relatively new, but I'm a carpenter and wood worker. Think in the direction of adding something to support the plants underneath the bottom screen. Something like a white 1/2 x 1/2 egg crate 2x4 drop ceiling lighting fixture replacement diffuser. These can be cut down, set your cage on top of it, and then both the cage and the diffuser over some sort of container for drainage. You could then put your potted plants on top of regular clay pots that are upside down.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...-Diffuser-L2GT-PLTS-R5/100579509#.UjtZssasiM4

 

[Sara]

Thanks!

I feel like such a idiot asking these..cause they may seem like common questions but I cant seem to find the exact answer or what will work best. I have all my live plants, 3 in the cage already and where i want them...but i have 3 other live plants along with some pothos and not sure how to suspend from the cage top without breaking it... or rising them up higher. I was looking for height like middle of cage to top for supporting the plants. i think easy way.. a 4x4 secured in there but for 1, have no clue if thats really a option for health wise to the chameleon... and 2, i dont really wanta 4x4 in the cage. i have 2 pots on the direct bottom and 1 that is sitting ontop of another pot for added height but the other stuff i still need heigher. the repibreeze isnt nearly as sturdy as i thought...
I thougth about bamboo poles, but not sure how they would last long term.

then i am trying to get creative with the mister I have, i really want to cut a smalle hole in the screen at the top but not sure if that will be just a bad idea in the end. i know it will weaken the top.... but i didnt really plan on sitting much on the very top except the light fixture.

 

[melble68]

I can't think of any great ideas right now on how to add support with out building something like you are thinking. You might just want to have the pothos grow long and start hangin it around the cage via zip ties or something.

 

[Sara]

So far I have 3 plants on the inside. I still want to add my pothos that I want to the top/hanging... as well as 2-3 other plants but want them higher, like middle of tank. I have lots of branches/vines to add as well but trying to figure out the plant part first...

This is not its permanent area.. just up off the floor and trying to get a visual of what is best.

 

[Sara]

Thanks! That might be my only option unless I get creative and build my own tank with what Im looking for in the future... at the current moment, I will make the best area I can until my Chameleon arrives (actually my sons) but Ill be doing the work since hes a young one.

 

[krusty46]

I'm new to this myself, but if it makes you feel better, I have the same cage and same questions/problems. You are not alone
While I can't answer your questions with certainty as I am new to chameleons myself, I can tell you I did use bamboo throughout my cage. I bought a fairly thick 6' pole from my local nursery for $1.99 and cut it into 3 2' strips that all fit perfect across the cage, all at different levels. As the bamboo is hollow in the middle, I gently tapped a nut into the hole in the center of the bamboo and bolted it through the screen from the outside. As I bolted it on, I slipped Cable Clamps (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-...ps-12-Pack-PPC-1550UVB/100175900#.UjutHj_8LTc) through the bolts so that I can run vines throughout the cage.
I'm still not completely finished and I had 2 ends that I could not fit a nut into, so I simply passed a bolt through the screen to support the bamboo. The bamboo rods are bolted on the one end and are not moving at all.

I had also purchased the egg crate drop ceiling diffuser (before reading this thread), but I was planning on attaching it to the back of the cage to prevent water from getting all over my wall when I mist and maybe help keep some humidity in the cage. I chose it because it was already 4' x 2' and was fairly light weight. I assumed because it was meant for lights it would be somewhat heat resistant--not that it will be near my basking lamp, I just figured it would not discolor from the lights. I just received some neodymium magnets in the mail today which I was going to use to attach it to the cage. Figured that would make it easier to take on and off if needed and so it wouldn't be permanent. I will say it's very fragile and cracks easily.

I bought a plant stand, but I like your idea much better (flipped pot) and it is much cheaper. My wife doesn't feel the plant stand is strong enough anyway. Currently have a smaller Pothos and a 2' Schefflera that I also needed to raise up.

I broke the first rule of buying a new reptile...I didn't have the cage setup before I got the animal. Chip was an impulse buy at a Reptile Expo a few weeks back and we're still tweaking the setup. We have some major cage remodeling planned for this weekend. Maybe he'll stop giving us the stink eye when we're done.

Lastly, in complete agreement on the Reptibreeze...not as sturdy as I thought it would be. My door started sagging after only a few days but I'm scared to adjust it because every other screw I took out and put back in ended up stripping the aluminum frame (I had to because they mislabeled the pieces in the factory and I had to figure it all out as I was going along). I have to "lift" the door every time I open it.

 

[ellbodavis]

I had a crooked door

My reptibreeze ended up with a crooked door once assembled leaving a 1/2 inch gap on the side with the hinges and at the bottom where the smaller door meets. I rigged both sides of the gaps with duct tape to keep the small crickets my girl has been eating from escaping.

 

[juice28]

Thanks! That might be my only option unless I get creative and build my own tank with what Im looking for in the future... at the current moment, I will make the best area I can until my Chameleon arrives (actually my sons) but Ill be doing the work since hes a young one.

wow.. such bad reptibreeze stories. all of mine are perfect lol i didnt tightem them down really though so maybe thats why.. i did the corners of each side then i did alternating opposite screws.. kinda like when you tighten lugs on a car tire...anyways i digress..

if you want to hang them, get a plant hook screw it into the ceiling and use a piece of fishing line attached to it to hang through the top screen. trust me your cham and the plant isnt going to snap it just get a fairly strong test i used 150 lbs but i already had that lying around for big catfish lol

 

[Sara]

I also had to be very careful with the screws because like yours, mine was mislabeled and I had to take it apart a few times once I realized this wasnt looking right.

Its not as sturdy as I had hoped to and what I mean by that is I paid $139.00 and was expecting a little sturdier based on what I seen by the smaller ones and what he(pet store guy) recommended. He has steered me wrong in the past but overall he does a great job. I could of gotten it a little cheaper online but paid shipping, figured it was easier to deal with him because when I got mine, it also had a broken peg on the bottom door and he was able to get me a replacement the next day. So thats easier on me in some ways.

I am definatly looking in the future of building my own cage and that way I can do it how I want but figured I will make the best out of this cage.

Today I am picking up some strong fishing line... question for that though, does it have to be right against the cage/screen so the Cham doesnt get on it/tangled/cut... or can I tie some to a branch to suspend? does that even make sense??

I also have noticed the doors dont match properly either on mine, it did get better once some weight was added by the live plants. So that part should be just fine (or I hope)

 

[drcrossfire]

Just use twist ties or zip ties. Make sure you don't seal off anything.that's supposed.to.open. if you haven't done too much with it I'd return and replace it.

Reptibreezes are the only cages to give me troubles. Go through LLLreptile or DIYcages if you get another.

 

[Sara]

I did some stuff lastnight so I cant return it but will take it as a lesson learned. I just seen a 50/50 of liking and not liking. oh well! it will work just not my ultimate cage that I wanted.

I really wanted to use zip ties, however the smallest zip ties are still way to big, so I would have to cut the screen.

As for the twist ties, they are actually to big, I tried them lastnight, ended up stripping them and using the wire part only.

At this point, I am debating of whether to just go with the flow and make it work as in cutting bigger areas and securing it for the zip ties and what not.

I have been running tests throughout the day with lights on and stuff to check temp and humidity and that is staying on range, so thats a plus!

 

[drcrossfire]

You.can also just stuff the gaps with weather stripping or something. the chams don't make it out ... You just gotta worry about bugs creeping through.

 

[Sara]

would hot glue be a good idea to..or not really. i have read its good but make sure you get all the stringy parts out.

 

[junglefries]

long lasting

Even though they seem flimsy, if you take your time with these cages and go slow, they will last a long time. I refused to buy them at first, only to love them. I have only ripped one screen so far & a 10g aquarium fell from a shelf of 8ft to do that. enjoy.

 

[Sara]

Since you love your cage... can you tell me what you have done to it to make it where you like it. I hate to throw out money... or better yet, do you have any pictures I can see

Thanks!

 

[Sara]

Im off to get more branches at the moment, but this is the lastest i have going.

 

[Sara]

so i went and got a few more branches... should i be trying to make these go more across the tank??

 

[mhfan305]

The across the tank from left to right is good to have for basking perches and I would add more, but it is also good to have branches going from top to bottom even though you may not have a substrate. I too have a bad screen terrarium in my possession. It is the now DISCONTINUED AFTER A YEAR OF THEM RELEASING IT and has a gap on the left of the sliding door wide enough for insects to crawl through...Damn It! It rocks a bit back and forth and sliding the front door but I am guessing with adding a background and some weight to it as its empty right now, that should go away. I am currently in a battle to get a full refund, if not half. Ugh.