chloe924
Member
Hello
So my panther chameleon has always been a wanderer since I got him and his restless climbing of his mesh cage made me create a free range area for him. This has since grown in size until my entire living room looks like a madhouse jungle gym.
His time outside his cage is entirely dependant on my shifts at work. He can get a couple of hours in the morning before I go, or hours wandering if I am off or working the late shift. I do periodically lock him back in his cage for a bit for misting/to bask under his uvb on days he is allowed to roam for long periods. However I've recently been talking to someone who makes me feel like this is harmful. So I was wondering how much time you can keep away from uvb? I research all I can and have heard that they can self regulate and he does walk back to his cage often when he is out, but will the time away be a detriment? Especially since he doesn't have the best appetite. I have a stronger Uvb bulb I can put in the cage if so, if that would work?
I'm not sure to be honest. My chameleon is very active and loves roaming around his free range. As soon as I open the door he practically leaps on my hand to try and get out. When he is out I leave him alone too, aside from if he tries to wander off his free range or If I want him back in the cage, so I don't feel like I overly stress him out. Unfortunately I rent so adding UVB/Heat lamps outside his cage aren't an option as they're heavier than the no nails hooks I have can deal with. His cage is the largest reptibreeze which is very well planted too.
In the pic you can kind of see him chilling in the window. Behind me there is also a 5 foot fake ficus and more bamboo levels for him to climb. At most he kind of warily glares at me as he wanders by. He will also only poop outside of his cage and does hold it if I can't let him out for a while, which worries me in keeping him locked up more. Also If I'm honest I would hate to keep him cooped up with how active he is. So any advice on how to keep a partial free range and still meet all of a chameleons health needs would be very welcome.
Thank you for reading =)