Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today is Cyrus' 4 month birthday and I think I will set up his big cage this weekend (taxes due and herp show Sat. so probably Sunday) as I think he needs more wandering adventures!

He weighed 4g the day I got him and as of yesterday he is 14g

I have this wood towel rack that I have never used and thought it might be cool in his cage for vines and other things. It's 40"hx17"wx3"d. Also thinking of attaching some vertical branches, raffia or something running b/t the the horizontal bars so he can climb it as well. Any suggestions for its use welcome since I have not decided just how to do it yet. My only concern is that it will get mildew from moisture.

thanks - here are pics of him in current cage and the rack

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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she's back!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

I think that would pretty well for what you have in mind for it. I love 'constructing' cages. It might be kinda cool laid on its side maybe..sort of like a ladder.

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0.2 Chameleo Chameleo Calyptratus
1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0 Furcifer Pardalis (Nosy Be)-Hooloovoo

I think that would be my only concern...keeping the wood surface from getting grungy. You could seal it with baby safe waterproofing of course, but I'd check it and re-coat it periodically. A more "natural" jungle gym would be a cluster of branches from a yard that isn't sprayed. As he won't be chewing on the wood you have a wide variety of woods to choose from and could get something that is visually interesting. Stay away from the sandblasted "grapevine" sold in pet shops as it does mold pretty quickly. I also find that manzanita is harder for them to keep a good grip on as the bark is so very smooth and hard. It will mold over time, but slowly and is easy to scrub off. Check the woods available from Black Jungle Terrarium Supply too. They have some nice rot resistant jungle liana and other things available. When they say it resists rot naturally, they mean it!

Actually, the wood is pretty smooth on this thing and b/c it was not a quality item (bought 2 of them about 15 years ago for total $5!!) it does have a few cracks and small nails. Maybe I will make use of it when I set up his outside (out of cage, not out of doors) jungle gym.

Thanks for mentioning Black Jungle! I always get cork bark from them and they will be at the show on Saturday so I will see what else they have. I have used the sandblasted grapevine in other setups and they do mold. I now use them in Darwin's tank sometimes since it is drier but he can't grasp them well.

lele
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she's back!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Lele I think you should coat the wood with a polyurathane varnish,it seals the pores and prevents moisture getting in to the wood,it also prevents fungus and bacteria growing on the surface.I learnt this by the hardway unfortunately..

thanks. Yeah, I think I'll do that anyway even if I use it outside the cage.
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she's back!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Hey DUDE, good idea! I too have used many woden things layin around our house and have found great use for them in almost any lizard cage. I think that you should use the rack (after you seal it with somethin). It looks very funtctional for a chameleon and easy to clean if he craps on it. That is one of the problems i found out when i use wood for my beardies. If i cant clean it easily, then i dont use it.

As for grapewood or manznita. Grapewood is fine, but does tend to mold quick. Manzanita is unacceptable. Molds to quickly and the branches are too small. Even for baby chams they are pretty small.

Post pix if ya do decide to use it DUDE!
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Eric

I fight for the unconventional
My right, and its unconditional
I can only, be as real as i can
The disadvantage is
I never knew the plan
This isnt the way just to be a martyr
I cant, walk alone any longer
I fight, for the ones that cant fight
And if I lose, at least I tried....
(Slipknotulse of the Maggots)

after picking up some more supplies at the show on Sat. I'll will try to have him in it by Sunday after noon. The shceff that is going in there is HUGE and I probably won;t see him for weeks! lol!!

I think I am going to call you E-dude
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she's back!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

E Dude.....I could live with that! And hell, i actually kinda enjoy that nickname! Sounds good to me!

Dont worry about not sein' him. Im sure ya know this, but chams like to be hidden. Once he gets his colors, he'll stick out like a sore thumb (in a good way).

Hey let us know how the show was!
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Eric

I fight for the unconventional
My right, and its unconditional
I can only, be as real as i can
The disadvantage is
I never knew the plan
This isnt the way just to be a martyr
I cant, walk alone any longer
I fight, for the ones that cant fight
And if I lose, at least I tried....
(Slipknotulse of the Maggots)