Vivexotic LX36 and a Chamelon

[KurtH]

Hi all,

just wondered if there are any species of chameleons that could live in in a vivexotic LX36 (91.5cm X 37.5cm X 40.5cm LDH) not including Pygmy Chams.
I know it is wooden, but more vents will be added and fans if need be.
I have one spare, that's all

Thanks

 

[SS4Luck]

I dont think you will find any good species for that type of setup. Chams NEED height not length and that cage just wont cut it. It would be an amazing pygmy setup tho

 

[KurtH]

what about the montane side striped dwarf chameleon?

 

[SS4Luck]

I'm not familiar with the bspecies sorry
Is the cage wood or melamine? A straight wood cage that doesn't have some sort of water treatment on it will go bad quickly. I do know montain species require A LOT of humidity

 

[KurtH]

Right, I've decided to get a larger arboreal viv, not sure whether the AX24 or AX36 yet though:-

http://www.vivexotic.co.uk/products_ax&cax.html

I am hoping to house a Yemen Cham.
One thing I am unsure about though, is the UV lighting.
2 online stores use the Exo Terra 5.0% Compact bulbs with the full packages they sell but is it really enough???? See here:-


http://www.888reptiles.co.uk/productdetails.php?ProductID=2657&ProductGroupID=1296

http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rep...s-462/swell-chameleon-vivarium-kit-57354.html

Would they even benefit from the Compact Bulb as its range is 12 inch?
Wouldn't it be better with the tubing running corner to corner down the back of the Viv?

 

[SS4Luck]

Right, I've decided to get a larger arboreal viv, not sure whether the AX24 or AX36 yet though:-

http://www.vivexotic.co.uk/products_ax&cax.html

I am hoping to house a Yemen Cham.
One thing I am unsure about though, is the UV lighting.
2 online stores use the Exo Terra 5.0% Compact bulbs with the full packages they sell but is it really enough???? See here:-


http://www.888reptiles.co.uk/productdetails.php?ProductID=2657&ProductGroupID=1296

http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rep...s-462/swell-chameleon-vivarium-kit-57354.html

Would they even benefit from the Compact Bulb as its range is 12 inch?
Wouldn't it be better with the tubing running corner to corner down the back of the Viv?

a few things about UVB, 10.0s tend to cause eye problems or UVB burns in chams. 5.0s are the tried nad trued meathod that everyone loves. Also DONT get inot the compact bulbs, you want to get the linear tube. 5.0 is plenty enough so you wont have to worry, just build some climbing/basking branches within 12" of the tube


another thing i just now thought about, its hard to create much of a heat gradient in an insulated cage like that.

Just more food for though


Why not go with a mesh cage? I understand room is an issue with some people, but those cages both have a much larger footprint than any mesh cage

 

[KurtH]

I currently house a trio of Pygmy Chams in a wooden viv. I understand larger chameleons like the air flow etc, but I think the wooden vivs hold the temperature better. If I had a mesh viv in my house, my 2 year old boy would probably kill the chams unless the really cold temperatures killed them first. The room my vivs are in,is 2 rooms which are open plan, so quite large and are very difficult to heat with the radiators we have. The rooms are only warm if the fire is on, but don't really want the fire on forever,lol