Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi i am wanting to build a cage for my female veild i only have a space of about 4 feet long and 5 feet tall and about 3 feet wide my questions are what is the best guage mesh to use? should i get the rubber coated mesh? and whats the best way to leght the cage?what is the best light to grow the plants? and what would be the best plants to hold the humidity? and should i mix real and fake plants until the real plants grow to fill the space they need? i am i the basement with no windows so i know i will need alot of light all help is appreciated thanks.

Personally i would recommend a mercury vapor bulb. They produce UVB and UVA light as well as heat, which veilds enjoy. They are on the expensive side, but they don't need the huge fixtures UVB bulbs need. THey also help plants and animals alike. Plants seem to grow quicker in my opinion and the animals have brighter colors. As for what gauge of wire i think 1/2 inch x 1 inch should be fine for an adult. The wire should be PVC coated to prevent snout damage. Crickets can easily slip through this, so keep them in a bowl near the bottom of the cage with a branch nearby for the chameleon to hunt from.

I got these tips from my friend who has had veilds and panthers fo 11 years. I myself plan on getting a Jacksons, Rudis , or maybe a Veiled.

I hope this helps you out!