Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello All,

What is your opinion of using an open cage like a "chameleon condo" and which species are best suited for such a "cage." I would assume that the open format holds less humidity and heat.

Thank you,

Brian
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Brian

"The Earth was not given to you by your parents. It is loaned to you by your children."

1.0 Argentine Tegu
1.0 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.1 Children's Python
3.5 Russian Tortoises

The idea isn't a bad one, but I've free ranged several chams quite successfully. By the time you assemble what you'd need for a free range (nice bushy tree, lights, something to collect all the misting water, feeding box) you will probably spend less than the Condo costs and its easy to provide more usable space for the cham. I also prefer live plants for their moisture holding abilities. I would find the actual usable living area fairly small for the species best suited for it (larger, lowland warmer climate less shy species such as a panther or veiled). Timid shy smaller species could be easier to lose track of. A montane species that requires higher humidity and more spraying wouldn't work as well unless your room is tropical and wet.

Thank you for the excellent insights. I really want to use live plants; most likely Pothos. I am glad to hear that you feel that vieled and pathers would do well in such a set up as I will ONLY purchase captive bred animals.

I wouldl love to hear more opinions too, particularly from those of you who have used or are using a condo or condo-like set up.

Thank you,

Brian
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Brian

"The Earth was not given to you by your parents. It is loaned to you by your children."

1.0 Argentine Tegu
1.0 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.1 Children's Python
3.5 Russian Tortoises

Some people have kept a cham in a string of connected hanging potted plants in a windowsill (with a UVB tube light overhead of course as window glass will filter out the UV they need). Just be aware that any free ranged cham will wander at some times, either because they see a nice spot they'd like to reach, they decide they want to search for a mate, or want a cooler, warmer, higher place.

1. Do the condos actually keep chameleons "in" the condo?
I will likely have to build my own as I cannot find the old Chameleon Condos for sale.

I assume that to e effective the bowls of the condos must have a radius greater than the maximum reach (including prehensile tail) of the adult length. Do you agree?

2. Is it the general concencise that vieled and pathers are good candidates for this type of "enclosure?"

I appreciate the input,

Brian
-----
Brian

"The Earth was not given to you by your parents. It is loaned to you by your children."

1.0 Argentine Tegu
1.0 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.1 Children's Python
3.5 Russian Tortoises

As I haven't used one I don't know how effective the design is at keeping a cham there. I do know that once a cham decides it wants to go somewhere they are very determined. Also, chams do occasionally let themselves drop onto the floor from the end of a branch and stroll off. When I free ranged I set up a barrier wall around a section of the floor where my potted trees were that was taller than a cham could reach, and smooth (cardboard or thin plywood works) so they couldn't get a grip on it. The diameter of the area needs to be larger than the widest branches of the tree. Most of the free ranges I did were in a second bedroom and I just blocked the door with a piece of cardboard.

A small children's swimming pool should work as well,not too attractive in the house,but you could put things around it to disguise.The sides are also too smooth for a cham.to grip and climb out.

Sounds like a great thing to try that plastic spray paint on! I've even used a ring of flattened cardboard boxes. I waterproofed the floor by laying a large piece of plastic sheeting under the tree and draped the excess over the boxes.

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