Top Rated Cage for Chameleons – Reviews & Guide
Your time will not be wasted here, as we aim to provide as much information as possible about the best chameleon cages for sale without taking up much of your precious time. Based on value for the money and quality, Dr. Fox believes the Exo Terra Allglass PT2600A1 makes a good choice. This is due to the remarkable patented front window ventilation system that keeps your reptile or amphibian pet cool and comfortable inside. The component allows the animal to breathe optimally without being overexposed to the elements. The waterproof bottom keeps the unit resilient against moisture while the raised bottom frame accommodates a substrate heater that ensures your pet makes it through the chilly seasons. Should the Exo Terra Allglass PT2600A1 be unavailable, you can confidently pick the Zoo Med Reptibreeze, a good second best option.
Comparison table
The dual doors in the front allow the pet owner easy access for cleaning, dusting and other maintenance operations. The frame is raised at the bottom, allowing you to install a heating system so you can keep your pet warm during cold months. The top ventilation system allows air and beneficial UVs to reach inside the cage, and your pet can grow strong and healthy. The outside edges leave some space that can be transited by small insects, therefore making the cage more difficult to clean. An excellent option for your reptilian friend, featuring an optimal design. Comfortable to use. This cage is easy to assemble, as instructions are provided, and you only need a screwdriver to fit all the panels together with screws. The open-air design is preferred by many reptiles because they will not feel suffocated in their cage. Cleaning the cage is easy since the bottom can be removed for regular maintenance. The anodized aluminum used is lightweight. You will have to pay close attention to the assembly stage, as the screws need to be very tight to avoid any mishaps. A cage for lizards and chameleons that is easy to assemble and has a convenient design. This type of cage offers as much of a realistic environment as such a product can. The open-air design will allow your little gecko or chameleon to breathe freely. The aluminum construction is lightweight, yet durable. You will have access to the interior of the cage via the large door installed conveniently on the front. A bottom door helps with easy cleaning, as well. For a stable configuration, make sure that all the screws are squeezed as much as possible. A good alternative for arboreal lizards, with an easy to clean and maintain design.
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Also To Consider
5 Best Chameleon Cages (Reviews) in 2023
It is not difficult to see why the following models are consumer favorites. They provide a safe habitat, ensure comfort, and make pet handling easy. Here’s why.
1. Exo Terra Glass Natural Terrarium
A nicely designed terrarium for amphibians and reptiles, the Exo Terra Allglass PT2600A1 features a proprietary front window ventilation as well as dual front opening doors that enable easy access when feeding or misting the pet. It also enables more hassle-free maintenance while ensuring your pet enjoys optimal ventilation without having an easy means of escape.
During maintenance, you can keep one door shut all the time while still keeping the humidity and heat at good levels inside. With the pivoting doors, you won’t need to worry that sand and other debris can get jammed into the hinges.
The raised bottom frame accommodates a substrate heater so the creature can feel comfortable when the weather is cold. Providing a good environment for your pet to live in, this terrarium also has a uniquely designed lock so that the doors can be opened separately. While infrared and UVB penetration is enabled by the full-screen top ventilation, the component is completely removable for effortless cleaning and decorating.
Pros
A good glass terrarium for amphibians and reptiles, this unit allows easy access to the inner section for misting, maintenance, and feeding due to the dual front opening doors.
Thanks to the specially designed lock, your pet cannot escape easily through the doors, which can be opened separately.
Compared to sliding doors, the pivoting doors on this model do not get filled with sand and other debris that prevents efficient closing and opening.
With the raised bottom frame, you can install a substrate heater to keep the terrarium comfortable for your pet during chilly seasons.
The full-screen top ventilation allows infrared and UVB penetration to help keep your pet strong. It is completely removable so that cleaning and decorating can be done easily.
Cons
The gaps on the outside edges of the terrarium doors may enable small insects under observation to fly through, so some modifications may have to be made.
2. Zoo Med Repti Breeze Screen Cage
Geared for small species of Juvenile Green Iguanas, Old World Chameleons, and other arboreal species of lizards, this open-air aluminum screen cage provides easy access and maintenance. You will love the black anodized aluminum build that is easy to assemble and setup so your pet can have a safe and solid habitat while enabling effortless observation.
The large front door provides a problem-free cage access so you can change the layout, clean the cage, or feed your pet, as needed, similar to a bird cage and how you would feed your parrot (here you can find out more). The bottom door facilitates the easy removal of the substrate for replacement.
The screen cage is made from corrosion-resistant material for durability. The hardware needed for setup and construction is included, along with a few extras to enable you to put everything together easily with just one screwdriver.
Thanks to the open-air design, cleaning the cage is easy as well. You wouldn’t have to exert too much effort to clean off the gunk from the wire mesh cage.
Pros
With all the panels coming together smoothly and attached to one another through the supplied screws, this open-air aluminum screen cage only needs a simple screwdriver to assemble.
This is a good cage of choice for arboreal lizards such as anoles, geckos, and others, as well as small species of Juvenile Green Iguanas and Old World Chameleons.
Reaching inside the cage is effortless via the innovative large front door, while the bottom door enables quick and easy removal and replacement of the substrate for a clean habitat.
Thanks to the anodized aluminum material, this cage provides a nice-looking habitat for your pet that is also resilient against corrosion and is lightweight.
You won’t need special skills to put the parts together because all the needed hardware is provided and the panels come with intuitive assembly.
Cons
Be careful to screw the panels together tightly so as to ensure a stable and non-wobbly structure after full assembly.
3. Zoo Med ReptiBreeze LED Deluxe Open Air
This open-air black, aluminum screen cage offers a good option for pet owners of small species of hatchling Green Iguanas, geckos including Crested ones, anoles and other arboreal lizard species, and Old World Chameleons. You can watch your pet and observe it to ensure it thrives in a realistic environment.
The large front door provides an effortless access to the inside so you can clean, maintain, or feed your pet without a hassle. You can also easily remove and replace the substrate when needed thanks to the bottom door.
With all the necessary hardware shipped in the package, along with some extra screws, all you need is a handy screwdriver to construct a good habitat for your pet. Due to the open-air design, your pet receives proper ventilation. The black, anodized cage is made to be corrosion-resistant for dependably lasting use.
Pros
Shipped with the necessary hardware as well as some extra ones, this aluminum screen cage is ready for assembly using just a screwdriver.
You can use this for small species of hatchling Green Iguanas, Old world Chameleons, Geckos, including Crested species, anoles, and other arboreal lizards.
To facilitate easy cage access, this model features a large front door that allows you to reach inside and do cleaning, feeding, and other pet care tasks.
Because it is designed to be resistant to corrosion, this cage can be used for a long time and provide safe housing for your crawling pets.
The bottom door provides an easy removal of the substrate inside for problem-free replacement and maintenance.
Cons
Make sure to assemble and screw all the panels tightly together so as to get a stable configuration that stays in one piece and does not wobble in case some pressure is applied to the corners or edges or from the inside by your pet.
Our Comprehensive Buying Guide
Chameleons, arboreal lizards, iguanas, geckos, and anoles, among others, are easy to take care of if you get a suitable cage to house them. Both reptiles and amphibians do not require constant feeding and the amount of cleaning is minimal at most. Just what do good cages for reptiles such as chameleons come with?
Pick out a model in the best chameleon cage reviews that supports the species you will put in it
The size of the animal, as well as its environmental needs, dictate the kind of enclosure or cage you should get. A variety of terrariums are available for smaller species of animals. Make sure the shape also suits the needs of the animal.
If the cage is narrow, a chameleon will surely enjoy having a climbing branch. Low and wide cages are more suitable for ground-dwelling species such as tortoises.
You can find glass terrariums. You might also go for an aquarium with a screen cover. Bear in mind to house your pet according to their species and size. Mixing pets in one enclosure should only be done if they are compatible. Get the largest cage size possible since your pet needs to move about as freely as possible.
A thermal gradient may be needed in the cage, with one side providing a basking spot and the other serving as a cooling area.
Make sure to get the best chameleon setup that supports comfortable living for your pet
Mesh cages are great for their optimal ventilation. A moisture-resistant bottom frame protects the animal from dampness from the base of the enclosure and also ensures that the pee or any form of wetness does not ruin the base section.
The unit should be draft-proof so that your pet isn’t bothered by strong gusts of wind. A well-lit enclosure allows you to maintain and handle your pet easily. A vented wire screen top provides good ventilation along with the side panels. Some glass units have a vented front-door ventilation system to accomplish that.
The best cage for chameleon use enables easy setup and functionality
Some popular models feature panels that can be screwed together easily so the enclosure is up and ready for use in just a small amount of time. You should be able to install a water area with a filter, a heater, and some gravel easily.
The land section should be easy to fill with substrates including potting soil, small gravel, cypress bark, sphagnum moss, or loam. It should also be easy to empty of the dirty substrate when it needs to be replaced.
Since chameleons and other arboreal lizard species need something to climb onto, you should be able to decorate the cage with plants, driftwood, rocks, and moss. Moderate-size lizards can have plenty of uses for prayer plants. The plants should be low maintenance as well.
Dual opening doors facilitate problem-free maintenance and pet care. Mesh enclosures make cleaning easy. You can take the cage apart one panel at a time and give the sections a thorough cleaning as needed. The dishes, cage decor, and wall coverings can be washed and disinfected easily.
Most importantly, the cage should be escape-proof.
What Chameleon Care Supplies Do You Need?
Chameleons are indeed amazing animals, but taking care of one is not a task anyone can and should do since they have specific requirements that need to be met in order to be healthy. So, besides the screen reptile cages for sale you might be checking out right now, there are other things that need to go on your list of necessary supplies.
It’s true that their fascinating capability to change colors makes these reptiles appealing to many people who want to have an exotic pet, but if you don’t have too much experience in owning reptiles, you might want to start off with something easier to take care of.
In the following lines, you’ll find some important-to-know facts about chameleons, as well as a comprehensive list of what you are going to need if you have already made up your mind and you are going to purchase one of these little guys.
Colors
One of the first things you need to know about chameleons is that they use their ability to change colors for three main reasons, namely to communicate with other individuals, to adjust their body temperature, and as camouflage.
The most fascinating part is that they actually have a special layer of nanocrystals under their skin which reflect light differently, leading to the color change. They are not actually changing color pigments, but their skin simply reflects light in various ways to create the color adjustments.
Temperament
Chameleons are solitary creatures that can be easily stressed, especially if handled more than necessary, and they can also hiss and bite if they feel threatened. Although not dangerous, such a bite can hurt quite a lot. For this reason and for many others, they should never be a child’s pet.
In terms of communication, a dark brown or black chameleon is usually stressed, while bright colors indicate a happier and relaxed mood. These reptiles use their strong tongue that can stretch up to one and a half times the length of the body to catch insects from afar. Some species can also eat vegetations, but the diet always consists mainly of insects.
When it comes to their temperament, chameleons are solitary creatures that like their privacy, being the more look-without-touching type of pet. Two males should never share the same space since they will most probably end up fighting and hurting each other.
Housing
In the wild, chameleons are arboreal, which means that they live exclusively in trees. Therefore, creating an optimal environment inside the house can be quite tricky, especially if you live in a rather small apartment. These reptiles need cages with a lot of foliage that they can climb on and that can ensure the necessary privacy.
The enclosure needs to be quite large since chameleons tend to grow and attain maturity rather quickly. Depending on the particular type you want to get, you should check with a vet or a specialist and see exactly what measurements you should consider for the enclosure.
Ample ventilation is required, and you might need to coat the cage with some poly mesh or live foliage to prevent potential toe injuries. However, pay attention and avoid plants that might be toxic, since chameleons might eat the foliage.
The substrate is also important for your pet’s health, and the one made of small particles such as sand, bark, gravel, or moss should be avoided since a chameleon can accidentally ingest it while catching the prey.
You should also note that certain chameleons are happier at lower temperatures, while others prefer higher ones, so you’ll need to ensure several areas of various temperatures. Each breed has some specifics in this case, so don’t forget to research this topic for the one you will choose.
Water
In the wild, these animals get their water from those droplets they find on various surfaces, so you will not be able to use a dish. Either a dripping system or misting the enclosure two times a day will do the trick.
A good dripping system can be either purchased or you can fashion one yourself using a water container with a pinhole. This can be placed at the top of the cage. Another fun solution can be to place ice cubes on the top of the cage, that will slowly melt and drip.
However, no matter the solution, always place the water system in the same spot, so that your little friend knows where to find it at any moment. Keeping an optimal humidity level is also part of the job, and misting can help here. But be careful not to overdo it and to constantly monitor it, since high humidity is not advisable either.
Lighting
Being reptiles, these beautiful creatures need exposure to both UVA and UVB rays. Moreover, having access to some natural sunlight that can get through an open window is a very good idea that will keep them healthy and happy.
UVB lights should be working for 10 to 12 hours every day and a timing system can be of great help to maintain a consistent lighting level. Make sure that you follow any indications from the manufacturer since otherwise there’s a risk of causing thermal burns to your chameleon.
You can also look for specific light fixtures that prevent your color-changing friend from getting too close to the source. If we haven’t mentioned already, chameleons are not the cheapest pet you can have, since their particular needs require some significant investments on your part.
Food supplements
Besides the crickets and other insects that you are going to use to feed your chameleon, some additional nutritious solutions might be required. For very large chameleons, a pre-killed mouse every now and then is welcomed. In the case of those species that eat vegetables, collard, kale, mustard, or romaine lettuce can be safely added to their diets.
On top of this, don’t forget to check with a specialist or a vet to determine what other multivitamins, calcium and vitamin D3 supplements you should include in the diet and how to best do that.
Why a Pet Chameleon Might Not Be The Right Pet
Before getting one of those cool-looking glass cages for chameleons and such a pet, you might want to take a moment and ask yourself if this is indeed the best idea. This is especially important if you are not familiar to what having a chameleon as a pet actually means and this would be your first try.
These reptiles are difficult to care for and they are most certainly not the type of pet someone should start with. Originating from the lizard family, chameleons come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, offering considerable variation in terms of what type you could get.
The word chameleon itself comes from two Greek words, namely “chamai” and “leon”, which translate to earth lion.
Color changing
You can find these lizards from sizes that go as low as 1 inch all the way to 30 inches. What makes them a highly popular alternative among pet lovers is their unique ability to change colors.
In the wild, chameleons use this to communicate, to blend into the environment as a form of protection, and to adjust body temperature. Moreover, these interesting creatures have the ability to change their colors the same day they hatch, and the spectrums they can attain vary from green and black, all the way to turquoise and blue-green.
Since they use their colors to communicate, these can indicate emotional levels such as stress or excitement. Dark colors indicate the former, while bright ones are correlated with the latter, exhibiting a good mood.
However, color changing is not the only aspect that makes these reptiles so interesting. They also have very long tongues that can stretch up to one and a half the length of their bodies. Moreover, they have the ability to rotate each one of their eyes independent from the other to get a panoramic view of their surroundings.
Their diet
These fascinating reptiles are insectivores, and their diet in captivity consists of crickets, silkworms, flies, hornworms, dubias, and other similar ones. Some species can also have fruits and leaves included in their diet, but these types of food can only form a small percentage of it.
Therefore, if you are thinking about getting a chameleon, prepare yourself for some feeding habits that might not be the most appealing ones. This might not be the best idea if you are looking for a nice pet for your kid.
Although he or she might insist that a chameleon is the top preference, you should think about whether it might not be disturbing or dangerous. A large chameleon living in the wild can even eat other lizards or small birds. These are certainly not pets that an inexperienced reptile owner should start off with.
Moreover, you should also know that they are not the cuddling type of pet, so if you are looking for a pet that can be held and actually likes it, then it’s better to take a look at other options.
Temperament
Chameleons are not your typical social animals. They are solitary animals, and unwanted or forced handling might cause them to hiss and bite. It’s true that such a bite is not toxic or harmful to humans, but that doesn’t make it any less painful. You can only imagine why a chameleon is not for anyone, especially for a child.
These reptiles also don’t tolerate high levels of stress and handling them more than necessary can cause them to reach chronic stress levels and, as a result, poor health. They also shouldn’t be kept with other pets.
The worst idea is having two male chameleons at the same place since there’s a high chance they will end up fighting and injuring each other. The cage or dedicated space they are kept in should include a lot of foliage that they can climb on and that can provide privacy at any point.
They require a lot of time and care
Taking care of a chameleon is actually a huge responsibility, and many pet owners that are not experienced in this domain tend to underestimate this aspect before getting one. Ensuring the perfect conditions for a chameleon can be a hassle, especially if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands.
The right temperature needs to be constantly ensured within the habitat, while the enclosure must be cleaned weekly. Since these are reptiles, they need to get the optimal amount of light and heat, so you will need to turn lights on and off at precise times throughout the day.
This might not seem too much now, but you can forget about nightly adventures or impulse trips. You will need to constantly plan ahead and always pencil in the chameleon and his or her need into your schedule.
Some might argue that things are not that complicated, but if you want your pet to be healthy and thrive, you will definitely need to pay attention to details and be meticulous.
High costs
Those telling you that a chameleon is not that expensive to keep are either not very experienced, or they are not doing the best for their pet. Do keep in mind that chameleons don’t come cheap, and if you decide to get one, you should make sure that you have the necessary budget to offer him or her great conditions from the first day.
The enclosure a chameleon lives in should have a height of around 48 inches, a width of 32 inches, and a length of approximately 24 inches. It’s true that baby chameleons need less space, but these are reptiles that grow quickly, so the size of the habitat might be an issue if you live a smaller apartment.
Since we’ve mentioned costs, you should be aware that wild reptiles tend to be easily infected by various parasites, so you might need to spend an extra buck on either preventing or treating your pet if needed.
However, do keep in mind that it’s best to avoid big chain stores for purchasing a chameleon, since the risk of getting an ill one are significantly higher. Instead, look for a reputable breeder and make sure that the little guy looks healthy, active, and that the coloration is bright to determine the general health.
Bibliography:
2) What does a chameleon need in its cage?
3) Chameleon Enclosures – an introduction
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