Many pet owners prefer to have a more unusual and interesting living creature at home. Some may love cockroaches, while others will like snakes more, while others will be delighted with chameleons. These reptiles are distinguished by a well-known feature. They easily change their body color depending on the objects surrounding them.
Many believe that caring for such pets is very difficult, since they belong to the category of exotic pets. However, this is far from the case - chameleons require a minimum of care and do not have special requirements. They are easily tamed and recognize their master well. However, in order for the reptile to feel great at home, it is necessary to prepare a special terrarium for the chameleon. Of course, you can buy it in finished form, but you need to consider many nuances.
General Information about Chameleons
These lizards are adapted to the arboreal lifestyle. They do not really like to move around the earth and prefer to spend all their free time on trees. Already proceeding only from this information, it is possible to draw the quite correct conclusion that it is preferable to choose vertical or cubic terrariums for chameleons. You also need to understand what habits a particular pet is different. Typically, chameleons live in the humid conditions of rainforests. Therefore, it is necessary to create appropriate climatic conditions for the lizard. This issue must be taken with complete seriousness.
Most lizards are characterized by a small body length, which rarely exceeds 30 cm. However, in nature you can also find larger individuals - up to 60 cm. There is also a variety of chameleon, the length of which is no more than 3-5 cm.
What reptiles usually get at home
Before deciding how to equip a terrarium for a chameleon with your own hands, it is worth considering the types of such pets. If we talk about the most popular varieties of reptiles, then most often Yemeni, leopard or ordinary individuals live in houses. As a rule, for such pets a terrarium of at least 150 liters is required. If the reptile is quite large breed, then the size of the terrarium for the chameleon should be at least 250 liters.
Ventilation
One of the most important conditions for a good life of a lizard is air circulation. If in the terrarium for the chameleon stagnates or accumulates moisture, then parasitic bacteria will begin to develop in the reptile's home. They have a very negative effect on the pet.
As a rule, ventilation is carried out by convection. It is worth considering that the temperature in the room is slightly lower than in the terrarium for the chameleon. Accordingly, such a difference in temperature conditions allows for excellent air circulation due to openings in the reptile's dwelling.
When organizing a terrarium, it is necessary to make 2 holes in it. The first hole is the hood, which is made in the lid of the pet’s home. This hole is necessary in order to remove warm air from the aquarium. A second hole is drilled in the front wall, a little closer to the floor of the terrarium for the Yemeni chameleon. The width of each of these holes is about 3-5 cm.
Where is the best place to place a terrarium?
If we talk about the best place for an aquarium in the apartment, then it is worth choosing the least crowded place. The fact is that chameleons are characterized by an increased predisposition to stress, so they are very often scared when there are a large number of bipedes next to them. Therefore, it is worth taking the aquarium to the room where households spend the least time.
If the pet begins to experience stress, then because of this his appetite may deteriorate, which, in turn, will lead to rather serious diseases. Speaking about how to equip a terrarium for a chameleon, it is worth considering that it is recommended to install an aquarium as high as possible from the floor. In this case, the reptile will feel protected.
In addition, do not forget that chameleons like to be at altitude more than on earth. Among other things, they do not tolerate drafts, so it’s worth choosing the warmest and most sheltered room.
Material selection
Before you make a terrarium for a chameleon with your own hands, it is worth deciding what to make it from.
Some owners of exotic animals prefer acrylic, plastic or PVC. These materials are quite shockproof and non-toxic. In addition, they are easy to use and very easy to clean.
However, it is still worth giving preference to glass. It is characterized by a fairly high resistance to physical stress, transparency and hardness. In order to connect all sides of the aquarium, it is enough to use ordinary building sealant.
Choosing plexiglass is not recommended. Although it is considered fairly transparent, this setting can change quickly over time. In addition, this material is very easily scratched, not only by the people themselves, but also by the claws of animals. Since additional lamps are installed in the aquarium, they can deform the plastic in a few months.
If we talk about how to make a terrarium for a chameleon, which will be strong and reliable, it is best to use glass and aluminum profiles in order to fix the walls. Such designs are characterized by increased strength and durability, so they are most often used for large animals. Moreover, such an aquarium can be easily disassembled if you need to move or transport the animal to another place.
What terrarium is needed for a chameleon: humidity and heat
In the process of arranging a terrarium, it is worth paying special attention to these parameters. Humidity in the aquarium should be about 60-80%. In order to measure this indicator, it is necessary to use a hygrometer. If the humidity is slightly below the required parameters, then it is necessary to periodically spray the chameleon with water. Or for this you can use special electronic fog generators or drip irrigation devices, which are very often used in gardening. It is also worth considering that chameleons are heat-loving reptiles. They need a place where they can bask.
To do this, you can mount a conventional incandescent lamp with a power of about 40-60 watts into the terrarium. It will also be useful to use ceramic or infrared lighting elements. They can be kept on all the time.
If the aquarium is pretty cool for a chameleon, then you need to purchase a special heated mat. It is worth remembering that the ideal temperature for a reptile is 28-33 ° in the daytime and not lower than 23 ° at night.
Soil and plants
If you look at the photo of the terrarium for the chameleon, you can rarely see the soil in the aquarium. This is not due to the greed of reptile owners.
If the chameleon is a woody species, then using the soil is not recommended at all. Best of all, lay a regular green plastic mat on the floor. Such a product perfectly imitates grass cover. In addition, the mat can be easily washed if necessary. Pouring sand and other materials is not recommended.
If we talk about plants, then chameleons are very fond of natural greens. Therefore, in addition to artificial plants, it is also recommended to lay dry branches and grass in the terrarium. The more twigs there are in the aquarium, the more pleasant the pet will be there.
Drinking bowl
As a pet feeder, it is most convenient to use a tall glass or a simple plastic bottle with a cut off top. These reptiles do not need any special devices for drinking, since they practically do not consume water. Therefore, it is enough to install a sprayer, waterfall or drip irrigation device in the terrarium. Chameleons are very fond of collecting droplets from plant leaves. It is also worth considering that these reptiles practically do not know how to drink from tanks. As a rule, they make a pump for them or accustom them to drink through a syringe. In addition, chameleons are very fond of natural juices. You can also prepare honey solutions for them.
Standard set
In order to independently make a terrarium at home, you need to purchase everything you need. First of all, it is worth choosing glass, iron profiles and sealant. By combining them, you can easily create an aquarium. You will also need to purchase a special ultraviolet lamp for reptiles, which can be found in any pet store.
It will be useful to install a drip irrigation system. Experienced experts also recommend purchasing temperature controllers and air ionizers. We must not forget about the heating of the terrarium. Well, of course, you need to think about the scenery.
Power Features
First of all, it is worth saying that, unlike most other reptiles, chameleons should by no means be given worms. Of course, the lizard will enjoy larvae with pleasure, but this will negatively affect its digestive system. To give these reptiles, you first need plant food, and then live. Crickets are best suited for this. It is necessary to feed the animal in moderation, it is not necessary to overdo it, because in captivity chameleons are not so active.
In addition, in no case should you give reptiles of cockroaches and insects caught on the street. It is also worth making sure that the chameleon receives the necessary amount of vitamins. Therefore, it is worth purchasing drugs that contain calcium.
Conclusion
Today, breeding of exotic animals at home is very popular. However, some people have such pets and after some time throw them out into the street, as they are not ready to carry out all measures to care for reptiles. You need to take this point into account and understand that a chameleon is not a fluffy kitten, it will never caress or play with a bow. Be sure to consider these features before you start to keep such a pet at home. And starting a reptile at home, you need to take care of it, feed it and love it. Although chameleons can adapt their skin to any conditions, this does not mean that they can survive without care. It is necessary to monitor the health of the pet. Its indicators directly depend on the home of the pet. If there are a lot of twigs, greens in the terrarium, and the temperature regime will meet the necessary requirements, then the reptile will feel good.