Please critique my set up

[Virgil]

Hi, all. My 2.5 month old panther is coming on Wednesday and I just want to double (or triple or… ) check the set up. It has been running for 1.5 weeks while I made small adjustments.

• Cage Type – 24x24x48 screen cage. (Because I plan to hand or cup feed, he won’t have any trouble hunting in a large cage.)
• Lighting – Reptisun 5.0 and 40 watt incandescent.
• Temperature – Lower cage 68° F right after a mist, Ambient 70-75° F, Basking 82-85° F, overnight around 70° F. I have a digital thermometer and a temp gun which agree with each other within 5°.
• Humidity – 45% overnight, 55-75% during the day. I have a Raindome and a digital hygrometer. Two sides of the cage have shower curtain on them.
• Plants – Pothos and Schefflera, both washed. Scheff repotted completely as it started to get root rot. The soil in both is covered with smooth rocks. 6 horizontal branches, but one splits in the middle so maybe 7.
• Placement – the cage is in the only low-traffic room in the house, my bedroom. The top is about 5 ft from the ground because of the drainage stand (not shown in picture).
• Location – Arizona.

The basking branch is 7” away from the top of the cage and the lamp is raised 3” off the screen. I read once that you are supposed to keep the basking lamp at an angle to the top of the cage. Is this correct, if so what angle?

It mists/rains 4 times a day for 5 min, 3 min, 3 min, and 1 min, about every 3.5 hours. Less and the humidity drops dramatically; much more and the schefflera starts complaining. I have timers on the lights and raindome so they are consistent.

Thank you!

 

[qdude46]

My only concern is that it may be to big for that young of a panther, but when he is older, a little more foliage and branches should be added.

 

[Balizar]

I kind of agree but my cham will climb down 2 eat and she is only 4 months old. I did add fake foliage around the flower pot so that she could climb back up easy. Will def need more foliage when its older.

 

[Deevo]

That cage is rather "large" but chams have been doing just fine in the wild without their cages. You can buy a clamp at the pet store that will allow you to clamp the light on top of the cage at an angle. This is mainly to prevent the screen from getting too hot and your cham potentially getting burned.

Like this

 

[Virgil]

Thanks for the replies. I know about the foliage. I'm trying to figure out where/how to add more without cluttering the floor of the cage. Probably another hanging pothos. I have a little one I could put in right away.

I have a clamp lamp, I just need to find the clamp...

Thanks for the input.

 

[Vito the Veiled]

My only concern is that it may be to big for that young of a panther, but when he is older, a little more foliage and branches should be added.

I've had my 2 year old veiled in a 4 1/2 feet by 3 feet screen cage since he was 3 months old. Haha.

 

[Deevo]

Try getting some of those fake cannabis leaf vines and zip tie them to the side of the cage. It works great to keep the mist inside and to help make him feel more "secure".

 

[Balizar]

also pet smart sells vines just for that. They have a spike on the back that goes in the flower pot and 8 to 10 inch foliage that hangs over. This also hides the flower pot and makes it look more natural and gives them something to climb up. If you like I can send you pics of mine. They do look good.

 

[Virgil]

also pet smart sells vines just for that. They have a spike on the back that goes in the flower pot and 8 to 10 inch foliage that hangs over. This also hides the flower pot and makes it look more natural and gives them something to climb up. If you like I can send you pics of mine. They do look good.

Pictures are always nice.
Thanks.

 

[Balizar]

Here you go! This link is to my newest project!

https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-enclosure-need-thought-121833/

 

[nick barta]

Virgil,

Welcome to the Forum!

I would put a basking branch closer and one farther from the basking light for choices on where the cham will be. The closer branch should be at about 90 degrees, check with a temp gun.

You will need to use a feeding cup with the little guy in a big cage. The feeding cup should be below the basking branches, and he will not go hungry in a large cage if the food is not just free-ranging and hiding.

I would do longer misting sessions, about 15 minutes, 2-3 times a day, many chams drink better after several minutes of water drops falling.

Pathos survives the mistings, and will fill the top 2/3 of the cage. Sheffelera's and Ficus tend to drop leaves, Pathos are indestructible, grow FAST, Can be hung so no plant is on the floor for easy cleaning, and creates vine highways for the cham.

Nick

 

[Virgil]

Virgil,

Welcome to the Forum!

I would put a basking branch closer and one farther from the basking light for choices on where the cham will be. The closer branch should be at about 90 degrees, check with a temp gun.

You will need to use a feeding cup with the little guy in a big cage. The feeding cup should be below the basking branches, and he will not go hungry in a large cage if the food is not just free-ranging and hiding.

I would do longer misting sessions, about 15 minutes, 2-3 times a day, many chams drink better after several minutes of water drops falling.

Pathos survives the mistings, and will fill the top 2/3 of the cage. Sheffelera's and Ficus tend to drop leaves, Pathos are indestructible, grow FAST, Can be hung so no plant is on the floor for easy cleaning, and creates vine highways for the cham.

Nick

Thank you for the welcome and suggestions. Isn't 90 degrees way too hot for a baby?

I have a cup, just haven't decided where/how to hang it yet.

If I use that much water my schefflera will die, even though there is a ton of rocks and sand in the soil for drainage.