Why a 48" Tall Cage

[Jabooh1]

so everything says, for a male veiled, you need a 24x24x48 cage. Why 48"?

Is it the interior height that is required or that the top of the cage needs to be above eye level?

My male has a 40" tall and still only stays at the top 24".

 

[rminnis]

I think width is just as important. I think most ppl just say 48 because most ppl buy that sized because its the most widely available. I think 24 x 24 is fairly small

 

[Jabooh1]

Yeah I did 36x24x40. It's the largest I could talk the wife into letting me build.

I think if people realized how easy it is to build a cage using the window screen method their chams would have bigger cages.

 

[JGuinan007]

I think the most important thing is to keep the cage up high at least 4-5 foot off the floor so your Cham is higher off the ground and feels safer.

 

[brownie64]

The reason height is important is do to the fact they are arboreal and have a need to climb up. However that being said I don't think they will perish in a 40 inch tall enclosure, but you have to set a standard somewhere.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Having 24" in height, raised above eye level and 48" in length is better, in my opinion. Chameleons do much more moving horizontally than they do up and down and veileds are very active.

 

[Remkon]

I think most cages are high just because they are considered to be tree dwellers and so they are thought to live vertically ... I do think they would benefit more from a high placed wider enclosure like @Extensionofgreen said than simply a high enclosure.
Of course having a both wide and high enclosure is best
I know my chams both love to utilize all of their space.

My enclosures are placed over 1 meter from the floor and are about 1 meter high and I definitely get the impression that it makes them feel more secure when they are up high where I can't easily reach em.

 

[Carlton]

so everything says, for a male veiled, you need a 24x24x48 cage. Why 48"?

Really, you are asking about mere inches. The main point is to recognize that chams are arboreal rather than terrestrial and that they roam through 3 dimensions rather than 2 like the terrestrial herps most people have experience with. They need height in their spaces to feel secure, to provide a gradient of temps, humidity levels, and for large bushy live plants to fit. Bigger the better, with horizontal space too (to avoid the fish tank effect). Your cham will use different areas of the cage at different times. Whether its 40, 48, 56, or more is sort of a detail.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

My veiled occupies a 6' long x 5' tall enclosure and he is always in the middle and higher areas, but he utilizes the entire length and width (24") of his enclosure. He is very active and travels the many branches and vines, several times a day.

I've added some hanging plants and more vines, since this photo, but you get the idea.

 

[WAMBO]

My veiled occupies a 6' long x 5' tall enclosure and he is always in the middle and higher areas, but he utilizes the entire length and width (24") of his enclosure. He is very active and travels the many branches and vines, several times a day.

I've added some hanging plants and more vines, since this photo, but you get the idea.

that's so nice, that I'd like to camp there! Well done!