When most people look for a chameleon for sale online, the prevalent choice is the covered chameleon since it can be captive-bred. Before acquiring a veiled chameleon, you must learn how to prepare the cage correctly. Getting things right from the beginning will enable your pet a chance to live a healthy. Here is how to set up the perfect veiled chameleon cage.
How to Choose the Right Location to Set up a Veiled Chameleon Cage?
Veiled chameleons stress very easily and are pretty shy creatures. The location you decide to put the cage can influence the underlying stress they encounter over time.
Consider putting the cage in a room with low foot traffic. You can put the cage in any room you want if you stay alone or with just your partner. If you have a family, pets, and children, your chameleon will feel uncomfortable living in the same room.
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Whatever room you decide to put a cage in, keep it on a table and confirm that your chameleon can raise above your head. When in the wild, veiled chameleons are hunted mainly by birds, and being able to survey the room from above will make them calmer.
Equipment for a Covered Chameleon Cage Setup
Lighting
Illumination is a vital component when making a cage for a covered chameleon. These pets rely on lighting for thermoregulation and calcium absorption. A veiled chameleon requires a full spectrum light, UVB bulbs, and a sprawling light.
UVB Bulbs
UVB bulbs help veiled chameleons turn vitamin D into vitamin D3 for calcium absorption into the bones. Failure to recreate this in captivity can deteriorate their bones, making them brittle, leading to a painful condition known as metabolic bone disease. Overexposure to UVB can be harmful to a covered chameleon. Provide medium levels of UVB.
Basking Light
Veiled chameleons are cold-blooded and cannot increase their body temperature by themselves. They move from sunlight to shade depending on how their body temperature changes. A temperature gradient in their cage is necessary since it is their body’s primary source of warmth.
Full Spectrum Lights
Full spectrum lights are placed alongside UVB and basking lights above the cage. The lights help plants to flourish and benefit a chameleon’s vision in low-light conditions. These lights also brighten the enclosure, making the chameleon’s colors look stunning.
Ventilation
The terrarium that houses a veiled chameleon needs proper ventilation. Failure to refresh the air inside the cage can cause upper respiratory infections for your chameleon. Mold will grow inside the cage, making it an unhealthy place for your chameleon to stay.
Regulating humidity in the cage will be much harder without proper ventilation. A terrarium for a veiled chameleon should have two sides with a large portion of mesh for proper ventilation. You can install a fan on one side of the ventilation slits to enhance the inflow of air.
Humidity
Glass and screen enclosures are the most popular types of cages for veiled chameleons. A screen enclosure is ideal for humid environments, and glass is a good option in arid areas.
The conditions in your home will determine the climate in the cage. Controlling humidity levels inside the cage is easier if there is less exposure to the air outside. You can drive humidity inside the cage in three main ways:
Fogging
A fogger stays outside the cage, and a plastic tube is connected to mimic the fog that emerges at night in the forest.
Misting
Spraying water on the chameleon directly might anger or startle it. A humidifier with automatic misters can spray water automatically inside the cage.
Dripping
A dripper is a container with a pinhole filled with water to let moisture drip into the terrarium.
Plants
Putting real plants in the cage also helps to raise the humidity. They provide shade and exude moisture for veiled chameleons. Such plants include pothos, weeping figs, umbrella trees, bamboo palms, moth orchids, peace lily, bromeliads, and heartleaf philodendrons.
Drainage
Water provided for a chameleon in a cage requires water spraying or dripping on surfaces. The water needs to exist in the cage. An easy drainage strategy would be to rest the cage on a drainage tray.
Most cages come with PVC or screen bottoms. Small holes drilled at the low points will prevent pooling water.
Making a Veiled Chameleon Cage
If you think you can make a veiled chameleon cage better than any manufacturer, go for it. Custom terrarium setups have endless potential. Build a practical habitat that can fit into a corner or a fancy centerpiece perfect for your living room.
Create a solid plan before starting any project. Consider your skill set, budget, and reptile’s needs.
Choose the Best Chameleon for Sale Online Store
Research to identify a reputable store where you can purchase chameleon for sale online. The right store will help you find a veiled chameleon that’s healthy, free of parasites, and less stressed. Choose a young chameleon as they will have a longer lifespan to keep them as a pet.