Size of Chameleon Terrarium

[CAMerchant]

I have a Veiled Chameleon. Right now he is about 10 weeks old, but i am looking at going ahead and getting his bigger terrarium. I have been looking at the Exo-Terra Screen Terrariums just because I like that brand. The largest they have is a 24" x 18" x 24". Is that going to be sufficient for my little guy??
Thanks for the help!

 

[Brad Ramsey]

That will be fine for quite awhile, but once he is over a year old it may start to seem a bit cramped.
18x18x36 would be (in my opinion) the minimum size for an adult male veiled.
24x24x48 is the size I have for my 3 and 1/2 year old male and at this point I would not go any smaller for him.

-Brad

 

[CAMerchant]

Thanks! I just like the Exo-Terra terrariums because they look nice. Is there any comprable to that when it comes to looks? They have a larger (34" x 18" x 24") rainforest terrarium but it's glass?? Whatever I get I want it to be what he can live in permanently.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

With veiled chameleons I have had the best luck keeping them in all screen enclosures or wood and screen enclosures.
If you want to buy his permanent home now I would go for something close to 24x24x48.
I would wait a bit to move him into it though. I haven't moved them into that size until they are 6+ months old.
Smaller than that and they are too hard to monitor and can have trouble finding feeders.

-Brad

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Unless you live in Uk or Canada. Go screen, as Brad suggested. Veiled chams love the higher basking temps and its hard to replicate that in a glass terrarium without overheating the enclosure. Its not about the looks of the cage it should be about the animals best interests. If you don't like screen cages, then pick another type of cham or a differnt animal altogether. get dart frogs or geckos or something. not trying to be harsh, but why kill a cham so you can have a cool looking cage.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

As I made reference to earlier, I have had success with wood/screen enclosures and veiled chameleons.
To elaborate, The enclosures I have built are wood on 3 sides, 7 inches up from the bottom on the front, and the bottom. They have a screen door and top.
With this type of enclosure you can create a beautiful environment, having a wooden "box" bottom allows you to line with plastic and plant the environment.
The large screen door and top allow for good air circulation and allow you to maintain a good temperature gradient.
This would give you the look that you want and provide the animal with a proper habitat .... but you'll probably have to build it.

-Brad

 

[CAMerchant]

Unless you live in Uk or Canada. Go screen, as Brad suggested. Veiled chams love the higher basking temps and its hard to replicate that in a glass terrarium without overheating the enclosure. Its not about the looks of the cage it should be about the animals best interests. If you don't like screen cages, then pick another type of cham or a differnt animal altogether. get dart frogs or geckos or something. not trying to be harsh, but why kill a cham so you can have a cool looking cage.

I am thinking of the best interest of my chameleon, that's why I'm asking. But I want what he's in to look good and not like crap. I never said I didn't like screen cages, I just prefer the Exo-terra brand. I'm not going to kill my chameleon I just wanted someone's oppinion about the size of a screen cage!!!

 

[CAMerchant]

As I made reference to earlier, I have had success with wood/screen enclosures and veiled chameleons.
To elaborate, The enclosures I have built are wood on 3 sides, 7 inches up from the bottom on the front, and the bottom. They have a screen door and top.
With this type of enclosure you can create a beautiful environment, having a wooden "box" bottom allows you to line with plastic and plant the environment.
The large screen door and top allow for good air circulation and allow you to maintain a good temperature gradient.
This would give you the look that you want and provide the animal with a proper habitat .... but you'll probably have to build it.

-Brad

Thanks for the advide Brad, it's nice to have a friendly oppinion.