Newbie's 1st setup w/ drainage (nice vanity)

[natureboy86]

Let me first state that I am in NO WAY handy with tools, so this was an enormous project for me. All the work has paid off though, and my new little guy(4 month veiled) is very happy, and so is my 6 year old son, so it was allll worth it.

Dimensions of the cage are 2x2x3. The drainage system is built from a brand new vanity I just bought from Home Depot for $80. All i did was drill about 5 1/4'' holes in the bottom of the enclosure. The water runs into the sink of the vanity, which drains into a bucket inside of the cabinet.

I also just installed my brand new mistking system. There's another bucket in the cabinet with distilled water. The pump is in the cabinet as well. I zip-tied the tube to the cage as it runs up to the nozzle. I'm very happy with this setup, and it hides all the buckets/supplements/pump, etc.



Plants: Pothos (hanging top left), money tree potted in middle, the rest are assorted fake vines/leaves

Mist: Mistking system. Only complaint is that there is a rapid drip from the nozzle during misting sessions. I'm currently exchanging emails with Marty in order to hopefully get a replacement sent to me if this can't be fixed

Lights: 5.0 repti-sun UVB tube bulb, dome basking lamp
Temps: basking=80-85 degrees, ambient 70 during day, 60-65 at night
Supplements: Calcium every day, w/ D3 twice a month, multi twice a month

Diet: Mainly crickets, leaves from his tree.. He won't eat worms since they aren't that active. Looking to purchase dubia roaches to switch up his diet. Will switch from crickets to dubia weekly, maybe we some flies as well.

 

[carol5208]

looking great!!! Nice idea with the vanity!!

 

[natureboy86]

looking great!!! Nice idea with the vanity!!

Thank you! I got the idea from a thread I found a while back on this forum. I really just wanted something that would look decent in my living room, since everybody that comes over will be looking in that direction since the enclosure is adjacent to my tv. Really goes with the room and gets my cham up to about 6' high, rather than about 4 1/2', wich is where he was prior to me buying the vanity. win-win!

 

[maxttu]

Looks great! I know somebody that did this too!

 

[carol5208]

I know what you mean about having it look nice cause it is out where people can see it. The two cages I keep indoors, I do not mist or use a dripper as I have the luxury of keeping them outside pretty much every day. I water them outside. I am glad I don't have to worry about drainage. I like my stuff to look neat too!!!

 

[natureboy86]

Looks great! I know somebody that did this too!

Thank you Yea, I highly recommend a vanity setup for drainage (if indoors). There are cheaper ones too! I paid about $80 for this one, but there were white ones with one cabinet door for about $40-50

I know what you mean about having it look nice cause it is out where people can see it. The two cages I keep indoors, I do not mist or use a dripper as I have the luxury of keeping them outside pretty much every day. I water them outside. I am glad I don't have to worry about drainage. I like my stuff to look neat too!!!

Nice. That's really cool that you get to keep them outside a lot. I've only had my little guy for about 3 weeks now, so I've taken it slow.. My son and I take him outside every saturday and let him roam in the grass to get sun light. We do this for about 45 minutes or so. The first time he freaked out, but the last two times he seems to be getting used to it. Even picked off a few flies

 

[carol5208]

I don't know where you live as you did not post your location, but getting them out in the sun is one of the best things you can do. I know it is getting very cold in some parts of the US now and it will be near impossible to do that pretty soon, but do it until you can.

 

[natureboy86]

I don't know where you live as you did not post your location, but getting them out in the sun is one of the best things you can do. I know it is getting very cold in some parts of the US now and it will be near impossible to do that pretty soon, but do it until you can.

I live in the Central Coast of California. Beautiful weather out here. How much sun is good? The more the better? If so, maybe I'll let him out a few more times a week.

 

[maxttu]

Thank you Yea, I highly recommend a vanity setup for drainage (if indoors). There are cheaper ones too! I paid about $80 for this one, but there were white ones with one cabinet door for about $40-50

You might have seen my post. Vanity Drainage Project.

And to answer your question about outside time: THE MORE, THE BETTER! As long as you have appropriate weather...

 

[natureboy86]

You might have seen my post. Vanity Drainage Project.

And to answer your question about outside time: THE MORE, THE BETTER! As long as you have appropriate weather...

I think it WAS your thread that gave me the idea.. Perfect setup IMO for drainage.

Do you guys let your cham roam in the grass at all oustide or do you just put him/her on a plant? I've been letting Koopa roam in the grass. He stays close by and I keep a close eye on him.

 

[lisagr07]

looking great!!! Nice idea with the vanity!!

i agree, grate idea!!!!! why cant i ever come up with something like that?!?!?

 

[maxttu]

i agree, grate idea!!!!! why cant i ever come up with something like that?!?!?

Because you don't pay attention to my posts... love ya!!!

I sometimes let Fenix tickle his feet on the grass!

 

[natureboy86]

^ Beautiful cham!

 

[natureboy86]

So has anybody had the same issue with the mistking that I mentioned in the OP? The nozzle sprays great, but it drips a lot while it mists. That's why i have a cup on the bottom of the enclosure.

 

[maxttu]

So has anybody had the same issue with the mistking that I mentioned in the OP? The nozzle sprays great, but it drips a lot while it mists. That's why i have a cup on the bottom of the enclosure.

Thx!

I have no clue about the dripping. I have the aquazamp. Sounds like you might need a new nozzle?

Do you use tap water? I know that tap water can cause build up on the nozzles. Use RO or distilled water if you can...

 

[natureboy86]

Thx!

I have no clue about the dripping. I have the aquazamp. Sounds like you might need a new nozzle?

Do you use tap water? I know that tap water can cause build up on the nozzles. Use RO or distilled water if you can...

It's a brand new system. I actually just installed the vanity/drainage and mistking all on this past Saturday morning. It is a nozzle issue I believe. I'm using distilled water only. I'm currently awaiting a response from the guys at Mistking. I've heard such great things about their company on here, that I'm really hoping they send me a replacement nozzle. I mean, it's BRAND new and is not functioning 100% properly.

 

[maxttu]

It's a brand new system. I actually just installed the vanity/drainage and mistking all on this past Saturday morning. It is a nozzle issue I believe. I'm using distilled water only. I'm currently awaiting a response from the guys at Mistking. I've heard such great things about their company on here, that I'm really hoping they send me a replacement nozzle. I mean, it's BRAND new and is not functioning 100% properly.

Good luck! If all else fails, I "believe" that the nozzles are universal. You might try a local hardware store and check out their inventory while you wait.

 

[natureboy86]

Good luck! If all else fails, I "believe" that the nozzles are universal. You might try a local hardware store and check out their inventory while you wait.

Thanks. And yea that's a good idea. I really like the fine mist that mistking gives. It's so thin that it doesn't escape the screen, which is great since my setup is near a tv and is against a wall. Anyway, thanks for all the feedback

 

[lisagr07]

Because you don't pay attention to my posts... love ya!!!

Yeah, right..... How could I miss them there's 5 a day!!!!!

I didn't know your guys had an indoor enclosure!!! They hang out on golf clubs during the day!!!!!!!

Ha!!! Guess I'll have to do some searching,,, and catch up!!!!!!

 

[maxttu]

Yeah, right..... How could I miss them there's 5 a day!!!!!

I didn't know your guys had an indoor enclosure!!! They hang out on golf clubs during the day!!!!!!!

Ha!!! Guess I'll have to do some searching,,, and catch up!!!!!!

Lol!! You'll have to go way back! I did this set-up a month or so ago!!