Optional free range?

[Paskelsmom]

We were in the process of building a nice cage for my Veiled as he has outgrown his first "baby cage", so I set up a temporary cage. (see pics)
This is when we realised that he can very easily get out of it
But.. He loves it! I had never even thought about free ranging, or realised that many people do it!
For the past 2 nights he climbs on top of the cage and sleeps in the exact same spot. (In the wall corner) lol! Then in the morning, he wakes up, and goes right back in to bask under his heat light
He gets fed inside the cage, and misted as well.

So, since he seems to be happy with this arrangement.. I was thinking about adding some vines of some sort in the corner of the wall, so he can explore even more!

My question is:
Will he know when he's "too cold"? and go back to bask if I give him more ranging options? I like the little routine we have going on.. He seems to know that the cage is his "safe spot".

 

[jannb]

I have always free ranged all of my animals. They do what they want. If they want UV they go hang out under the UV light. If they want to bask they go to the basking light. I don't have cages in my house at all. The most important thing when free ranging is to keep them safe and away from small children and other pets. You also need to have the lights where that can't get to them and get a burn. You really have to Cham proof everything. They do get down and roam.

 

[Paskelsmom]

Great info! Thanks! Just secured the lamps

 

[pigglett79]

Definitely need to chameleon proof everything. He may eventually become very comfortable and get in to serious trouble. Two of my boys will stay in their free range and not come down, but the third is always up to no good. And if I am not always on the look out or keep their bedroom door closed it could be the end of him.

Here are a few examples of places I have found him.

 

[Paskelsmom]

Ha Ha! He looks like an awesome little (Huge) guy

I actually work from home, so he's under close supervision.. & he doesn't like it! He is my first Cham though, so any and all info is greatly appreciated! Hes pretty skittish still.. he's only about 6-7 mo. Hoping he does get more comfortable.

 

[pigglett79]

Ha Ha! He looks like an awesome little (Huge) guy

I actually work from home, so he's under close supervision.. & he doesn't like it! He is my first Cham though, so any and all info is greatly appreciated! Hes pretty skittish still.. he's only about 6-7 mo. Hoping he does get more comfortable.

I work from home as well! My office is in the chameleon room and I love it. If you are working at home then you shouldn't have any issue with watching and figuring out his habits. Here is part of my room.

old pictures, but good for some ideas I guess.

 

[Paskelsmom]

That is amazing! I bet your guys are loving that set up!

 

[pigglett79]

Yes they do love it. We have a nice routine. I put them outside in the outdoor cages in the morning, they have misters out there as well. I bring them in around 11am when it starts getting too hot. Then they stay in their cages until after their 2 o clock misting and beg to come out. I then open the cages and release them to their free ranges and they stay there all afternoon and night. They love to sleep out in their trees. two of them are good about going in and out of the cages but George is another story.

George has the trees next to my desk and sometimes comes down to check things out on my desk while I work.

edit: I got the trees on craigs list. If you look around you can find people that will sell them for like $10-20 each. Doesn't cost much at all. Then I just cleaned them up once I got them home.

 

[Paskelsmom]

Great idea! I will have to look into that. Wish the weather was consistent enough here (in Michigan) to set up an outside roam.

 

[II Knucklez II]

Yes they do love it. We have a nice routine. I put them outside in the outdoor cages in the morning, they have misters out there as well. I bring them in around 11am when it starts getting too hot. Then they stay in their cages until after their 2 o clock misting and beg to come out. I then open the cages and release them to their free ranges and they stay there all afternoon and night. They love to sleep out in their trees. two of them are good about going in and out of the cages but George is another story.

George has the trees next to my desk and sometimes comes down to check things out on my desk while I work.

edit: I got the trees on craigs list. If you look around you can find people that will sell them for like $10-20 each. Doesn't cost much at all. Then I just cleaned them up once I got them home.

Those are all fake trees?