Turning a screen enclosure into a hybrid one

[maveroflecha]

Hi all!
Question! I'm going to turn an old screen enclosure into a hybrid enclosure but I don't want to risk my chameleon (carpet) with toxic panels that release fumes under the heat of the basking light.

Which materials do you guys recomend for the walls? I was thinking about putting them on the inside because my previous chameleon never stoped climbing the mesh.

What do you think about cork boards ( like the ones people use to hold notes on an office), acrylic, plexiglass, pvc sheets, expanded pvc, corrugated plastic...?

I'm drowning in options and I don't find reliable info.

Thanks!

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

You should be okay with the glass panels if the silicon glue has dried. If you are still concerned about fumes I would consider putting in cork panels for walls to cover the glass and silicon glue of a hybrid screen/glass enclosure.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Carlton]

I had clear plexiglass panels cut for a very large (4'x5'x4') wooden frame coated wire mesh cage. I mounted the plexi on the outside...much simpler to attach and remove whenever I wanted. The cage wall mesh wasn't as fine as screen, so no real concerns about him climbing on it. I attached the panels to the wooden cage frame with simple plastic window screen toggles. Each cage side had at least two plexi panels so I could adjust the cage's airflow as seasonal temp/humidity seemed to dictate. At first, I was concerned about reflections but was able to adjust the lighting angle and how the cage plants were arranged just enough to minimize it. IMHO cork panels will make the habitat much darker, even with overhead lighting. If mounted on the inside, cork panels will offer hiding spots for loose feeders, bacterial or mold growth too.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I had clear plexiglass panels cut for a very large (4'x5'x4') wooden frame coated wire mesh cage. I mounted the plexi on the outside...much simpler to attach and remove whenever I wanted. The cage wall mesh wasn't as fine as screen, so no real concerns about him climbing on it. I attached the panels to the wooden cage frame with simple plastic window screen toggles. Each cage side had at least two plexi panels so I could adjust the cage's airflow as seasonal temp/humidity seemed to dictate. At first, I was concerned about reflections but was able to adjust the lighting angle and how the cage plants were arranged just enough to minimize it. IMHO cork panels will make the habitat much darker, even with overhead lighting. If mounted on the inside, cork panels will offer hiding spots for loose feeders, bacterial or mold growth too.

European keepers have found a way to make cork walls done right and happen. This may take some time and research. However some of the best hybrid enclosures I have seen have got cork walls. I think Neils Pederson (Spelling) has got some great reference picture on the Chameleon Forums.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[maveroflecha]

Thank you very much to everyone here! I think I'll do a cork background on the inside and plexiglass or acrylic with magnets on the outside of both side walls so I can move them depending of the levels of humidity. I like the glass more than acrylic but is something that would be difficult to do by my self.
I'll cross fingers that this chameleon would not be obsess with the mesh like my first. If that happens, i'll block with something the upper side of the walls.
I'll do my research about the cork!

Thanks guys!

 

[Carlton]

Thank you very much to everyone here! I think I'll do a cork background on the inside and plexiglass or acrylic with magnets on the outside of both side walls so I can move them depending of the levels of humidity. I like the glass more than acrylic but is something that would be difficult to do by my self.
I'll cross fingers that this chameleon would not be obsess with the mesh like my first. If that happens, i'll block with something the upper side of the walls.
I'll do my research about the cork!

Thanks guys!

If you've got a very determined screen climber you might try putting something else on the inside of the screen to accommodate climbing...or replacing the screen fabric entirely. There are coated wire caging materials with mesh openings larger than the typical window screen available (check caging materials for outdoor aviaries or small livestock such as rabbits or guinea pigs), or you can even coat the mesh yourself. The cham can easily fit its toes through them without losing nails. Only drawback is those mesh sizes won't contain feeders. You'll need to tolerate some escapees. IME, if the cage is large enough and your branch network offers lots of climbing routes, they're less likely to spend a lot of time on the mesh. Also, if the cham has a constant view of an enticing destination outside the cage, they're more likely to keep trying to reach it!