Chameleon Cages
What To look For In Chameleon Cages
To say that chameleon cages should be purchased with chameleons in mind sounds a little too obvious, but any old cage setup won't necessarily work for this interesting reptile. One's first idea for a cage may be a glass aquarium type enclosure, large enough of course, but this is a bad idea. Even once one realizes that proper chameleon cages are really screened enclosures, there are a number of things which need to be taken into account before purchasing or attempting to construct one. There is, by the way, nothing wrong with constructing a cage as long as the basic needs of the chameleon are being met.
Room To Roam And Climb - As is the case with any animal, a cage must be of adequate size and shape. The chameleon not only needs adequate space to move around in, but it is a vine and tree dweller, spending little time on the forest floor in its native habitat. A cage having only flooring for the animal to move about on simply won't do. There needs to be live plants, artificial branches, or both, for the chameleon to climb around in. Live plants are good as they will help provide humidity - good for the reptile. Chameleon cages, in addition to being long enough and broad enough also need to have height. In fact, as far as the three dimensions are concerned, height is often the most important. The required size, or volume of the cage depends somewhat on the species which will inhabit the cage, some requiring more room than others.
Recommended Cage Sizes - A typical size for a smaller cage might be 2' by 1' by 2', the latter dimension being the height. A cage of this size would be adequate for baby chameleons, or adults of some of the smaller species. A cage this size can also serve as a carrier or sunning cage for a larger chameleon when one may wish to take it out of doors during warm weather. The smaller cage is too small however for permanent quarters for larger species.
A slightly larger cage, 2' by 1-1/2' by 2-1/2' will serve for mid-sized species such as the Carpet, Giant Carpet, Fischer's, and the Uzungwe Three Horned chameleon. For the larger chameleon species such as the Panthers, Four Horned, Veileds, and the Usambara Three Horned, a cage no smaller than 2-1/2' by 1-1/2' by 3' should be selected.
Screens, Not Glass - The bottom of the cage should be solid, not screened, and a bottom that is easily removable for cleaning is recommended. The sides should be screen, not glass. Chameleons need ventilation, which a glass enclosure cannot provide. There are two things to bear in mind about screens. If the mesh is too close, and the material is dark, it may be difficult to view the chameleons, even though the animals would probably have no objection. The material for the screening needs to be durable, with aluminum being the usual choice. Since one of the chameleon’s favorite foods is live crickets, the screening needs to be something that the crickets won't chew on, which has been known to happen.
Inside The Cage - What goes inside chameleon cages is every bit as important as the cages themselves. Chameleons need to climb so a plant, ficus is best, plus some branches to climb on is recommended. Plants are important, as when chameleons drink water they drink droplets from leaves. Chameleons will not drink from standing water, so a water dish or small pool is of no use. One of the accessories should be a dripping water dispenser, a plastic cup with a pin hole will do - something that will allow water to drip on the leaves of the plants. Misting the plants is another solution, and the combination of a dripping cup and misting is the best solution of all.
Light And Heat - Chameleons need adequate light as well as heat for basking. One can purchase a light suitable for both, or an incandescent light bulb for heat and a florescent bulb for lighting. The one thing to watch out for is not to have too high a wattage for the heat lamp in a small enclosure. Chameleons will be happiest when there is a difference in temperature from one section of its cage to another.
In summary, chameleon cages should be large enough to accommodate the chameleon, and high enough to give it ample opportunity to climb. The sides and tops should be made of screen, and the bottoms should be solid. Add plants, branches, and a means by which the chameleon can drink water droplets from leaves. Give the reptile adequate lighting and heat for basking. Add a few live crickets, and your pet will be right at home.