Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How does everyone secure their branches and vines to a reptarium? Cable ties? Would you tie the cable ties to the poles in the reptarium with the branches all secured? Can the branches have a little give to them? As long as they are strong enough to support the cham without him falling? Having a little trouble setting my cage up any suggestions? It is a 38 ga. reptarium for a male Veiled Chameleon. Do you guys place your heat source directly on the top of the reptarium? Or do you keep it off of the screen top for safety reasons? Thanks

I used garbage bag ties for my biovines. They can give, as long as they are stong enough to hold his weight. Chams have pretty good balance (actually, amazing balance) so if it is a little tipsy he will be ok.

Hi-

I am not a fan of reptariums, but that is just my opinion and I am entitled to it. Are you using Bio Vine, if so your best bet would be to attach it to the frame, the screen on retariums is no the best. You can use zip ties, fishing line, wire, twine.... I find zip ties work best for me. Chameleons have good grip and balance and will rarely fall. Because the screen is plastic, the heat from the basking bulb will melt/burn the screen so the bulb MUST be secured above the cage off the screen. Hanging it from the ceiling is your best bet, adjust the height of the lamp so you get the correct basking temp. Hop this helps!
-----
John @ Chameleon Paradise
1.1 Ambilobe Panthers
1.1 Nosy Be Panthers
1.1 Sambava Panthers
1.2 Rhampholeon uluguruensis

I use either twist ties or light gauge wire. Twisties are short, so wire (like wire you'd find with flower arranging craft sections of KMart) works just fine. A little tip. Drill small holes in the ends of branches and thread the wire through, thread the wires through the cage mesh and twist the ends on the outside of the cage. It's easier to move and re-attach perches and means fewer sharp wire ends inside the cage. Looks better too. Even though Reptarium says you can put heat spots directly on top I find the heat bleaches the mesh. It doesn't tend to melt or burn unless the spot is really high wattage. Not very common when housing chams. If I am using a very intense UV lamp for a large cage I either clamp the lamp to an external support (like a vertical pole or stand) or rest the lamp reflector on a wood frame laid across the cage top just in case.