Very custom enclosure finally complete!

suprdude

Avid Member
After 18 months of chameleon research and enclosure building, it finally came together. Here is a picture of the final enclosure. Below are details of the build. A lot of the plants are new, so more coverage will happen soon once they grow in.

1 copy.jpg



The custom cabinets and enclosure were built under our staircase. You can walk behind it using a this door. Behind it is the electrical, Mistking reservoir, and drainage. The interior enclosure is 24" deep, 67" wide, and 36" tall. Taller would have been nice, but it's still much bigger than most enclosures.

drainage.JPG



45a0b25acd65378e-photo.JPG



Build:
The enclosure if made of wood and sealed with epoxy, with glass doors. The walls are foam with brown caulk covered with peat moss. Malaysian driftwood is gorilla-glued on to the walls. The temperature and humidly are controlled by two exhaust fans at the top back of the enclosure, where the chameleon can't get to. There are also two small computer fans inside (set on low) to keep the air from being too still or stagnant. The bottom is EPDM (pond liner) that slopes slightly to the back to two drainage holes:

6305b5d65224d954-photo.JPG





The lights are hidden in a 14 inch tall section out of sight and inaccessible to the chameleon. I built 3 wire frames from the same material used to make window screens. They're very lightweight and strong and hold the lights. I "sewed" them in using very thin steel wire (wire is PVC Hardware Cloth).

thumbnail_IMG_7179.jpg


They're held up by steel brackets

9e4e377ad3dc83d7-photo.JPG




Lights:
I'm using this 48" length for the UVB / LED combo: (reptisun 48” T5 HO UVB 6%). I have a light meter and confirmed the UVB numbers are within recommended range (numbers per Bill Strand's recommendations).
reptisun 48” T5 HO UVB 6%.jpg


I have a heat lamp with a 60 watt bulb several inches about his perch. It's 83-85 degrees at the top of his back when he sits atop his perch.

There are also two Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights (2 foot long each)



Misting:
I have 3 nozzle Mistking. I'm still working on a schedule that works best. The floor completely dries out between mistings.

thumbnail_IMG_6858.jpg





Food:
I'm mostly using Dubias, which he loves. Occasional he gets superworms. Dust daily with EarthPro-A. Twice a month with Reptivite vitamins with D3. So far just hand feeding because he hasn't figured out the feeder thing yet.


The star of the show:
star of the show.JPG


Special thanks for Gingero's youtube channel and all the members here for providing so much help and valuable information!

I'll post more info as an addendum, since you're only allowed 10 pics at once.
 

Attachments

  • 220afebc89656530-photo.JPG
    220afebc89656530-photo.JPG
    565.2 KB · Views: 98
Last edited:
I figure there's about 22 feet of branches intertwined in the enclosure. He won't be bored.

505b62deb71f113c-photo.JPG
1c5f9373d054a954-photo.JPG




Aesthetics is really important to me, so I like to hide the seems with tillandsia's:

compare 2.jpg


compare 1.jpg




A few random pics:

IMG_7883.jpg


IMG_7884.jpg





Below the vivarium are pull out drawers for my bar:

bar.JPG





Here's the enclosure from a distance:

90832f979776c649-photo.JPG




My new 8-month old Panther!

closeup.jpg
 
Last edited:
Love the boost hiding drawers 😍, just kidding (maybe not 😄) great job, beautiful enclosure 👌🏻
Your handsome fella will enjoy it.
 
Back
Top Bottom