Using Glass for Enclosure

[BrandonB21]

Hey Guys,

I am going to be starting to build a new chameleon cage soon and had a quick question. Can i use glass?
My plan is to have the sides of the enclosure be glass and have the front and top will be made using screen, so there will still be lots of air flow. I would like to use glass because i think it would help keep the temps a bit more constant and help the humidity up, so i won’t have to mist as much.

I have read a lot of contradicting info about using glass. Some people say not to use it, for a new a reasons including the cham seeing his own reflection and becoming stressed. I have also read that there is no issue using glass.

Any opinions and ideas are appreciated. If you have used glass enclosures, let me know how it worked.

Thanks,
Brandon

 

[fluxlizard]

I used to use glass all the time- did so for a few years full time and then some individuals for lifetime and bred several species in glass tanks.

IMO all the negatives about lots of air flow being necessary for health and mold and so forth are just not true and most people worried about these things have never tried a glass enclosure.

There is a little truth to the reflection thing. But unless the lighting in your room is just right for reflecting all the time, which is highly unlikely, it will be only for a few minutes on days when the ambient light is just right or when the lizard even notices the reflection. At those times, yes he may blow up and display, but in my experience it was never a problem, just a brief thing occasionally, and probably gave a little interest to life for the lizard, not unlike seeing another male in the wild every now and again.

If I were you and wanted screen on a side- I'd probably screen one of the sides or the lower part of a couple of sides and maybe even the front and then definately use glass for the front- because that is where you will be viewing. Seems sort of odd to glass the sides and then screen where you will be viewing from...

Of course , if you really want to do the job right, do glass sides and bottom front and then make things inescapable without a door of any kind on the front so nothing is between you and the lizard. Maybe frame the front with several inches of glass around the edges, then just open air in the middle. Now THAT would be really cool...

 

[BrandonB21]

If I were you and wanted screen on a side- I'd probably screen one of the sides or the lower part of a couple of sides and maybe even the front and then definately use glass for the front- because that is where you will be viewing. Seems sort of odd to glass the sides and then screen where you will be viewing from...

Of course , if you really want to do the job right, do glass sides and bottom front and then make things inescapable without a door of any kind on the front so nothing is between you and the lizard. Maybe frame the front with several inches of glass around the edges, then just open air in the middle. Now THAT would be really cool...

Thanks for the reply, very helpful.

I was actually thinking the same thing, it would make more sense.
Do you think there would be any issue if i used glass on the all 4 sides and then used screen for the top?

The idea of a cage with door does sound really cool, i would always be to worried that my cham would find a way out.

 

[Decadancin]

O.K., a couple of things. First, as said, if you are going to use glass, definitely put it on the front and if you want on the back. The front is for viewing!!! I personally do not have a problem with glass enclosures as long as there is some ventilation. although the jury is out on the safety for our chams, the fact is that it can be difficult to regulate temps and humidity in either situation. I would generally suggest a screen enclosure because it is easy to add plastic or acrylic to the sides of a cage, but not as easy to remove glass panels . I personally use an enclosure that has acrylic on the door and the rear panel, and I have screen on the sides and the top. (The bottom is wood.)
https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/decadancin-albums-zaphod-s-enclosure.html
It works great for airflow, retains the right humidity and I don't have any issues with mold. The only thing I would (and will eventually) change is to make the door panel out of glass. It will be easier to clean and wont scratch as easily.

Hope this helps!

 

[CarlC]

Plexi glass panels can easily be added to any of the screen cages on the market by simply drilling a few holes to line up with the screw holes already in place. By just adding panels that can be easily removed you give yourself one cage that can be used indoors in the cooler month's and with the panels removed a outdoor cage for the warm month's.

Carl

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hey Guys,

I am going to be starting to build a new chameleon cage soon and had a quick question. Can i use glass?
My plan is to have the sides of the enclosure be glass and have the front and top will be made using screen, so there will still be lots of air flow. I would like to use glass because i think it would help keep the temps a bit more constant and help the humidity up, so i won’t have to mist as much.

I have read a lot of contradicting info about using glass. Some people say not to use it, for a new a reasons including the cham seeing his own reflection and becoming stressed. I have also read that there is no issue using glass.

Any opinions and ideas are appreciated. If you have used glass enclosures, let me know how it worked.

Thanks,
Brandon

Solid walled enclosures (rather than screen) are very common in Europe and Canada.

For where you live, the three sided glass cage you describe will be ideal. It will help keep the humidity in (something people in warm places like Florida do not understand about dry Calgary - unless you have a good house humidifier?) and make temperatures more stable. Indeed glass door on front would be fine too, so long as you drill a few holes in the sides /back panels lower third for the air flow. Some air exchange is necessary. Having vents on in the bottom third will allow cooler air to come in while the warmer air around the backing area goes up (Chimney effect).

I've never had a chameleon bothered by glass reflection - but if it happens you can frost the glass (outside) on the sides and back (and bottom if that is glass too). And if you're really worries about it, use plexiglass as that has less reflectivity. (Its also lighter and easier to cut).
If glass it will be heavy, so consider a solidly built stand with wheels.

 

[fuzzhc]

I prefer glass to screen. Only downside of glass is that in my experience they are always wanting out, possibly do not realise the barrier.

 

[BrandonB21]

Solid walled enclosures (rather than screen) are very common in Europe and Canada.

For where you live, the three sided glass cage you describe will be ideal. It will help keep the humidity in (something people in warm places like Florida do not understand about dry Calgary - unless you have a good house humidifier?) and make temperatures more stable. Indeed glass door on front would be fine too, so long as you drill a few holes in the sides /back panels lower third for the air flow. Some air exchange is necessary. Having vents on in the bottom third will allow cooler air to come in while the warmer air around the backing area goes up (Chimney effect).

I've never had a chameleon bothered by glass reflection - but if it happens you can frost the glass (outside) on the sides and back (and bottom if that is glass too). And if you're really worries about it, use plexiglass as that has less reflectivity. (Its also lighter and easier to cut).
If glass it will be heavy, so consider a solidly built stand with wheels.

I don’t have a humidifier, so it can get pretty dry here, so it takes more to keep the humidity higher here, which i why i think the more sides that are covered, the better.

I am still trying to figure out my final design and what would be best.

Thanks for the help everyone