In general, I've found screen cages to eb the most usable in th emost situations. Easy to keep clean, light, sturdy, good ventilation, plus, you can modify them to adjust humidity.



I've found glass tanks to be the least usable, as they are heavy, hard to clean, and need to be very large (hence VERY heavy and VERY hard to clean) in order to keep larger species properly. The main reason is that tanks are TOO insulative, leading to a single temperature range. This impedes thermoregulation, meaning that it must be left up to the keeper, not the lizard, to regulate temperature (room for error).



Almost all my cages have plastic on the sides, to retail humidity. For veields, I find that it's not necessary, a few potted trees or plants tends to keep it plenty humid, when proper mistings are used.



I guess, the reason so many will say "screen is needed" is because of the retail options. You either buy a screen cage, or a fish tank.



this is one of the reasons I like to explain WHY a screen cage is good, and a tank might be bad - let them understand, and make a cage suitable for them.



Some of the best chameleons cages I've seen were glass front and back, screen top and sides. They were large, and the chameleon couldn't actually reach the glass. The problem with glass (NOT tanks, just glass in general) is the animals don't understand it's there - they try to get through it. Prevent them from accessing it, and that's not a problem. As long as ventilation is achieved, glass is excellent, in my opinion. Reflections are usually not an issue, as long as the room and cage are properly lit.



I'm planning on making an entire room for my animals in the basement. The enclosures will consist of a waterproof/resistant material (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic probably) for the back wall (a continuous wall), with wooden framing supporting screen on the top and sides, with a solid bottom, drained, and screen or glass/plexi fronts. For my deremensis, I'l probably going to go with glass or plexi. For my melleri and veileds, probably screen. They seem to like more ventilation.



In my opinion, the reason a lot of this stuff is explained as it is, is because it's generally regarded as the "safe" way. As in, the instructions that newcomers are least likely to screw up. It is unfortunate that so many people have adopted this as the "only" way, or the "right" way.



People that frequented this message board ~7-8 years ago (I believe I used to post under Pluto77189) might remember me talking about my friend Pete Mackevich in PA, who kept adult chameleons in 20 gallon plastic tubs. He screened the top and one end, and that was it. The guy had very healthy and long lived animals. Didnt' do much for me - I like nice looking, planted cages - but it worked. It worked extremely well, in fact. He had veileds living longer than they were "supposed" to live back then.

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