pygmy chameleon Question

Josh · #1 04-15-2010, 03:49 PM

Does anyone know whats a good size tank for a pair of pygmy Chameleons i know there really small and need alot smaller of a tank but i cant find any info on the standard size of tank....ive also read that they need a glass terrarium type of enclosure is that true?

I have access to alot of tanks 10g, 10gH 20g 20g breeder and alot more

froggsong · #2 04-15-2010, 05:52 PM

Well, after dooing some reading, I would recommend at least a 20G long with a topper. While they are small, they should still have more space than a small tank by itself will offer. The length of the 20G long tank is good, but a little more height (at least that of a 20G high) is going to be better. I suggest building a topper of eggcrate (or something similar) covered in GS to offer climbing space and to trap more humidity, with an open top and perhaps a plexi or glass front door. I think something similar to my CWD topper but on a smaller scale would be perfect. It will allow you to have areas of higher and lower humidity within the tank as well as offering plenty of space for the animals to fee secure.

Josh · #3 04-15-2010, 05:59 PM

i have a 20g Long tank not being used...(it was for my Red ear slider but he got to big for it) do you think with proper sanitation and cleaning i could use the tank? if not my LPS sells em for like 20buck so its not a big deal...

ive read that the Pygmy's are more often found on the ground so i think i 20g L would be perfect as long as i had alot of vines and branches for them to climb on

froggsong · #4 04-15-2010, 06:06 PM

Here's a link to my topper if you wanted to take a look: https://www.vivariumforum.com/communi...te-topper.html.

froggsong · #5 04-15-2010, 06:10 PM

You should be able to sanitize that tank just fine. The tank I have my japaluras in right now was a nasty fish tank when I brought it home. Just take a razor and a magic eraser to it, then wash down with a 10-15% bleach solution and rinse well.

I still think a topper for a little more height is a good idea. Sure, they are found mostly on the ground, but you can make a topper add so much more room to the tank. YOu can build shelves into it to add extra ground space, you can plant hanging plants up high so that the vines hang down, etc. They are super easy to build and not that expensive (less than 20 bucks for a tank that size, I'd think). Check out that link and see if it's something you'd like to consider. I'd say just another 10-12" would be just the right amount of added height.

Josh · #6 04-15-2010, 06:51 PM

my Local pet store sells em pretty cheap so i might look into that it would give them ALOT more room to roam around

froggsong · #7 04-15-2010, 07:29 PM

Yeah, I really like the floor space in a 20G long tank. Now that I know I can whip up a topper real quick and real cheap, I'm thinking of moving some of my guys into them.

hmarin760 · #8 11-22-2010, 02:08 AM

a 10g is okay for them as song as you add some substrate and live plants they will do fine

EvilLost · #9 01-13-2011, 05:42 AM

I realize this thread is old but just for Pygmies you do NOT need to extend the height of your enclosure. Unlike other chameleons, pygmy chameleons are not arboreal but are actually terrestrial.

A 10g should be perfectly fine for just a pair, but if you plan on getting more I would go with the 20g (or maybe pre-emptively go with the 20g, cause you will probably fall in love with them and get a few more! they are the only chameleons that are social and can be housed together).

Also, I would highly, highly recommend a drip-water source or a *VERY* shallow pool of water. Pygmies WILL drink from standing water (mine did at least) but they don't like it and ...well just make sure your bowl is very, very shallow. These are NOT agile or careful creatures by any means...they are sort of like lemmings. You really have to completely "baby-proof" their cage so to speak. Unfortunately, I say that part from experience..

Ang954 · #10 04-30-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilLost

Also, I would highly, highly recommend a drip-water source or a *VERY* shallow pool of water. Pygmies WILL drink from standing water (mine did at least) but they don't like it and ...well just make sure your bowl is very, very shallow. These are NOT agile or careful creatures by any means...they are sort of like lemmings. You really have to completely "baby-proof" their cage so to speak. Unfortunately, I say that part from experience..

You seem to know quite a bit about the Pygmies. I have a large Vivarium that houses 3 red eyes, 5 darts and 4 pygmies. I have a mist system in there. Half of it is water, which contains a water fall, and moving water with a filter, I have a large rock on one side where they can going down into the water from the higher land. One of my pygmies is obsessed with the water, he constantly goes down the rock and into the water. He will stick his whole head under, it freaks me out. Do any of your pygmies do this? I keep thinking there is something wrong with him but he always comes back up and eats fine.