Very first setup for very first cham!

[MiniCham3]

Hi all!

I've been doing a lot of research and I am finnaly getting ready to start purchasing everything I need to set up for my first chameleon! Before I buy everything I just wanted to make sure I'm on the right track. I want to make sure I do everything right for my future friend!

I've already contacted dooley1 and Kammerflage about purchasing. I'm really interested in a Carpet because of their small size and I really like their shape. I'm waiting to hear back from both. If I have to purchase somewhere else, does anyone have suggestions?

For a cage, I was thinking of starting out with the ZooMed ReptiBreeze 16" x 16" x 30". I know they are not supposed to have substrate, so I was thinking I could use a ZooMed Eco Carpet on the bottom, so that it's easy to take out and shake off when it needs cleaning. I already have the ExoTerra automatic mister, which I plan to set up for proper humidity control.

Assuming that sounds okay, I'm not sure which light fixture and bulb to select, and what the best type of plant is. (I don't know where the best place to order one would be!)

I'd really appreciate any feedback you have! I'm really excited to get a little guy of my own I just need to know where to get one and that my set up plan will make it happy!

 

[teejayteej]

ok ..there are care sheets on here that you can look at to find out everything that you will need to get started. There are some member on here that have the carpet chams but I just have veiled and Jacksons for now. If you post the heading that you have questions about carpets you may get a better response from the members that have them.

 

[Ninkylou]

My concern with using the EcoCarpet is that its not going to have time to dry out between misting and will start to get pretty funky (mold & mildew) pretty fast. I don't think they are meant for such a wet environment. Before I did drainage in my Reptibreeze I just put some paper towels on the bottom and just tossed them out every day with the poop. They absorbed most of the misting water, and kept it from running out the bottom of the enclosure.

 

[laurie]

Hello there. I have 4 carpets from Dooley1 (kevin) His stuff is first class. And everything Kammerfladge does is excellent. I would only but from one of those as you will be getting the best. But that is only my opinion.

I started with 16 x 16 x 30 cages, as that is what Kevin uses. But while they were small I raised the bottom up inside the cage, so the size was shorter, I used mayonnaise jars, they raise it to a nice short cage for a baby. I will use all the mayo some time.

Here are my carpets

https://www.chameleonforums.com/showing-off-my-furcifer-lateralis-carpets-115279/



I did not have a mistking on my chams until they were 3 1/2 to 4 months old. I hand misted before that. They are darling little things that eat like troopers. Both my females are friendlier that the males. I can give you a link to the kind of dripper I make for mine. I think they are perfect.

The drippers show up better in the quad babies cages so take a look at that. The picture is on page four of the thread. loot at the top and you will see clear coils of fish tubing. If you like it I will explain it.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-baby-quad-update-thread-117883/index3.html

Just send me a PM with any and all questions.

 

[CarlC]

Laurie's advice is perfect for these little guys. You can't go wrong buying from Kevin. I'll be getting pair from him soon.

I start with a smaller cage for them. I have some smaller 16 x 20's that I use. Males are super active so give them lots of climbing area. I like using smaller leaved plants when they are young just because they are harder to see in dense foliage. They eat just about anything you give them and offering them gut loaded houseflies is really fun to watch.

Carl

 

[MiniCham3]

Thank you all for the advice! Raising up the bottom makes total sense, I'll set it up that way while they're still small. A layer of paper towels at the bottom to take out daily also is a great idea!

I'm going to purchase everything today now that I have a good idea of how to put everything together I wrote Kevin a few days ago about how to purchase from him but I haven't heard back yet- I'm just so excited I can't handle it! Haha!

 

[laurie]

Thank you all for the advice! Raising up the bottom makes total sense, I'll set it up that way while they're still small. A layer of paper towels at the bottom to take out daily also is a great idea!

I'm going to purchase everything today now that I have a good idea of how to put everything together I wrote Kevin a few days ago about how to purchase from him but I haven't heard back yet- I'm just so excited I can't handle it! Haha!

I will slap Kevin by text now and get him moving

 

[laurie]

I will slap Kevin by text now and get him moving

Ok I slapped Kevin. He will not have any babies of a size to sell for over a month. I would go to Krammers.

 

[NHenn]

I second and third everything Laurie and Carl said. I believe Kevin works closely with the Kammers and the offspring they have are from Kevin or at least from his bloodline. So if Ed has some at Kammerflage right now, that is the way to go. If they don't, to be honest I would personally wait a month until some are ready as you can't go wrong with Kevin or the Kammer Family!

 

[MiniCham3]

I heard back from Kevin earlier! I (barely) resisted the urge to keep writing him every 20 minutes asking about his babies. I didn't want to seem like the eager new kid- even though that's exactly what I am haha! Kevin is going to have a baby that I can take and I'm more than happy to wait a month

 

[MiniCham3]

One last (hopefully) silly question! I just wanted to check my lighting choice. I was thinking of starting with an Exo Terra Repti-Glo 5.0 as my UVB light, but I'm not sure what the best choice is for my basking spot light bulb. Is there one that's preferred? Thanks so much!

 

[mhfan305]

Just pack it full of live plants!