screen or glass

[yorkie]

i live in Calgary and it is dry and cold here most of the time....
even in the summer when it is hot out side it is still dry..
right now i have my little guy in glass and he seems just fine...
at the moment i am looking into screen but now i am a little confused...
everyone seems to have a different option when it come to what is the best for the chameleon.

so i would just like to know what would be the best option for me and anubus, taking the calgary weather into mind?

 

[eisentrauti]

About which species are you talking ???

 

[sandrachameleon]

I recall that Adubus is a young panther chameleon.

I am familiar with your weather, and the low humidity. I would recommend a mostly solid sided enclosure. Glass works, but you'll still want a screen top and at least one vent on the lower front or sides. I use Peg Board for the sides and back of my cages, and this can work to retain humidity a little while also allowing air flow. You may still need to invest in a misting system or a humidifier for the room in which the chameleon lives. Live plants help alot. As does having a fish tank nearby Better yet, have a humidifier installed on your central heating system and bring your whole house up to 30%+ (your skin will thank you!)

You may find reviewing the threads and web sites linked to from this blog entry of interest: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/82-enclosures-housing.html

In particular:
http://www.chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=62
https://www.chameleonforums.com/wood-panthers-1504/#post10233
https://www.chameleonforums.com/terrarium-pictures-23200/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-chameleons-why-screens-21685/

 

[cushcameleon]

When considering caging options it's best to consider your overall experience with chameleons. As you have seen on this forum there is a mix of those who use screen and those who use glass. But for the most part, the people who use glass are typically very experienced with chameleons and know how to properly care for them in glass environments. Screen cages can be easier on both the chameleon and the keeper; if your new to chameleons I suggest you use a screen cage.

 

[yorkie]

right now i have a 20gl glass tank with the mesh top... the breeded set eveything up for me and told me that this would be good for him for the next 2 months, i have him in my room and it gets very warm down there, and i am sprying hin down about 4 times aday... he loves the water.

i just want to start getting his second tank up and running for when he out grows what he is in now

 

[eisentrauti]

When considering caging options it's best to consider your overall experience with chameleons. As you have seen on this forum there is a mix of those who use screen and those who use glass. But for the most part, the people who use glass are typically very experienced with chameleons and know how to properly care for them in glass environments. Screen cages can be easier on both the chameleon and the keeper; if your new to chameleons I suggest you use a screen cage.

That isn't really true. It's just much easier to build screen cages and they are much cheaper. That are some of the most important points.
It depends really on the species you keep. Furcifer pardalis are a very hardy species and they could live in both typs. But tanks for pardalis need to be very big and because of that glass isn't the best solution I think

 

[sandrachameleon]

But tanks for pardalis need to be very big and because of that glass isn't the best solution I think

Good point. Finding a large enough glass terrarium may be difficult, and expensive! A large, cheap screen cage can be "converted" to retain more humidity by covering the back and sides.

 

[yorkie]

I think that I am just going to make a screen one and cover the sides with cork board like u said,
and for the bottom.. just thinking of picking up some potted plants, would that be allright or should i also put some dirt on the bottom as well

 

[cushcameleon]

I think just the plants would be fine, that way you dont have to worry about compaction. I use zoo-med turf as my substrate, but I am beggining to realize that having no substrate is much less of a hassle and besides its not like chameleons like walking on the ground anyways .

 

[eisentrauti]

Plus they are very very heavy in those sizes and they could break very fast.

 

[yorkie]

i would love to see some pics of everyones set up's
get some ideas

 

[eisentrauti]

Some pics from the good old continent:

http://chamaeleons-online.com/galerie/thumbnails.php?album=8

http://chamaeleons-online.com/galerie/thumbnails.php?album=10

 

[yorkie]

nice i want one of thoes

 

[sandrachameleon]

i would love to see some pics of everyones set up's
get some ideas

There are some great examples within several of the threads in this blog entry

A couple of my cages: https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/sandrachameleon-albums-cage.html

 

[reptilemancan]

There are some great examples within several of the threads in this blog entry

A couple of my cages: https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/sandrachameleon-albums-cage.html

looks good, i think you could do with a bit mpre greenery in lenny's cage

 

[sandrachameleon]

looks good, i think you could do with a bit mpre greenery in lenny's cage

Lenny currently has a fiscus and a pothos at the moment (though in the picture you're referring to, he only had a pothos and a small horrible plastic plant). That said, I should note that Lenny is the only chameleon I have that likes plants. I did once have a female that sometimes sheltered in plants too. But All the others tend to avoid them, prefering open spaces! I try to plant one side and leave the other side open. I actually think most people here tend to over plant their cages - but then again it could just be that panthers desire less cover than vieleds, or I could just have odd behaving chameleons.