Outdoor woes 3-1-2012

[SSimsswiSS]

Outdoor enclosures can be alot of work in winter months to maintain temps. I had to do a complete wrap up, on the big enclosure Monday night with temps dropping down into the 30's. i took some picture this morning to show outside view. It was 38 degrees outside, and 60 inside enclosure (and felt like a jungle inside, with nearly 100% humidity) this morning at 6:00 AM, when I went to check and distribute food. 60 is a little lower than the high outside temp of 63 expected today. I have openings on the shaded side, that let hot air out during the day, and keep temps inside from climbing above 80. Average daytime temp inside enclosure is 72-74, but we do sometimes get warm winter days here in southern California that can make things a bit too warm at times.
I'll have to remove some plastic tomorrow morning, with a warm up starting tomorrow, and temps in the 80 by Sunday. I have a few more months of the cold weather game before I get a break. Then July comes and it's the cool down game.

Bottomline: There are many pros to keeping chameleons outside, and just as many cons.

 

[justjumpit621]

i don't know what you use but you should try velcro, so you can just roll the plastic up and down when needed

 

[clarkrw3]

Great info Steve...would love to see even more photos of your set up

 

[Solid Snake]

SSimsswiSS, I didnt know you could juggle!

 

[ataraxia]

I want more pics!

 

[c2c]

thats awesome..i know its been getting cold lately here in orange county. im in Garden Grove and all of my reptiles have slowed down a lot compared to that last couple of weeks.
do you have pictures of the inside

 

[Action Jackson]

I've been giving this a lot of thought. The weather is so up and down I has to make it difficult to manage Tempretures. I guess I will be trying to figure it all out this year.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

do you have pictures of the inside

I've posted over the years. Here's one showing just inside first door.

 

[Seeco]

That's awesome. When the sun comes out watch out for temp spikes via greenhouse effect!

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Steve your slowly turning you Giant Outdoor Cages in to a DIY greenhouse. If you put in a heating and cooling source all you have left is adding a thermostat to control your temperature range.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

That's awesome. When the sun comes out watch out for temp spikes via greenhouse effect!

Yes, too much heat is more damaging than a night time temp drop.

Steve your slowly turning you Giant Outdoor Cages in to a DIY greenhouse. If you put in a heating and cooling source all you have left is adding a thermostat to control your temperature range.

I use heater inside on thermostat. Just need a swamp cooler for summer and I'm set. Electric bill is another story.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I use heater inside on thermostat. Just need a swamp cooler for summer and I'm set. Electric bill is another story.

Research solar panels. Once installed they should reduce you electricity bill quite a bit.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Research solar panels. Once installed they should reduce you electricity bill quite a bit.

I should know how much of a reduction this month. I think I have 14 to 16 panels on the roof now.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I should know how much of a reduction this month. I think I have 14 to 16 panels on the roof now.

Neat deal. When I have the time out of classes I have been planning on looking into solar panels for the greenhouse and the aquarium room. That plus customizing my metal halide.

Have they made much of a reduction of your electric bill for you in the past?

 

[Action Jackson]

Yea, I finally got to see your cages.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Yea, I finally got to see your cages.

Your outdoor enclosure is really looking good, Craig. Do you see the parsonii pair to?

 

[c2c]

Santa anas today. What do you do fir those???

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Santa anas today. What do you do fir those???

Strip the bottom 4 feet of plastic off. House shields main force of the winds. Top plastic keeps the drippers and misters from getting blown around. I welcome the warmer air(wind)flow. Chameleons can move up or down to thermoregulate. Outside temp is 66 currently.

 

[c2c]

Man I wish I could do an outdoor enclosure. I have the space but not the know how.

 

[kidcham]

outdoor

Hello,

I do not yet own a chameleon. I am only interested in housing a chameleon outside. I live in Coastal San Diego (Encinitas). We have great humidity here. I am trying to decide between a Jackson's and a Veiled . I know there is a wild colony of Jackson's that live in Morrow Bay (which gets very cold!) so, I guess, I would be safe getting a Jackson's. However, the Veiled seems more docile and colorful. And, I also keep reading how they are the hardiest of chameleons.

It looks like you have a Veiled (although I am not sure). My main concern with a Veiled is the night-time temps here in Encinitas.

Do you have any advice for a novice?

Thanks for your time!