putting a cham outside

[xxzmmorexx]

so spring is coming up soon here in the north, which means summer isn't too far out either! i am just curious about the do's and donts of putting my cham cages outside to enjoy some fresh air! especially now that I'm on the lake!

 

[carol5208]

My chams are outside more than in due to the luxury of year round sunshine in FLA. Do provide shade at all times for your chameleon. Even if it means covering one side of the cage. The sun will shift as the day goes on and you may find your chameleon's cage baking in the sun when it was shaded to begin with. Run a dripper all day long to provide water. Make sure that the cage is safe from predators such as cats. Make sure you have a cage that is weighted down incase it is windy. We have had members bring out cages only to be blown over. On hot days, make sure to check on your chameleon periodically to make sure they are not overheating. Mist them with water to cool them down. Make sure they have plenty of hiding areas. My chameleons get very freaked out over birds and hawks flying around, even airplanes too.

 

[xxzmmorexx]

okay, so there is nothing to REALLY fear outside besides the basic things. I am always worried that my chams will be open to catching something since they aren't used to the outdoors!

 

[carol5208]

not that I am aware of. Atleast not in Florida anyways!!! Today I had my little Ambanja outside. He is in a regular screen cage(mesh) and I came outside and found a giant (and I mean giant) Cuban Knight Anole clinging to the side of the cage. Now I had some crickets roaming in there and a few silk worms so don't know if he had his eye on them or my chameleon to eat!!! I don't think he could get through the screen if he tried but my poor little guy was scared to death! Also came out and found a large hawk bouncing on top of my other cage one day!! Also, ALWAYS make sure you latch your screen doors. That is my biggest fear and I did not properly do it one day and one of my chams got out. I was so lucky a neighbor found him. I thought he was long gone!!!

 

[xxzmmorexx]

Oh man! Those are all crazy stories haha! We dont have any lizards native here but we do have hawks! I will keep that stuff in mine. God forbid mine get out and crawl to the lake. They would be FISH FOOD.

 

[Psychobunny]

We have hawks and huge black birds here big enough to take off with a
small dog if they wanted too.
The black birds are also very smart and aggresive.

I would love to let my guyz run around free (one at a time that is) in my
yard, but the black birds are not affraid of me, they have even taken food
out of my hand

So just standing guard over my chams may not be enough.

So, I just keep them in cages

 

[carol5208]

yes cages are the way to go and if you let them freerange make sure you stand right over them if you have birds in the area large enough to make your chameleon lunch!. I nearly lost my one cham to a hawk. I was sitting crouched down in a chair with my back turned and my guy was basking on a long branch sticking out of a plant. The hawk was swooping in for the kill and I literally batted it out of the air. I was only like a foot from the plant too I don't think initially the hawk saw me the way I was sitting. Scared the hell out of me! We had another member a long time ago step back to take a picture of a baby chameleon and he was snatched up by a bird and then it dropped it in a pool. He did cpr on it and it lived!!

 

[Jon114]

Would a chameleon get too stressed out by birds?

I have an aviary, chickens, ducks, and quail which are either in or come close to my patio, which is where I would want to keep the chameleon.

 

[carol5208]

yes they can. Remember if they are bigger than your chameleon then you chameleon can consider them a predator. I have my little Ambanja's indoor cage set up very close to my Cockatiel's cage. I noticed him acting scared toward the bird so I cover one side of the birds cage. Some chameleons will not be bothered, but I think in general yes. Both my chameleons big and small are very freaked out when they see birds flying over head. I think especially if you are getting a baby or a young chameleon he/she may very well get stressed over the sight of the birds.