Newbie cage setup opinions

[ChuckP]

Hey guys I am brand new and I am getting my first chameleon on Saturday from the Orlando Repticon. I hope to get a panther if not I am going veiled. Here is my setup I have a 75w heat beam in the back, a mister mister, and a 18" 8.0 Reptisun light for UV. Is there anything else I am missing other than food/nutrients?

Thanx guys!

 

[Brad]

Hi ChuckP, welcome to the Chameleon Forums

Great to see you have put a lot of thought into your setup before purchasing a cham. I see a humidifier box in one of your pics. Did you make that cage yourself? What is the humidity and temperature gradient? I would imagine the Orlando show will have a lot of nice chameleons to choose from.

 

[ChuckP]

Brad,

The humidifier is for my future project, I plan to setup a heavy humidity system so that it can come on shortly before the misting system, then shut off shortly after. To simulate rain in the rainforest with the heavy humidity. I bought the cage, but I am going to work on a new one and take my time to make it perfect, just need it a little higher. Thanx for the comments, also for food I was going to use tiny crickets and meal worms... both dusted.

-Chuck

 

[zero742]

Chuck,
Where'd you get the cage...I'm in the market for a new one pretty soon and have been shopping around. Thanks.

 

[ChuckP]

It was on the top shelf at Pet Supermarket, apparently someone around Florida makes them. They look pretty easy, just some wire mesh, nails and 1" staples. I took a cheap shower curtian from WalMart for $3 and stapled it to the back of the cage so my mister can spray from front to back without soaking the floor/wall.

-Chuck

 

[ChuckP]

Hi ChuckP, welcome to the Chameleon Forums

Great to see you have put a lot of thought into your setup before purchasing a cham. I see a humidifier box in one of your pics. Did you make that cage yourself? What is the humidity and temperature gradient? I would imagine the Orlando show will have a lot of nice chameleons to choose from.

Brad,

The temps are around 88-93 on the top most vine under the heat lamp, then it is around 75 at the bottom of the cage

 

[lele]

my only suggestion...

I would place more plants on the bottom to increrase the foliage desity and it will help with humidity. You can also use some pothos vines (real or silk - I had both) hanging for him to climb around on, too.

Also, make sure there are no sharp edges from that wire mesh where it is stapled to the wood.

 

[SweetPea]

You said you were going to use tiny crickets aren't you worried that they will get out of the cage with that wide screening? Just worndering because I had a house full of crickets I finally found the small hole the had escaped from.