Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am anxious to get Darwin into his 75 gal tank, but I won't have a proper fitting lid for awhile. A friend and I are going to make it but it'll be a couple weeks. If I keep branches, plants, etc. low enough will it be safe? The tank is 21" high so his UVB lights should be fine and I will up the wattage if needed to keep basking spot temps up.

I have some adujstable window screens that I can lay across the top but it will not be an entire fit. Any thoughts??

thanks,
lele
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
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'd say put him in for a trial run. Leave the room for a little while but make sure to check on him. If he can get out, he'll figure it out soon as long as mommy isn't watching!!
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1.1 Beardies (Pedro and Honey)

i have a 2'X4'X2' cage with a male (indie) on one side and a female (aphrodite) on the other. the divider is 18" high with room from the divider to the top of the cage. I'm not sure if it's just a male/female thing, but indie cannot get over the divider. Aphrodite can however get over the divider when ever she wants to. And that is why i had babies this spring Indie spends about a quarter of everyday tring to get over the wall to get busy with her....and fails every attempt. So I beleive that their are two possiblities of what he can't do it....one, he is mildly retarded....two, males aren't as smart as females.

so, you have a male, if he is like my indie, he won't make it over.

i have a 4 month old in a 20 gallon high tank with no top on it. i leave that cage in my bedroom with the door closed all the time to keep Frejya, our cat, out.

maybe you'll want to leave the 75G tank on the floor intil you get a top. so if he makes a sucessful escape, it's less of a fall.

-jake
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a free range dragon is a happy dragon

"....two, males aren't as smart as females"

Isn't that always true?

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Knocked down but I have enough hate
to breathe, down your throat and steal your energy
You took everyting but my will to be
Now the loss of your god won't make me bleed
I am alive
ALICE IN CHAINS!
1.1 Bearded Dragons: Gordo & Chiquita
2.2 Cats: Zeus, Remi, Kiki & Delilah
1.0 Betta

My Cheeky Girl

I keep my dragon in a 75 gal as well... i've never even used a lid for it and he's never gotten out in nearly two years...

just my personal exp
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Derek Campbell

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? only the shadow knows

1.1 rabbits (Fred, Barney)
0.1 Beardie (Dino)
2.0 Dogs (Wilma, Jackson)

Hi Derek - that is good to know! How close is the closest branch to the top? I find that bd's are a bit clumsy at times (it's as if the get so excited they forget where their legs are supposed to go! - but that may just be a young bd thing) and would be hard pressed to get over the top.

btw, do you have any pics of your setup? I like to make attractive settings and have lots of neat wood, rocks and plants to use. Oh, other question - do you have your lights hanging from the ceiling? My strip UVB will sit on top, but wondering about basking. It sure would be nice to not worry about a top.
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
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

Hi sorry for the delay replying

the closest branch comes within about 5 inches of the top

my tank has a cross support in the centre at the top. so what I do is actually have the hood light balanced across that and the back of the tank. so its sitting on the back of the tank across the "T" I also have a clamp-on spotlight for the basking spot attatched to the tank.

I also have a fake rock wall i built recently and that comes to about 5 inches of the top as well

Unfortunately I don't have any pics of my setup right now but i'm working on it and will post as soon as i get them
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Derek Campbell

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? only the shadow knows

1.1 rabbits (Fred, Barney)
0.1 Beardie (Dino)
2.0 Dogs (Wilma, Jackson)

and a couple of books to keep it in place. more to keep other things out than the beardie in. I just say that because I know you have kitties plus I had a bad experience with a spider climbing in one of my chameleon cages. He is bigger than baby chams but it could bite him anyway. If you live near the woods a snake or something could crawl in if it got in your house.
I know it's not likely but just an example of weird things that could happen. Kitty would be the first concern. A cat scratch even while playing can be deadly to a lizard due to bacteria on their nails.
Sonia

you guys are funny ! So I guess I will have to resign to the fact that Darwin is just a dumb male - hey, wait a minute...he's DARWIN - a genius!

Thanks for the stories!
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
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