First Attempt at Vivarium Build for Chameleon

[fallenangelfyre]

i use imageshack for photo hosting. in the uploader there is an option for re-sizing & i always go with the 640x480 (for message boards)

[timmac69]

Thanks for the ImageShack suggestion! I did upload my pics there using the 640x480 sizing, but when uploading the provided URLs to the pics, they still post to this thread in the smaller format that cannot be enlarged. Total newbie here! I would love to correct this problem, as well a take/upload some more current pics of the Viv as the inhabitants continue to mature...

[fallenangelfyre]

ok, here's what i do:
-upload your pics from your computer into imageshack doing the resize option of 640x480.
-then copy the "direct link" url provided by imageshack (under "image details" button, then click "links to share this image" on the right).
-hit the "insert image" button on the toolbar in vivforums (the little button that looks like a mountain with a sun).
-paste the "direct link" url copied from imageshack into the pop-up box & click "ok".
-walah!

[timmac69]

Thanks to FallenAngelFyre, I actually got to post some pics...many thanks! I will post current pics in another week or two...the foliage is starting to fill out a bit more but still along way to go....

[Percularis]

Originally Posted by timmac69

Your chameleon must be sick. I can see him.
That's a beautiful terrarium and it's very interesting to see the building process pictures.

[Quack]

Not to be rude, but your set up is very dangerous for your chameleon! Chameleons need at least 2 sides and the top of their cage screened, more height than floor space, and you cant have water in the bottom! Chameleons need screened cages to keep the air flowing, a screen lid is not enough! Without proper ventilation, a chameleon will develop a respiratory infection(a veiled chameleon needs 60-70% humidity, which should be provided by daily misting). If your chameleon falls in the bottom, it will drown, they can't swim. Chameleons are arboreal animals, meaning they spend their lives above ground. Also, chameleons should not be housed with any other animal! This is extremely stressful to them! Chameleons also need many places to climb while still being hidden in the plants. My suggestion would be to just build a new, screened tank with no substrate(you can use coconut fiber but they can still ingest it when eating, which can cause impaction), many more small vines and many plants, and not other animals. You don't have to scrap that tank, you can put tree frogs(such as Vietnamese mossy frogs) in it, but depending on the humidity needs, you may have to take off the extra topper. Again, sorry if I sound rude, but these issues are very important and need to be taken care of immediately!

[timmac69]

Originally Posted by Quack

Not to be rude, but your set up is very dangerous for your chameleon! Chameleons need at least 2 sides and the top of their cage screened, more height than floor space, and you cant have water in the bottom! Chameleons need screened cages to keep the air flowing, a screen lid is not enough! Without proper ventilation, a chameleon will develop a respiratory infection(a veiled chameleon needs 60-70% humidity, which should be provided by daily misting). If your chameleon falls in the bottom, it will drown, they can't swim. Chameleons are arboreal animals, meaning they spend their lives above ground. Also, chameleons should not be housed with any other animal! This is extremely stressful to them! Chameleons also need many places to climb while still being hidden in the plants. My suggestion would be to just build a new, screened tank with no substrate(you can use coconut fiber but they can still ingest it when eating, which can cause impaction), many more small vines and many plants, and not other animals. You don't have to scrap that tank, you can put tree frogs(such as Vietnamese mossy frogs) in it, but depending on the humidity needs, you may have to take off the extra topper. Again, sorry if I sound rude, but these issues are very important and need to be taken care of immediately!

Not rude at all...it is great to see people with a sincere concern for the safety and well being for such animals. Too many people aquire these as impulse purchases without the knowledge to adequately care for them. I had done much research before beginning with these animals so many years ago but have found personal experience and regular observation of animal habits and requirements is by far the most beneficial means of learning how to best provide for them. You are correct about ventilation needs and as such, the egg crate addition is actually open to the air on three sides and has plenty of ventilation. A screened enclosure was used for her before but did not retain the necessary humidity she required so we just use it when performing maintenance on her current enclosure and to place her outside in the warmer summer months. The humidity in this new enclosure now feeds into the ventillated arboreal set-up above and works great! She is shedding with greater ease and has a huge appetite. The turtle has also been with us for some time now in a separate enclosure, providing us ample time to observe her behaviors and needs. The cham is arboreal, and as such, remains in the vines above. Current growth of the plants will provide greater hiding up above where the cham sleeps and the timer on the lights keep her on a very regular sleep schedule. The water below is not deep enough to drown the Chameleon, and ...wait for it....wait for it....Chameleons can indeed swim! (stop the world, I wanna get off! LOL) The inhabitants' eyes and respiratory systems are clear and the only problem I forsee running into is the chameleon outgrowing the enclosure in the near future, at which point we will move her to something larger. I already have an idea in mind for the next build. Thanks again for sharing the advice!

[Quack]

Originally Posted by timmac69

Not rude at all...it is great to see people with a sincere concern for the safety and well being for such animals. Too many people aquire these as impulse purchases without the knowledge to adequately care for them. I had done much research before beginning with these animals so many years ago but have found personal experience and regular observation of animal habits and requirements is by far the most beneficial means of learning how to best provide for them. You are correct about ventilation needs and as such, the egg crate addition is actually open to the air on three sides and has plenty of ventilation. A screened enclosure was used for her before but did not retain the necessary humidity she required so we just use it when performing maintenance on her current enclosure and to place her outside in the warmer summer months. The humidity in this new enclosure now feeds into the ventillated arboreal set-up above and works great! She is shedding with greater ease and has a huge appetite. The turtle has also been with us for some time now in a separate enclosure, providing us ample time to observe her behaviors and needs. The cham is arboreal, and as such, remains in the vines above. Current growth of the plants will provide greater hiding up above where the cham sleeps and the timer on the lights keep her on a very regular sleep schedule. The water below is not deep enough to drown the Chameleon, and ...wait for it....wait for it....Chameleons can indeed swim! (stop the world, I wanna get off! LOL) The inhabitants' eyes and respiratory systems are clear and the only problem I forsee running into is the chameleon outgrowing the enclosure in the near future, at which point we will move her to something larger. I already have an idea in mind for the next build. Thanks again for sharing the advice!

The two animals you have in the same enclosure aren't even from the same continent(chameleon from Yemen, which is either in Africa or Asia i can never remember, and the turtle is from north america)(this can spread foreign parasites that the other animal isn't used to and could be deadly), and it doesn't matter what the tempermant of either animal is, chameleons stress when there is another animal in sight. Also, at least lower the water level so the cham can stand in it. Yes, some chameleons can swim but most only float as long as they can hold their breath.I used to own a veiled chameleon and i had a waterfall in the tank with a sink, he would only go in the water when it was less than an inch deep. Also, with standing water, many crickets drown(trust me lol).

[Spiderlash]

This looks great! Someday I hope to do something like this for my Panther Chameleon.

I too had the same thoughts about the open water situation. Till I seen the pictures of just how BIG the chameleon is. Lol! There might be a slight risk of drowning, but seems unlikely as long as someone is home to supervise. (if you hear a sudden splash, it may be your chameleon drowning!). But just to be safe, I'd probably move the cham into the said screen enclosure if no one is going to be home for an extended period of time.

As for the stress from the other animal, it's not like the turtle is zipping around the tank and thus freaking out the chameleon. I imagine the slow swimming movements of the turtle go virtually unnoticed by the cham. Especially if the cham hangs out in the upper egg crate section most of the time for basking, which looks to be at least a few feet from the water.

You can use glass enclosures as long as they are WELL VENTILATED, which seems to be the case here again with the egg crate section.

I'd say that as long as your chameleon is executing natural behaviors and is eating and shedding normally, then you shouldn't have a problem.

Just my opinion. Nice job wit the viv, and keep up the good work!

[timmac69]

Thanks for the post! The turtle did not create any issues, but we have since returned him to is 20L to give him more open water to swim in. The water is shallow enough for the Cham to stand in and I am currently building a larger egg crate topper that should be completed in the next week or two. It runs the full length of the tank and provides additional space to roam and additional ventillation as well. I will post pics once we get that addition completed...