plant cage?

[K1LOS]

This might be a dumb question from someone just starting looking into getting a chameleon but...

As long as you don't have any cats, dogs, children, or various other chameleon attackers in your house; could you not just buy a big tall plant of some sort for its 'cage'? you could just suspend a heat lamp and fluorescent fixture above/around it, and cup feed the chameleon right? The cham would stay in the plant and not go to the ground to walk unless it were going to lay eggs right? Anyways, this could very well be a bad idea, if so please point out why. Thank you

Geoff

[C.m.pyrrhus]

There are products like this on the market already. Basically, domes (half circles) are placed at the top and foot of the tree, plant, etc and keep the cham "deserted" on the plant. The domes work much like squirrel-proof bird feeders. Unless a person can actively control the room it is in, I feel they are bit silly, much like free-roaming herps.

[joer]

http://www.chameleoncondo.net/pages/745060/index.htm

[Wuntu Menny]

I've talked to many keepers that have tried the "cageless" method and by far the majority have had bad experiences. Chameleons like to wander around and explore their surroundings and, unless some barrier is provided, they will climb down and see what else there is to be found. Most often I'm told of unfortunate accidents resulting from the animal getting into or onto something it shouldn't have.

The infamous Chameleon Condo that Cm refers to is a prime example. In theory, its a great idea but an alarmed or even curious chameleon won't hesitate to drop from it's perch in an effort to be elsewhere.

There's no reason why you can't provide some sort of semi-cageless system for your cham. As you said, a large plant or tree is a good start. How about placing the plant in a corner, providing the required lighting and heat, and building some sort of perimeter barrier or stub wall that extends beyond the branches of the tree but doesn't stand more than a couple of feet high? I'm thinking along the lines of a miniaturized zoo exhibit where the line of sight is unobstructed by the animal is still contained.

Ultimately, if you leave them alternatives, they will eventaully explore them.

WM

[meow_mix450]

I would say that you should get a cage, any chameleon would try aand do something dumb, one time i forgot to close the door, and he got pretty far in 10 mins, i wouuld say get a mesh cage, and put him in one of those. And you should be fine.

Meow

[Collide]

I think that if u provide and area for them it can be good they can wonder but i think if you were prepared for it, it is fine. There are things you can do to keep them in there area. when i move sometime this year i will have a cham room but one of my guys will be living in the living room :) with some precaushions...

Oh and let me mention the watering problem and humitidy thats alot of water in a open space humity will be hard to keep up as well as keeping the area dry make sure u have these things covered...

[liquifiedfrog]

i have a cage for my cham but i take him out alot and place him in a tree in the middle of the room. not for long tho incause he gets bored and climbs down the tree, i havent tried keeping him out permentatly

[meow_mix450]

thats wut i do as well myne seems to love it, i only do it when im in the room at ll times which i am when i do my homework and on the computer

Meow

[meow_mix450]

This is a pic of my cham on the tree

http://pic2.picturetrail.com/VOL26/1751917/3370033/41342873.jpg

Meow