The I have had success with the "chameleon in aquarium keeping" method

[Carlton]

In all my years, I've never had one paw at the plexi I use for doors. Ever. Have you actually seen this happen (and are you sure it had to do with the glass, and not some other issue)

Yes, actually I have. My first male veiled pawed and displayed at the lower areas of the glass tank (I kept him in a tank when he was a juvie). I covered the areas of glass he seemed to pace in front of with cardboard, but he would actually push himself behind the board to reach "the intruder". Yes, I actually watched him do this. When I moved him to a screen cage he stopped displaying. My wc male verrucosus paced and pawed and sometimes showed excited colors in front of the plexi panels of a home made adjustable cage. When I removed the plexi he stopped and only climbed the exposed mesh if he chose to. Was the problem an actual reflection rather than trying to get through the invisible barrier? Probably. Did light angles affect the glass' image? Probably. The other species I've kept were in screen cages so I don't have anything to compare for those guys.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Yes, actually I have.

fair enough

 

[frankpayne32]

I am in the process of writing an article on the subject. Unfortunately for me, Chris beat me to the punch. However, my article will be different in a few ways. I will post it here as soon as I can.

 

[Steaphon]

I may get trashed for this...but

I have to say I have lived on both sides of this argument. I never use newspaper in the bottom, eventhough some do, as the tounge can get stuck and your Cham can dehydrate or worse. I have a friend that has used it for years and never had a problem...Freak accident when mine got his tounge stuck when my wife fed when I was at work as "Corky" was hungry. I have as well kept Chams in Exoteras for quite a while, but I admit, I am a clean freak and clean all the time. My Chams are well adjusted to the schedule and don't mind and are not stressed by this at all. Just another adventure for them to bask or such. I do have mesh cages, both purchased and produced. I do like the Mesh and free range that I have purchased/made a little more as it is very versatile, however, I love the protection that the Glass provides and I give ALOT of plants and put them near the sides so my Chams are not stressed by the reflections. I have even in an emergency, took a 30 gallon, heaped it vertical decorated in an emergency and put a wire top on the "side" and used it for a SHORT while. Be clean, be considerate and be relentless in your care, as I am sure all of us are, and I feel that your Cham can live (MUCH MORE THAN A YEAR)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Love them as only you can and they will love you as only they can.

 

[Quatermass]

I was going to start a new topic relating to ventilation but I decided not to start a similar topic and instead post my question on the backside of this one.

I would like to purchase a pair of Rhampholeon brevicaudatus - Pygmy Leaf Chameleons, and would like to know if a ZILLA Fresh Air Terrarium Top Enclosure over an aquarium would allow sufficient ventilation.

 

[Quatermass]

Whoops...

I just saw the sub-title for "Pygmy Enclosures". I'll look there and see what I can find. Still feel free to offer suggestions.

 

[frankpayne32]

Article on housing chameleons.

Here is an article on my thoughts, research, and experiences on housing chameleons and the misconceptions that many people have on doing so. I have been thinking about this for several years and have finally been prompted to put pen to paper, so to speak, and share it with the herpetocultural community.

For those of you that don't know me, my name is Frank Payne. I am currently a science teacher (Ecology, Biology, and Physics) living in Pennsylvania. I have a B.S in Biology, a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and am currently pursuing an M.S. in Biology. I have kept literally hundreds of species and thousands of individual reptiles and amphibians both personally and professionally. I was formerly a Senior Herpetology Keeper at Clyde Peeling's Reptiland, an AZA accredited zoological institution with the third largest herpetology collection in the United States. I still work there part time and have been with them for over seven years. Chameleons have always been my favorite group of reptiles. I have successfully kept pardalis, calyptratus, lateralis, quadricornis, brevicaudatus, jacksonii, and recently hoehnelii. I only share all this as I am only recently becoming active in public internet forums and I simply want to add veritas to my article, which I also hope to publish in other forums, articles, and magazines. I invite a discussion on this topic as it is one I have thought a great deal about and enjoy discussing. Thanks for looking!

 

[eisentrauti]

Great article, Frank !

 

[sandrachameleon]

A quote from the pdf that sums up what I've always said:
"...screen and solid sided enclosures both have their place in chameleon keeping "

 

[JaxyGirl]

This is my experience with keeping a cham in an aquarium. I have a 30 gal tall aquarium measuring 25"Hx24Lx12"W. It has a built in waterfall that I designed myself (not store bought) with a biological filtration system. It is pretty much a slow drip that runs down the back wall. The filtration system is Similar to what is used in my 100gal fish tank that has 2 huge 13" Oscar fish. The water in the waterfall has been tested for Nitrates, Nitrites and Ammonia, which are indicators of harmful bacteria levels and decaying waste and all are at 0%..the same as in my fish tank. The tank is heavily planted in organic soil with a good drainage system. It has a small computer type fan to ventilate out of the screened top for air circulation.

The point of all this is that when I first got my Male Jackson's in Feb 2008 he started out his life (he was around 4-5" nose to tail) in this aquarium and did extremely well. (Winter in Maine is cold and very dry) He was in this tank for approx 6mos. In August of 2008 he became free Ranging 24/7. August is when it becomes hot and humid in Maine. Summer is not a good time to keep a cham in a glass aquarium because it gets too hot and humid. So it became a really good time to move him to his free range where he was gradually able to get accustomed to the changing temps and humidity levels as it became colder towards winter. Now he has his own routine in his free range even in the winter and he is very well hydrated when the humidity levels are low. He's been able to acclimate to the seasonal changes really well.

Last month I bought a baby female Jackson's..she is 4" nose to tail and she is currently in a reptibreeze that she absolutely hates. She is dark all the time. All the lighting and temps are correct. Live plants etc. She drinks well and is very healthy but it is almost impossible to keep the humidity up even though I have 3 sides covered with plastic I spray all the time and I have a dripper and it's only going to get worse as the weather gets colder.. It's pretty cold up here in Maine now and with the heat running in the house the humidity is only 35-45% and will probably become a lot less when it snows.

So due to the above facts and the great results that I had with my male in this aquarium. I'm moving my female into it tomorrow and I'm not changing anything in the set up (not even the waterfall) Eventually I'll move her into her own free range when she's larger probably in July or August 2011. Everyone has their own opinions which is fine and they are entitled to them. This setup worked really well for my first young cham and I plan on it working just as well for my second.

 

[frankpayne32]

Great article, Frank !

Thank you!