Second FR Area - Good Idea?

[d3s5]

Phineas enjoys basking on the floor in front of the sliding glass door. (It's across the room from his FR.) I spotted a big branch and thought it would be nicer if he had something to climb on. Anyway, as with anything new, he is now obsessed with being over there and climbing to every new space. Also, he likes to sleep there.

My question is: How long should I allow him to be over there considering there is no UVB, water, or basking bulb?

I thought for sure he would go back to his FR after a day. But he stayed on there for 2 days before I wrangled him out. Now, I will make sure that he is back on his FR every morning. But will he be okay if he decides to spend 3 days a week over there? He tends to wander over after his morning misting about every other day.

Thanks for any input. (And yes, I closed the vent.)

Deb

 

[Solid Snake]

Hes pretty much always going to want to be near the wndow. You could set lights there too. Or you could move the FR. Now that hes been over there, if you take it down, hes still bound to wander over there from time to time.

 

[d3s5]

Well, his regular FR is by the window. He spends lots of time in his FR and the blinds! I just don't want to encourage him to be too far from a water source. I want to head off any potential problems before they start.

 

[Solid Snake]

*facepalm* Ok, Im familiar with your setup. I thought the name Phineas sounded like a cham I knew
You could set up more lighting, or just take it out
Could you just move the whole thing over to his new favorite area?

 

[d3s5]

I guess I can move it out on the deck and use it when the weather gets nicer. I'm a little bummed, but I can't set up lights everywhere this cham goes! He has already taken over the whole downstairs. And I can't move his FR area. My house isn't that big! Thanks for your input. I want him to stay healthy!

 

[Solid Snake]

Just buy him the spell tome:Candle light.
The light can follow him everywhere he goes!
(sry to much skyrim)

 

[d3s5]

Okay, I'm one of those people that can't play video games. But I think what you're saying is: Create a small piece of headgear for him, battery operated, and outfitted with a combination UVB/heat light. I like it! Plus I've got plenty of Velcro to strap it on him!

 

[Solid Snake]

Sounds good! Just make sure the velcro is fluffy side down so he doesnt get scratched up.

Seriously though, if he is leaving his setup to be on the new setup, that doesnt provide him with what he needs, I wouldnt let him spend much time on it. In my Donahues FR he has access to a large area with no lighting. He spends at least 75% of his time near the lights, and in front of his window though. Phineas my get bored with it eventually, or realize he needs to go spend time under his lights. Personally I think as long as hes not spending days on end in the new play area, he will be fine.

 

[d3s5]

Alright, thanks. He has only had it for 6 days. So, maybe he will tire of it once it's not so "new." And once he realizes it will never rain over there.

 

[kinyonga]

When he's in the free range area how does/can he maintain his temperature and get UVB?

 

[d3s5]

When he's in the free range area how does/can he maintain his temperature and get UVB?

Well, for his temps he can go in and out of the sun. But no UVB - that's why I was asking how "safe" it was to allow him to stay over there for a whole day (if he wanted). And why wouldn't he go back to his original FR to get UVB? Or water? Do you think this behavior has to be learned? He certainly learned where the door to go outside was pretty quickly - so I thought he would "know" to go back to his FR if he wasn't getting what he needed. Or is this a newbie silly assumption?

 

[Solid Snake]

My chameleons FR is in front of an east window. If its warm enough out, I open it for him to bask. He has to go to the bottom of the FR though, as the glass covers the top of the window. He has basking and UVB above the window. Hes either down low, with the window open, or above it when he basks. Never in the area coverd by glass(to bask). So I have always assumed that he could sense UVB, and seek it out. JME

 

[Whatcamo]

I don't even bother to close my cham's cage up anymore he just cruzes his curtain and goes back to his cage as needed, when the mister kicks on he B-lines It for the cage to take a shower / drink he'll also split back to do bask etc. he also goes in his cage to eat crickets and he gets silkies on the curtain so I think they know what they need and where to go to get it