Well...I finally decided to go BIG!!!

[SoCaliSon]

I have been herping for years and have always been restricted by space... I have helped run breeding ops in the shops I have worked for... But never had the space to expand my personal hobby the way I wanted to. Well my living situation finally offers more stability and space, enough to finally get started on the project I have always wanted to do...

I am working on a very large habitat in my Sunny Backyard, to start a colony. Tommorow I am picking up a used 6'x12x 6' tall chain link cage with a door. I am going to line the entire thing with a safe mesh, that will still allow sun and I am going to rig a misting system. The spot I picked out gets direct So Cal Sun 5-6 hours a day. One half on the cage will be setup with Avg sized screen cages for seperating out as necessary, and the other half will be decked out in tons of foilage to provide a large 6'x6'x6' free range area.

I would love any input from the community on ideas.

I need to find as many hearty plants as I can that can live outdoor and survive a chammy's inhabitance. I'm aware of the indoor plants most use in their enclosures... Would these survive outside? What kind of outdoor plants are best to use?

Does anyone use precautionary heating elements outdoors?I would like to be able to leave them out overnight, but sometimes in the summer here it can get down to the high 40's at night... Would a couple of strategically placed ceramic heaters(on the outside) attached to a thermostat work for this. Or I was thinking maybe keep them outside but in the smaller cages to make it easier to monitor each Chammy's heat level.

Has anyone done a setup like this... I would love to get some advice from someone who has been though this. I will post pics and what not as I get farther along on this. and keep this thread up to date on my progress.

 

[AFH]

I think your setup sounds super kick-ass. I'm pretty sure all of the main indoor plants (schefflera, hibiscus, ficus) will thrive where you are, probably all year round.

I have additional numbers of those plants that aren't in my cages that I keep outside and only move in for the winter. If they'll survive a Texas summer (with ample watering), they'll survive anywhere.

 

[KevinA]

Big Ficus trees do well outside in our area(I'm on the other side of the hill from you in Calabasas). They also grow pretty fast and at the 6-7 foot size have nice brances and space fr chams.

You could also try some hanging baskets with vines in them.Might provide good basking spots.

May be usesome ropes to create some highways around the cage to different plants.

Sounds good, just make sure they dont get too hot this summer. I may be doing the same, but I only get sun from 7-11am so I'm not sure if it would be enough exposure.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Thanks for the input!! Awesome to hear from someone so local Kevin! I love the idea of the ropes! I found a good deal on a timed patio mister system new for $50... I am going to hope that and the shady plants will keep them cool enough this summer... I do feel that it is going to be a hot one though! And Kevin... I don't know if your planning on heading to the Reptile supershow in San Diego in June... But my lady doesn't seemed to thrilled on going so I was working on putting together a small group of local people that are interested in going and maybe doing a carpool/caravan/post-show-party-it up talk herps type of thing... Shoot me a PM if your interested...

Someone had mentioned another Idea and a craigslist ad sparked my question... What about a mini pre-formed pond in the corner of the free range area... I saw a good deal for a used one that would fit perfect. Would probably help add humidity(not really needed with the misters). I would love the atmosphere it would add(probably put a couple small koi in there). But the question is would I have to worry about the Chammys trying to climb down to it and possibly drown or become sick from any bacteria present? I don't want to do it if I am going to have to completely change out the water everyday. It has a biofilter... would that be sufficient? I know the function of a biofilter is to use "beneficial bacteria" to help filter the water... But is it "beneficial" enough to not harm my Chammys?

 

[bllanosr]

Big Ficus trees do well outside in our area(I'm on the other side of the hill from you in Calabasas). They also grow pretty fast and at the 6-7 foot size have nice brances and space fr chams.

You could also try some hanging baskets with vines in them.Might provide good basking spots.

May be usesome ropes to create some highways around the cage to different plants.

Sounds good, just make sure they dont get too hot this summer. I may be doing the same, but I only get sun from 7-11am so I'm not sure if it would be enough exposure.

WOW! I didn't know there were that many people in Calabasas that kept chameleons. Are you more near the Commons or the Canyons? I'm in the canyon area near A. E. Wright MS. I also noticed that westcoastchameleon is also from Calabasas as well.

 

[KevinA]

I'm at the very north end of las virgenes. Right in the canyon at the dead end that leads into the open space and all the awsome trail heads. I'm literally on the other side of the hill as Simi, I've biked and walked on the trails to the peaks where you can see simi. I'm in Malibu Canyon apartments.

I've been in Calabasas for about 4 or 5 years. Are you in the townhomes or Archstone or the houses out toward lost hills?

 

[bllanosr]

I'm at the townhomes. I've been living on and off in Calabasas and Westwood (school) for the past 5 years. I used to live right behind Lake Calabasas but we recently moved.

 

[xsh0rty]

would love to see some pics of the progress! Im not too far down the 101 from you guys

 

[summoner12]

KevinA

I have read that morning sun is some of the best sun.

My boys get sun from 2:45 till the sun sets most days. It might not be the best sun, but it is better than nothing.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Well I picked up my cage today... It is Awesome... 6x12 gives you a lot of space. It's going to be my backyard chammy jungle. It was a total task Breaking it all down.. .Loading it... Unloading it... And putting it back up... I am beat... I am not quite done getting the chain link around the frame.. It got dark and that stuff is a pain.. I will finish in the morning... After I get some progress worth looking at tomorrow I will post some pics.

I actually heard morning light is the best also.I was thinking about this today while setting it up... and where I was going to put it would be getting only afternoon light. I changed the location of the cage so that now the hole thing gets sun until around 2 when one side goes in the shade but the other side gets light from sun up to sun down (give or take an hour).

 

[summoner12]

Well I picked up my cage today... It is Awesome... 6x12 gives you a lot of space. It's going to be my backyard chammy jungle. It was a total task Breaking it all down.. .Loading it... Unloading it... And putting it back up... I am beat... I am not quite done getting the chain link around the frame.. It got dark and that stuff is a pain.. I will finish in the morning... After I get some progress worth looking at tomorrow I will post some pics.

I actually heard morning light is the best also.I was thinking about this today while setting it up... and where I was going to put it would be getting only afternoon light. I changed the location of the cage so that now the hole thing gets sun until around 2 when one side goes in the shade but the other side gets light from sun up to sun down (give or take an hour).

Just provide good areas of shade and they will love it. It all sounds pretty cool, I wouldn't mind seeing some photos when you get them.

 

[SoCaliSon]

The guy also sold me a giant 6x12 mesh shade tarp that is already grometted for $5... I was thinking this would make the perfect lining for the roof as it is the perfect size.... but I thought it may block out to much UV... I was thinking I could also use it on one wall as sort of a wind blocker, and have the chicken mesh on the roof to let in as much light as possible and provide plants for shade.

I am going to head out and finish wrapping the chain link and stuff then I will post some pics.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Okay... Bringin' this thread back to ask a couple more questions...

I have not had much time or resources to do much on this in the last couple weeks having picked up my new panthers. But here are some more questions, I would love any input you guys might have.

I started considering green house tarp for the walls to keep bringing the UV in but possibly keep a little more heat in at night. I thought that even on hazy days that are a little more chilly if it was sealed like a green house they could still get the UV without the chilly breeze from outside. I know I would need to cut some vents in certain areas for circulation. THis stuff is also much more affordable at $50 dollars shipped for 300 sq feet compared to $120 shipped for 300 sq ft of the 1/4 pvc coated poultry mesh. Would this stuff cook them during the summer even if I had a mister set up... Does anyone work in greenhouses?

Secondly, I am brainstorming about being able to keep them out there all the time and not having to move them in and out. At night here in the summer I guess avg lows get to around the mid to high 50's, but on chilly nights it can get into the 40's. I am thinking it might be necessary to rig the separate cages outside with thermostat controlled ceramic heaters. Another option i was pondering was rigging a long piece of heat tape on a thermostat across the backside of the screen cages. What would be the safest way to make sure they can stay warm at night.