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Specifications
Go to Enclosures Page 2 Commercially
Manufactured
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Plant Recommendations
Hand made by cham owners who care
HOME
MADE WOOD 
I build three frames
with 1x2 pine and corner braces, and then attach plexi-glass fronts
or screen sides to that. The back and bottom are solid plywood
covered with colored vinyl cloth to protect from water and give a
natural appearance. Then I frame the top out for the light fixture
with the same 1x2 ‘s and screen except for the area for the light
fixture which is a Home Depot 24” 2 light fluorescent fixture with
reptisun 5.0 added. I use a full-length hinge on the door, and trim
them out with some molding. Viola.
Chameleon cage complete.
It took me a couple of weeks to complete the first one, then about a
week on the second one, only three days on the third one.
If you
got time, some talent and tools, then this is a good option. you can
customize it to your taste and available space (but make it big
enough for the cham)
HOME MADE PVC
Using PVC pipes and PVC 90 deg.
"elbow connectors" make rectangular "panels" to serve as the sides
of the box that will be the finished cage. Cover these pipe panels
with mesh by securing the mesh to the pipes with cable ties. Attach
the panels together with bolts and butterfly clasps. Attach the door
with large cable ties for "hinges" and latch closed with Velcro or
Velcro Grippers (tm). It will look something like the photo to the
left.
see
PVC cage
for more detailed instructions
If the
screening used on this is smooth enough to prevent injury to feet it
could be a good cage, however, it was really designed for iguanas.
HOME MADE SCREEN
& PVC
Using
PVC pipes and casters to build stands worked great for this
chameleon owner. These appear to be easily maintained. As you can
see from the pictures, the top and front open for cleaning and
maintenance. They are perched on top of plastic tubs, so overflow
from misting should be no problem. Portable, lightweight,
durable, and not bad looking, what more do you need? Excellent job
FREE ROAM HABITAT
FOR MELLER'S CHAMELEON FEATURED
ON
Photos
Courtesy of Allison Banks
In the center of the room, sheets of plywood to protect the
carpet and provide a little air circulation. On top of the plywood
platform, a ring of crates that surround a central "clearing". Cover
the whole crate/plywood structure with heavy plastic sheeting.
Potted Ficus alli trees and schefflera of different heights set
on the crates or around the edges.
A network of climbing branches from tree to tree, to lights, etc.
wired to tree trunks.
UVB and basking spotlights hung from the ceiling by hanging plant
hooks.
RainMaker Jr. misting system  crosses the center of the "forest"
from a stand in the corner of the room where the reservoir sits. All
the spray is aimed to hit the tarp/tree area.
An ultrasonic room humidifier up on stacked crates between 2
trees.
In the central opening several inches of CareFresh cage bedding
to absorb and hold moisture (raises the room humidity).
A depression for accumulated water that I drain with a small
portable pump into a bucket.
So, basically, I created an island forest in the room. I can walk
all around it and all the electrical cords run to various wall
outlets. When I need to clean out the bedding I shovel it into a
trashcan and dump it outside. I find its much easier to maintain
than a cage big enough for the melleri as I don't have to climb into
anything.
Problems: the lights are hard to reach to change bulbs. Aiming
the spray nozzles can be tricky as the chams love to walk or sleep
along the water tubing and mess up the aim. I run everything on
timers so all I basically do is change bulbs, fill reservoirs, drain
water, and feed the chams. I do spray them individually for drinking
though. I can hang feeding bins in the branches for them to find and
shoot from. The bins are removed after each feeding and set in
different spots next time.
The ficus and schefflera are growing like crazy and I have to
prune them back.
In summer I run a small fan in the room doorway to keep the room
from getting too hot. I guess that's it. Enjoy!
Wouldn't all of our chams love this arrangement.
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