Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just won a 75 gal tank, stand and hood on ebay This will be Darwin's new home and I have a few questions...

Darwin facts:
*he is almost 4 months old (June 10th), 9" and 44g
*he is currently in a 29high
*very healthy, great eater

1) should I wait to put him in it? or just use a divider. If a divider, what do you recommend? I could get a piece of plexi-glass cut and cover it so he can't see to the other side, but would rather use something on hand

2) I have limited places I can place the tank. My original plan was in my office until it dawned on me (duh!) that it would be directly across from my chameleon's cage. So I need to find elsewhere. One idea would be where he would have no cover/back on any side except one of the short sides - meaning he would be like an island jutting out from a wall. Would this be distressing for him?

3) if I send everyone a floor plan with photos could ya come up with something? jk!!

thanks!
lele
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

Chameleon Help & Resource Info

I don't see why it can't be placed straight across from your cham, unless you are worried it would stress out your cham. As for jutting out with the narrow end against a wall, you can still over the back of the tank with something to help cut down the viewing area for the dragon.

Some dragons would be stressed if there is alot of activity around them but others don't seem to care. If there isn't much traffic around the tank, it may not matter. You will have to judge from how your dragon reacts.

I would wait till your dragon is around 12-14" long then move him into the large tank, unless your 29 gal tall is starting to be too small (not sure on the dimensions of a 29 gal tall to say for sure. I had a 35gal long which I kept my dragon till she was about 12-14 inches long then moved her into the large cage I had made). You can use cardboard or a piece of wood as a divider for the large tank, just make sure it's properly supported so it can't be knocked down by your dragon, or worse, fall on your dragon.
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PHLdyPayne

>>I don't see why it can't be placed straight across from your cham, unless you are worried it would stress out your cham.

***yup - cham stress. I could set it up where it would be out of her view, but Luna has a jungle gym she likes to crawl around on sometiems and then she gets to see everything (then again, I could have Darwin out during that time, too - just thinking aloud

As for jutting out with the narrow end against a wall, you can still over the back of the tank with something to help cut down the viewing area for the dragon.

>>Some dragons would be stressed if there is alot of activity around them but others don't seem to care. If there isn't much traffic around the tank, it may not matter. You will have to judge from how your dragon reacts.
***it's in the bedroom and one side would be looking at my sitting/reading corner which is a small area. His tank would become one of the "walls." The other 2 sides look out into the bedroom. Very low traffic area, so I may be leaning toward it.
I am trying to avoid having to move it more than once - a bit too heavcy for me to handle alone.

>>I would wait till your dragon is around 12-14" long then move him into the large tank, unless your 29 gal tall is starting to be too small (not sure on the dimensions of a 29 gal tall to say for sure.

***30Lx 18H x 18D. He still has plenty of room and he does not run around a whole lot. I was originally not going to move him until late summer but I could not resist bidding on this setup (got it all for $65!) and don;t have a place to store it. Think I will go with the divider. I'll be moving my frog into Darwin's current tank

I had a 35gal long which I kept my dragon till she was about 12-14 inches long then moved her into the large cage I had made). You can use cardboard or a piece of wood as a divider for the large tank, just make sure it's properly supported so it can't be knocked down by your dragon, or worse, fall on your dragon.

OK, I'll figure something out. Thanks!

One more question...can i put Darwin outside in a screen cage for some sun (73 degrees - first time we have seen sun in about 2 weeks - lots of cold rain!) I just wonder if he will catch his claws on the screen. Of course I'll have branches, etc. for hin to hang out on.
>>PHLdyPayne
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

Chameleon Help & Resource Info

taking him out in a screen cage is fine, as long as you stay with him the entire time. (animals can get into screen cages or knock them around if they really want to). Just make sure the temperature in the sun is 80F so he doesn't get too cold. Also, make sure he has shady areas he can get into if the temp gets too hot. Or include a large hide he can get into if he gets too warm.

An hour a day in natural sunlight (or routely 6 hours total a week) will give him all the UVB rays he needs.
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PHLdyPayne

Thanks. Yup, I bring Luna (cham) out in a screen cage and basically would have the same setup (plants, shade, water, etc.) I was just unsure about his little claws

today he was happy to just hang out in the window on a rock. He sat there for about 2 hours without budging! He does not scoot a whole lot

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0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

Chameleon Help & Resource Info

NIce dragon Though by a window, he won't get any uvb from the sun (typical window glass filters out about 95% or more of the uvb rays). The screen cage should be fine, though they may get their claws caught in it, if they try to climb up the walls. But I find if you carefully take them off the screen, there is no risk to their claws. Just lift up following the curve of each claw.
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PHLdyPayne

The glass was up, it was just the screen and south side of house so he got some, but I still depend on lights for UVB. He is soooooo mellow that he would probably be perfectly happy just sitting on a rock or plant in his cage - and not climb the walls.

thanks!!
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

Chameleon Help & Resource Info