Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I often find gadgets or ideas for common problems we have, so wanted to post a couple.

Idea for temporary outdoor caging:
go to http://www.plowandhearth.com and look at their portable greenhouse. What interested me was that is is MESH rather than the usual plastic covered version. Might be a great spot for chams to bask safely outdoors, if cats, rats, etc. are not around. Item # 50094.

Simple humidifier idea:
go to http://www.ball-pythons.net and click on Do It Yourself. Look at the simple humidifier. It or a variation on it might help keep a cage more humid between sprayings. It won't produce the high levels a fogger will, but will push humid air into a cage setup. I'd use distilled water in the reservoir.

nice job Carlton!!!

I have been looking for an outdoor "cage" for my giant silk moths - that may be it! nice find

>>Hi,
>>
>>I often find gadgets or ideas for common problems we have, so wanted to post a couple.
>>
>>Idea for temporary outdoor caging:
>>go to http://www.plowandhearth.com and look at their portable greenhouse. What interested me was that is is MESH rather than the usual plastic covered version. Might be a great spot for chams to bask safely outdoors, if cats, rats, etc. are not around. Item # 50094.
>>
>>Simple humidifier idea:
>>go to http://www.ball-pythons.net and click on Do It Yourself. Look at the simple humidifier. It or a variation on it might help keep a cage more humid between sprayings. It won't produce the high levels a fogger will, but will push humid air into a cage setup. I'd use distilled water in the reservoir.
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Yeah, every once in a while reading my junk mail pays off!

Have you seen it in person first hand? What's the quality of product?
I'm wondering what exactly do they mean by 'mesh PVC'. You and I have an idea, but is our definition in line with theirs? I wonder because the door is zippered to allow for roll-up for ventilation. Why would you need ventilation if the mesh PVC is already allowing air to flow through?
I'm just REALLY excited about your find, Carlton, and I want to be 100% sure that this product is EXACTLY what us as Chameleon Keepers (okay and some bugs) want. If so, you just found the PERFECT and inexpensive answer for warm weather cham housing!
-----
Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

Victor,

I haven't seen this one (I know you were asking Carlton) but I can respond to a couple of your questions. Plow & Hearth is a very good company with quality products. They are up there with Smith & Hawken, Lee Valley, etc. for garden supplies. As for the ventilation/door. Keep in mind it was designed with plants in mind. Even though the covering is mesh it is a tight weave to keep insects at bay. B/c it is a tight weave heat can build up and there may be a need for more cross vent on hot and or humid days.

I had been looking at another last year for my leps but now I can't find the site. It narrow and long and I think it was geared for tomatoes. If I find it I'll let you know.

lele

>>Have you seen it in person first hand? What's the quality of product?
>>I'm wondering what exactly do they mean by 'mesh PVC'. You and I have an idea, but is our definition in line with theirs? I wonder because the door is zippered to allow for roll-up for ventilation. Why would you need ventilation if the mesh PVC is already allowing air to flow through?
>>I'm just REALLY excited about your find, Carlton, and I want to be 100% sure that this product is EXACTLY what us as Chameleon Keepers (okay and some bugs) want. If so, you just found the PERFECT and inexpensive answer for warm weather cham housing!
>>-----
>>Victor Gomez
>>gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
>>gomezvi@yahoo.com
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

The mesh is what I was alluding to....
If the primary purpose of this greenhouse is for plant use, and therefore the mesh is too fine, will it still allow for good ventilation for a chamelon AND more importantly, will it still allow for good UVB exposure for the chameleon.
What you were saying about heat building up could also apply to chameleons. Jacksons probably wouldn't like a lot of heat build up, but veileds and panthers might.
I might just order one just the same to test out first hand. If nothing else, I could always use it for my bonsai.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

Yes, the UVB may be an issue...I suppose you could set it up so the cham's basking spot is near the door and then make a simple 1/2" hd'we cloth "door" so the rays get thru. Then have his cooling off spot back further and the UVB wouldn't be as much of an issue...I don't know, just thinking aloud.

The one that I can't find had a looser mesh.
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

I suppose you could always call the company and ask just how tight the mesh is. No, to answer your question I don't have it, I just saw it in their catalog. I was thinking of trying to use one of the plastic covered models and sewing big mesh panels into the plastic. I liked the ideas because you had a ready made frame. As for the bigger greenhouse, I would think you could easily create panels of bigger mesh in the top and sides for venting, even use shade cloth for a part too. The main advantage of the product would be a pre-made frame that is portable, a basic mesh cover to start off with that could be easily modified.

Replace one or both of the sides of this greenhouse with a looser knit mesh, if the mesh is too tight. It's really not that difficult, you just have to find the right thread.
But yes, you would have an EXCELLENT starting point with this greenhouse!
But no Lele, I wouldn't want to replace the door thing. Zippers are already such a PAIN!!! (ie Reptariums!)
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

This greenhouse has given me all sorts of other ideas including a readi-made indoor "free range" habitat. Set the whole thing on a piece of pond liner to protect the floor. The frame could support lighting or fogging nozzles or you'd have room to put a humidifier on a plant stand inside. A melleri might love the space! Also, if you set it up outdoors around a large bushy shrub or small tree you'd have your plant habitat instantly! Lay tiles or walkway bricks or planks around the base. For cooler weather you could hang solid plastic for a windbreak to help control temp and exposure.

>>This greenhouse has given me all sorts of other ideas including a readi-made indoor "free range" habitat. Set the whole thing on a piece of pond liner to protect the floor. The frame could support lighting or fogging nozzles or you'd have room to put a humidifier on a plant stand inside. A melleri might love the space! Also, if you set it up outdoors around a large bushy shrub or small tree you'd have your plant habitat instantly! Lay tiles or walkway bricks or planks around the base. For cooler weather you could hang solid plastic for a windbreak to help control temp and exposure.
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Well, again you would have to see the mesh to decide if you needed to cut "windows" or not. You could probably hang UV tube fixtures from the frame inside. Basking spots might melt the mesh so either cut a window and stitch in hardware cloth where the spot would shine or again hang it inside from the frame and put a mesh shield around the bulb so toes don't get toasted. As for screen climbing, in such a large space filled with large bushy potted plants I doubt you would see too much of it. If I had another room in my house I would seriously consider getting one of these for larger species such as melleri or oustaleti.

I remember alanvines had a greenhouse in which he kept a colony of Jacksons.... But why stop there?
Maybe I'll live inside the greenhouse and turn the rest of my house into a chameleon enclosure! Yeah, I can see it now.... basking areas everywhere... skylights, MVB bulbs at every 12 feet. Bugs crawling and flying everywhere. Yep. Me, my wife and 4 kids living in this little greenhouse while the chameleons take over the rest of my house.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com