Plastic/fiberglass
enclosures
Light/heat
placement
Heat retention
Ventilation
Humidity
Drainage
Cleaning
Stress Factors
Additional Comments
Light/heat
placement
- Easy
Can be easily drilled etc. Make sure heat source will not burn sides/top.
Maintains
heat
- Poor
Insides
can be covered in cork tiles which insulate or whole vivarium can
be insulated from the outside. Fiberglass is a better insulator than
plastic.
Retaining heat can be dificult and is also dependant on ventilation
but poor insulation helps establish a larger thermal gradient
Ventilation
- Variable
Easy to add ventilation. Mesh fronted vivs are preferable with additional
vent at the top near the heat source.
.
Maintains humidity
- Variable
Depending
on ventilation.
Adding Drainage
- Easy
Good drainage
is a must and easy to add. Water will not damage plastic or fibreglass
over time.
Cleaning
- Easy
Can be
thoroughlty cleaned without difficulty.
Stress
Factors
Usually
available in light colours which can cause "bouncing" of
UV which is not desirable for some individual chameleons. Inside walls
can be covered in cork tiles or fish tank backing to prevent this.
Additional Comments
Purpose
built plastic/fibreglass vivs with proper ventilation, mesh front,
covered sides and good drainage are a very suitable housing option
and don't deteriorate with age.
Make sure
the plastic used for the caging is UV stable otherwise it will become
very brittle over time.
These types
of vivarium can not be moved outside in suitable weather so the chameleon
will undergo a degree of stress when moved outside to a new enclosure.
Plastic
Mesh - such as Reptarium
Aluminium
Mesh - black flyscreen such as the Terry Thatcher range
Glass
Wood
Freerange
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