Viv or mesh?

[Jbroadway]

Hi I'm new to chameleons, so I've been doing a lot of research online and I thought I'd ask my local reptile store too everywhere I've been reading on forums is saying to use mesh cages but I asked this question in the shop and he said no way you have to use a viv he was saying with a viv it's much easier to maintain humidity is that correct? I'm going to be building a viv if that's the case

 

[dom1959]

well, i live in arizona and have a reptibreeze (all screen) enclosure.
my humidity stays above 40% i think because i have 3 live plants.
so it probably matters which type cham you have and whether you are gonna use live plants. but the desert is very dry and it is cool here so i have the heat on and i have no problem keeping a decent humidity for my veiled cham.

 

[dom1959]

also answers on the forum are more reliable than in the store, generally.

 

[Jbroadway]

i have seen a few builds on this forum where its a viv? i was thinking about making a viv with a nice size vent and lining the floor of the viv with glass for water collection and then using a few live plants in there maybe

 

[babyjoe]

Hi I'm new to chameleons, so I've been doing a lot of research online and I thought I'd ask my local reptile store too everywhere I've been reading on forums is saying to use mesh cages but I asked this question in the shop and he said no way you have to use a viv he was saying with a viv it's much easier to maintain humidity is that correct? I'm going to be building a viv if that's the case

I'm using a viv I was recommended by a reptile zoo that I asked beforehand.the screen en enclosures won't work well in ireland.its 24 x 24 x 18. But ill be making a new set up soon.the viv has a screen top and vents in the glass on the front.so ventilation is good.and it is good for keeping humidity I have to do very little misting.but you'll need a dripper so the cham gets enough chances to drink

 

[Jbroadway]

I'm in uk maybe that's why he suggested a viv instead of a mesh, I will look into building a viv and I was thinking about a dripper anyway. Is there store bought ones or is it best just to make one?

 

[talvarez527]

http://www.customglassterrariums.com/products/36"-x-24"-x-60"-Chameleon-Terrarium.html
only place that makes them.. This is the larger one im getting, but they also have a standard 2x2x4 glass one

 

[pssh]

You can also buy exo-terra glass terrariums in large sizes (big enough for an adult male panther or veiled chameleon.) They have vents and everything already put in.

 

[Jbroadway]

i know you can get these because this is what i was originally hgetting but the reptile guy told me they are useless. ive got a viv planned out now sort of anyway. and the viv i can build much easier

 

[talvarez527]

exoterra does not make the glass ones big enough for panthers or vieleds, unless im wrong

 

[talvarez527]

and the one i linked is made for chams it has the vents

 

[Jbroadway]

I'm going for a carpet not a panther or veiled I can build a viv to the spec I want because I want to hide things and install a drain

 

[talvarez527]

just get a exoterra then they are smaller chams

 

[Jbroadway]

then i cant install a drain, plus if i build a viv i can give the cham more height for half the price if not less. for the exo terra im looking at around £90, but if i make a viv i can make it all for £40 with the height i want and specialised drainage.

 

[pssh]

exoterra does not make the glass ones big enough for panthers or vieleds, unless im wrong

This one is large enough for an adult male veiled or panther. Bigger is always better, but chameleons can live in pretty small cages. This size would work just fine under most circumstances.

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...nds/-/exo-terra-36-x-18-x-36-glass-terrarium/