sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
there's nothing wrong with using wood constructed cages. It is extremely common and can be as safe or safer than screen. What matters is the environment created inside the cage, far more than the materials used.
Nutrients and chameleons
- Thread starter acfi
- Start date
there's nothing wrong with using wood constructed cages. It is extremely common and can be as safe or safer than screen. What matters is the environment created inside the cage, far more than the materials used.
Elizadolots
New Member
I respectfully disagree....many woods that are touted as "waterproof" are loaded with chemicals to make that happen. What wood is used is the question. If it's untreated, or properly treated, then it's great...but if it's decking material (which is advertised as weather resistant) it might well be soaked with a lot of chemicals.
camimom
New Member
So are you saying that chemical fumes could make him sick from the pressure treatment, or that he would have to ingest it? so like hes chewing or licking the wood constantly?
just curious.
DekuScrub
Avid Member
So are you saying that chemical fumes could make him sick from the pressure treatment, or that he would have to ingest it? so like hes chewing or licking the wood constantly?
just curious.
the solution used in PT is water based and in effect water soluble. drinking water off of it, or having feeders drink or come in contact with this solution sounds like it could turn into a pretty serious issue. if not immediately, over time.
http://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/pressure-treated_wood.html
I'm new to the community, so my opinion may not be the most educated. But I do know that recently we purchased some cheap pressure treated wood shelves and they were making us sick. (From the fumes, we didn't eat it!
) We had to remove them from the apartment. I can imagine the effects would be the same or worse to the chameleons.
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
It is not the wood that is the problem in this example, it is the chemical treatment.
Wood constructed cages are fabulous - I use them myself. I paint the wood with zero VOC latext acrylic.
Chemicals used to treat deck boards are not fabulous, and I agree one should avoid them (not just for cages, but generally!)
**UPDATE**
PJ is finally doing good again! Camimom, we took your advice about the lamp time...we adjusted the timer and ever since he has been doing MUCH better. He's climbing all around again and eating and drinking like normal. We also started feeding him more crickets and less worms. So far, so good!
I'm not sure what kind of wood the cage is made out of, but he hardly ever drinks directly from the screen or wood. My bf's previous chameleon (Picasso, the 11 year old one) was not a panther chameleon. He was big but not as colorful. He stayed in a different cage (partial outdoor cage with both natural sunlight and lamp light). The cage was made of wood, however, the wood was NOT treated. My bf's grandfather built the cage directly from tree wood. Picasso also loved crickets and did not eat treat bugs. We also ordered him special bugs online (huge blue colored worms). Clearly I'm not the expert on terminolgy, but I'm learning!
Thank you for all of the advice and help! I'm very relieved that PJ is doing so much better, and that I didn't kill him!!!
PJ is finally doing good again! Camimom, we took your advice about the lamp time...we adjusted the timer and ever since he has been doing MUCH better. He's climbing all around again and eating and drinking like normal. We also started feeding him more crickets and less worms. So far, so good!
I'm not sure what kind of wood the cage is made out of, but he hardly ever drinks directly from the screen or wood. My bf's previous chameleon (Picasso, the 11 year old one) was not a panther chameleon. He was big but not as colorful. He stayed in a different cage (partial outdoor cage with both natural sunlight and lamp light). The cage was made of wood, however, the wood was NOT treated. My bf's grandfather built the cage directly from tree wood. Picasso also loved crickets and did not eat treat bugs. We also ordered him special bugs online (huge blue colored worms). Clearly I'm not the expert on terminolgy, but I'm learning!
Thank you for all of the advice and help! I'm very relieved that PJ is doing so much better, and that I didn't kill him!!!
camimom
New Member
Im glad hes doing better!
and im glad the lighting helped.
While i doubt the lights going off at midnight cause all of the problems.. I have no doubt it wasnt helping.
the lights being on that late but it being dark out, was probably messing wtih his sleep cycle.
do that yourself and see how pepp yyou are afer a few days. lol
hope you are also getting the supplements under control.
and im glad the lighting helped.
While i doubt the lights going off at midnight cause all of the problems.. I have no doubt it wasnt helping.
the lights being on that late but it being dark out, was probably messing wtih his sleep cycle.
do that yourself and see how pepp yyou are afer a few days. lol
hope you are also getting the supplements under control.
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