Housing
Types
of Enclosure
There are
several options when providing your chameleon with suitable accommodation.
You really have to consider where you are going to put the enclosure
and the ambient temperature of that position/room in summer, winter
and at night. Don't guess temperatures. Measure them. Buy a digital
laser thermometer and a Max/Min thermometer and test everywhere. You
will be surprised by the results.
If you
have a hot room to start with you will probably be better with a mesh
cage or free range set up as you will only need minimal heat to create
a basking spot and the chameleons will benefit from the ventilation.
Hot rooms however are usually dry rooms so you must also consider
whether you can provide adequate hydration every day.
Chameleons in general require at least 5 minutes of continuous spraying
several times a day. You need to ask if your enclosure can or will
withstand exposure to this much water. If not your chameleon, particularly
if it's one of the large species such as Panthers or Veileds, could
be more likely to suffer from kidney problems later in life due to
dehydration.
See WATER
If your
room is cold you might find a wooden or plastic vivarium is better
for keeping in the heat and making the whole interior usable. A montain
species such as a Jacksons or Fischers could be more suitable.
If its
cold at night you can keep Montain or Veiled Chameleons but true tropical
species such as the Panther will not thrive with night time temperatures
below the low 60's F. Bear in mind additional heating during the night
will reduce humidity at a time when its naturally at its highest.
A good spray just before lights out might be needed to counteract
this.
A
few additional points to consider when positioning your enclosure
Chameleons stress (see STRESS)if
they can see one another. If you keep several house them singly and
place the enclosures along one wall rather than facing one another.
Keep caging
and chameleons out of draughts. This is a common cause of repiratory
infection.
Avoid low
positions, especially if cats and dogs or young children are about.
Avoid a
busy throughway if possible.
Sites near
doors and windows can change temperatures dramatically. Mesh cages
can be particularly unsuitable here.
Sunlight
shining through windows and hitting the vivarium can cause fatal overheating.
It might also encourage your chameleon to constantly try and get out
to head towards the brighter day light.
Some chameleons
like human company. This unusual trait in Chameleons is sometimes
seen in male Panthers. You might have to move the vivarium from your
purpose built reptile room to the lounge for your pet to thrive. We
are speaking from experience!
The key
to successful keeping is to research your species BEFORE you buy it.
Then research your intended site for the enclosure and THEN make an
educated guess as to which set up and species would best suit.
Links
to types of caging
Plastic
Mesh - such as Reptarium
Aluminium
Mesh - black flyscreen such as the Terry Thatcher range
Plastic
- vision vivariums or purpose built
Glass
Wood
Freerange
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