Solid Cage For Panther Cham

[talvarez527]

Im sure most of you have read the article from Chameleon News about the solid enclosures, and to me it is very appealing for the indoor months. The Europeans have successfully kept panthers in Solid Enclosures with a ventilation design similar to what a computer does. Pulls in from the front, blows out the top. Creating air circulation. Personally, i prefer this over screen cage. I feel like a screen cage is just a barrier around my cham, not a natural habitat. Because in reality it isnt its natural habitat its my home but with supplemental heat and humidity. Now im not saying that screen cages are wrong or bad, but i prefer the solid enclosure. So my point of posting this is i recently received a Cages By Design 5 tall 4 wide 2 deep cage. Completely solid. It has acrylic sliding doors, and sides. Wooden floor back and top. I have contacted the manufacterur, and should be recieving dimensions to change the sides and back to a nice plywood.
If you guys notice on the Protean enclosures, they have a vent on the bottom. Since i cant do this to the front doors, can i do this to the wooden back? or sides? The top of the cage will be converted to a Mesh.
Should i put a long thin vent on all 3 wooden sides?
Just bottom or both top and bottom. Also, What should i do for the floor? It will be misted but obviously not as long becuase it is closed in.
I appreciate any and all feedback
This is the cage .
http://www.cagesbydesign.com/p-181-hybrid-reptile-cages-60h-x-48l-x-24d-h3.aspx

 

[talvarez527]

Id like to add that i did receive this for free and im not butchering a 1500 dollar cage hehe just converting it

 

[talvarez527]

Essentially, im attempting to mimick http://www.customglassterrariums.com/products/36"-x-24"-x-60"-Chameleon-Terrarium.html but with wood on every part except for the top bottom and front

 

[talvarez527]

I can also place a small house fan in the bottom of the cage for airflow as well

 

[BriAlme]

You may also consider screening the entire sides for airflow. My main concern would be waterproofing all wood surfaces. I believe they use laminate over particle board for their solid panels, which will not last as long in a humid environment.
I looked at their cages in the past but felt they were not the best choice due to the amount of water required for chameleons. But as you said , if you are getting the cage for free then you can make all the necessary changes by replacing or waterproofing panels as needed. I would focus on a drainage system and air flow. Good luck.

 

[Neonchams1]

Screen cages aren't only for ventilation but also their climbing needs, but good luck anyways!

 

[talvarez527]

Well, i wish i could do screen sides, but the company wants 500 for just 2 sides! i cant do screen myself becuase it wont support the weight in the enclosure. The wood will be sealed with multiple coats of varnish btw. Also as far as misting goes, i wont need to as much! it will hold humidty tremendously better then an all screen. As for the floor, i think i may go with a pvc board with a shower drain on the floor, or maybe tile it.. idk but i def need a sufficient drainage thought out. Most likely will go with tile because its cheapest. and easy to clean. Also as far as climbing screen walls goes, this cage will be so heavily planted this cham wont even want to climb walls So anyways ya i will keep you guys updated i have to sell the iguana that came with the cage before i do anything

 

[talvarez527]

Also, im not using fiber board. Going to use a real 1/2 inch plywood with a sanded surface. Most like going to put pvc board over that too.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

You could use a circle cutting bit on a drill, the big ones like they use to cut holes in ceilings for recessed lighting, and have screened "ports" (for lack of a better term) on the sides.

 

[talvarez527]

can u link a pic?

 

[talvarez527]

i was thinking more along the lines of the vents on your wall that are used for central air systems, or cutting a rectangle in the lower sections and screen it.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

i was thinking more along the lines of the vents on your wall that are used for central air systems, or cutting a rectangle in the lower sections and screen it.

You can do either, but feeders will get out of your vents and they will rust. Screening whatever opening you cut is probably a better option.

 

[talvarez527]

great point my friend. now as far as the floor.. does anyone think it would be impposible to legit tile the floor and put a shower drain in it?

 

[shaunaroxanne]

You could but 1) it will make the enclosure very heavy, and 2) you will have to slope the floor properly. Tiling itself would not be difficult but I'm not sure how practical it would be. I thought about it myself but decided against it. The floors are always the most difficult. And if you are going to have it drain into something, is the floor going to be high enough to get something under it?

 

[talvarez527]

The floor will be lifted up 1 foot, and i would have ran a pipe from drain to a reservoir. It will be a permanent cage for this animal for a long time. If i can i want to try to make the floor actually a false floor. (like i can take the whole tiled floor out)

 

[shaunaroxanne]

Go for it