UK Cham owners !! PLEASE HELP!

[KatieSimmo]

So england is sooo cold!
I really want a screen cage for my cham rio but worried about not retaining heat and humidity,
PLEASE HELP IF YOU HAVE ANSWERS !

 

[Miss Lily]

Hi! I am also in the UK and used to have the same worries. I always shied away from screen enclosures for the same reasons as you mention when I started keeping chameleons over 4 years ago, BUT since I got my Jackson I have kept him in a screen cage since the start of the summer and have had no issues at all! In fact I find humidity stays more stable in the screen cage compared to the glass Exo Terras that I have always used. I cover the back of the screen cage with plastic and when several plants are added hummidity isn't an issue. Temps can fluctuate a bit but if the heat bulb is on a dimmer stat (rather than one that goes on and off) then it will do the job for you and you can increase or decrease the bulb wattage to achieve the right temperature.

If temps and humidity are not right then you can cover two of the sides with plastic too, but as yet I haven't needed to. Here is a pic of Monty's new 18 x 18 x 36 screen cage - there are two taller plants and two smaller plants in there to help with humidity.

In fact, my view of screen cages vs glass terrriums has turned around completely, and I am going to put my baby Carpet cham into a screen cage when he outgrows his baby cage. I might even do it sooner than that to keep his humidity levels more stable, but as he is doing so well I am leaving him for now.

Actually, it gets far colder in parts of America and Canada than it does in the UK but most owners over there use screen cages too. It's a case of try it and see I think! Like I said, until I tried them myself I wasn't sure, but they really are good!

 

[TheLivingLegend]

I believe you can cover up to 3 sides of the cage. Could go with a ceramic heater for at night with a remptitemp. Live plants really help with humidity, used to not use them and they really do make a huge difference, really suprised me. Maybe use spot heat bulbs so the heat goes down farther in the cage. From my experience, chams need a visible heat cuz my cham NEVER went under his ceramic bulb for 2 months, switched to incandescent and he was under it not 5 minutes later and hangs out under it when he wants to ever since.

 

[KatieSimmo]

Aww thanks guys,
I am using an exo terra atm but really want a screen cage so i can pop live plants in, and maybe stick a cat litter tray at the bottom and empty daily for drainage, Rio loves exploring so really want to give him a fair size cage,

Could you describe what size bulbs and the heat lamps you use at the moment as ide need a new set up as my others woul be wayyyy to small we want to give him his big boy viv so we dont need to get another one,

Thank you!!!

 

[sandrachameleon]

you might find this link interesting:
http://www.chameleonnews.com/02JulCaettaKruger.html

 

[Miss Lily]

Bear in mind I have a Jacksons that requires cooler temps and higher humidity. I use an Arcadia T8 5% and a 40W household bulb in an adjustable head desk lamp, but you can also but the 'lamp lamps' that clip on the frame of the cage. My screen cage came from ChameleonworldMuji.co.uk. They also make the custom drainage bases too. I have a T8 10% on my baby Carpet, but I have been told that the Arcadia T5s are the best you can get. They were too long to go on top of my cages though as the smallest is 22".

I also have a smaller Rpetibreeze cage which has been used for only 6 months or so and is rusting already. So far I have found the Muji cages to be much nicer - for a start the base screws on rather than just fitting into the base like the Reptibreeze bases do. Much safer when moving them around!

 

[KatieSimmo]

yeah so i may have problems with heat for my yemen,
did they make the viv for you?
ive been looking at the flexitarium by exo terra (excuse the spelling)
what have you heard about them?

ive heard a lot about the repibreeze so there a no go really the?