Building a cage????

Bigs · 07-20-03, 11:26 PM

I am building a screen cage for a chamileon. I am planning on making it 1 and a half feet long X 2 feet wide X 32" tall. Can I stick a chamileon thats about 2 and a half inches long in that or do I have to stick it in a smaller cage? Thanks for any opinions.

Trace · 07-20-03, 11:42 PM

Hi Bigs!

I'm assuming you have, or are getting a baby chameleon? If so, what kind is it? A cage the size you mentioned would be fine for a baby chameleon, maybe slightly too big. I like to put any babies I have in cage that is 18"x12"x24" (or 30") as I'm always concerned that if they are in too big of a space they will have problems finding their food, and they are voracious eaters when they are young. When my chameleons reach about 3 or 4" snout to vent, I transfer them into their adult cages. Depending on the species, the adult cages are anywhere from 24x24x36 to 36x36x48.

Now if your chameleon is full grown at 2.5" long, maybe you've got one of those pygmy species and they do much better living in a heavy planted tank.

Let me know what kind of chameleon you have and perhaps I can be of a bit more help.

Cheers!

Trace

Bigs · 07-21-03, 11:11 AM

It will be a veiled. Its not like the cage is gonna have too many open spaces. The little guy will have plenty of hiding space.

meow_mix450 · 07-21-03, 02:02 PM

ya but if the cage is to big for the little guy it can cause stress and might have a hard time finding its food...but good luck

Trace · 07-21-03, 10:49 PM

Hey Bigs!

Sounds like you've done a bit of research on Veiled Chameleons before you have gone and bought one and that's marvelous. I think your original cage size (30x24x32) would be a good size for a baby Veiled as they do grow fairly quickly. Just make sure he eats for you on a daily basis and doesn't have a hard time finding his food in a heavy planted cage.

Here is one of my favorite caresheets on Veiled Chameleons. Hopefully some of the information there will be helpful to you and your new addition.

Good luck with your little guy!

Trace

Brock · 07-24-03, 03:05 AM

Hi,

You can put a bowl in there for him to put the food in so he knows where it is, just as long as you have sticks around it so if he falls in he won't get eaten by them (puts a mental image of Boba Fett falling into the pitt of Carkoon in Star Wars) which would suck a lot. Of course you could put more food in there so he has a better chance of finding some. If that's the only cage you have, go for it, it won't hurt him as long as you have enough food to provide him. I keep mine in 20 gal aquariums until they are big enough to move.

-Brock

Trace · 07-24-03, 07:35 PM

Quote:

(puts a mental image of Boba Fett falling into the pitt of Carkoon in Star Wars)

LMAO!!!!!!!! It's so true!

Bowl or cup feeding is a good idea for babies, but I personally wouldn't use that long term for a chameleon. I find chameleons that are exclusively fed this way tend to get a lazy tongue and over time can not use it and thus are dependant on the bowl for their food. I also figure that free range bugs gives the chameleons a bit of mental stimulation over the course of the day as they do enjoy the hunt!

Cheers!

Trace