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Setting up a chameleon cage doesn’t have to be hard! There are a number of parameters that you have to keep in mind, but we know what they are and you can do them! The Chameleon Academy method for a chameleon cage incorporates the Forest Edge and Floating garden style to create an effective sanctuary for your chameleon. Not to worry, all those words will be meaningful by the end of this study period! I call it a sanctuary because this method focuses on both the physical and emotional needs of your chameleon in a simple set-up that has been proven effective over decades. The goal of this effort is for a beginner to not only be able to set up a chameleon cage right from the start, but also understand what they are doing and why.

There are three stages to setting up a chameleon cage.

Stage 1: Selecting the proper chameleon cage

Stage 2: Setting up the chameleon cage

Stage 3: Adjusting to your chameleon’s individuality

This infographic is a high level summary of the three stages of setting up a chameleon cage. This webpage has the details of each item.

Setting up a chameleon cage doesn’t have to be hard! There are a number of parameters that you have to keep in mind, but we know what they are and you can do them! The Chameleon Academy method for a chameleon cage incorporates the Forest Edge and Floating garden style to create an effective sanctuary for your chameleon. Not to worry, all those words will be meaningful by the end of this study period! I call it a sanctuary because this method focuses on both the physical and emotional needs of your chameleon in a simple set-up that has been proven effective over decades. The goal of this effort is for a beginner to not only be able to set up a chameleon cage right from the start, but also understand what they are doing and why.

There are three stages to setting up a chameleon cage.

1. Selecting the proper chameleon cage
2. Setting the cage up
3. Fine tuning the cage to your chameleon’s specific needs.

• Cage Size – consult your chameleon species care guide for minimum cage size. Don’t hesitate to go beyond that.
• Cage Type – the more humidity or temperature you have to add to the ambient conditions the more solid sides you need. If your seasons make it difficult to choose one style over the other, get a screen cage and use seasonal plastic wrap to turn it into a hybrid cage.
• Branch Mounting – How will you mount branches and potted plants in the cage?
• Equipment Interface – What equipment will you need (lights, mister, fogger, etc…) and how will each one attach to the cage?
• Drainage Solution – What is your drainage solution? We have the water coming in through misters and foggers. Where will the water go once it hits the bottom of the cage? How will you prevent it from pooling on the bottom and causing an unhygienic situation?

My cage of choice for this demonstration is the Dragon Strand Tall Screen Cage System. I designed this cage system and I designed it for us chameleon keepers. Thus it has solutions to the above issues. The Dragon Ledges provide a strong and convenient way to mount branches and potted live plants. The Tall Screen Cage comes with two mounts that accept Mist King and Cli-Mist nozzles and one fogger input that works with the standard 22mm fogger hose. And, finally, the Tall Screen Cage System comes with a drainage tray that is specifically designed to allow water to flow through the floor and into a fitted drainage tray. So, the Tall Screen Cage system is designed to be what you need right out of the box.

There is a great deal of history and experience that has gone into developing a reliable set-up for an arboreal chameleon. This is the core of success for us chameleon keepers. I hope this video/podcast series is able to effectively communicate where we are right now so that you can take advantage of all of the work and experience that has already gone on. But, please, take this only as a starting point and be part of the continued push to discover better ways to give our chameleons a better life.

The best way I can think of to describe a chameleon cage is the term Forest Edge. This is where there is a distinct open area and an area of heavy foliage. This gives your chameleon the choice between the two extremes. In fact, choices are the key to a healthily chameleon. We create an environment full of choices and we allow the chameleon to move in and out of those areas on their own volition. We call these gradients and microclimates. We create these gradients and microclimates with heat, UVB, humidity, and security. And it is to this end that the following videos and podcasts describe the Forest Edge and Floating Garden techniques for setting up a chameleon cage.

The Forest Edge 5+5 is a term I developed to turn the important concepts of setting up a chameleon cage into a memory device. It is explained in detail in the Chameleon Cage Checklist video. This set-up checklist is high level. Watch the video to give each step meaning. And the video and podcast entitled “Setting up a chameleon cage” provides a simple tutorial on the step by step process of creating the Forest Edge 5+5.

A more in-depth study is available at the page and video linked here:

Forest Edge 5+5

1. Create the Forest Edge with an open area for basking and a heavily planted area for hiding and security.
2. Is there a basking branch at the proper distance for heat
3. Is there a basking branch at the proper distance for UVB?
4. Do you have a hydration plan?
5. Is there a place to hang the feeder run cup with easy access?

Once you have followed the care guide to set up the basics, it is time to pay close attention to your chameleon’s behavior to see what it is telling you about whether your chameleon wants anything changed. Each chameleon is an individual and so may have preferences. They could want more or less heat, UVB, water, leaf cover, etc…

Of course, give your chameleon time to settle in first. Even the usual sign of discontent – pacing the walls – is different in the beginning. During the first 48 hours expect your chameleon to be restless and exploring the limits of their territory. They will climb the walls and hang from the ceiling. But they should settle down into the foliage after that.