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-   -   Growing in a screen cage (http://www.orchidboard.com/community/terrarium-gardening/62093-growing-screen-cage.html)

AuGrower 09-01-2012 05:06 PM

Growing in a screen cage
 
2 Attachment(s)
Here are some pictures of my chameleon's cage. I originally stared out by falling in love with orchids and then by looking at them came across a panther chameleon. After doing lots of research I decided to upgrade one of my males "Nigel's" cage to about as large as I can.

http://img.tapatalk.com/a693789f-728a-9ee4.jpg

That's the cage with my orchids in it. I'll get a list to y'all when I get a chance. I've been meaning to do this for a while now but never seem to find the time.

This is Nigel by the way
http://img.tapatalk.com/a693789f-72e0-60da.jpg

That's why I wanted one lol.

Anyway I was hopping I could get some suggestions for more orchids that I can grow in there that will do well and bloom as much as possible.
My conditions in the cage are 2 led lights and a UVB bulb for the chameleon that run 12 hr. days and will be shortened to 10 for winter. Also I should mention that the cage is in front of a westward window for more light. The lights came from lightyourreptiles.com
And are the Jungle Dawn 13W LED.

It "rains" every 3 hours via my misting system from aquazamp.com
However the system might be changed The rain domes seem to make quite a mess and focus too much in one spot. I might go back to my mistking and get more misting nozzles so I can make sure all the spaces in the cage are covered.
The left side of the cage is all individual slabs of EcoWeb from firstrays.com
Where I would like to mount future orchids. As you can see I have one but it's struggling because I don't water it enough.
The bottom floor of the cage I hope to cover in orchids that are grown in S/H. Which I have had some mixed luck with so far. The S/H pots they are in also come from rays. All excess water drains out of the bottom by a whole down into a catch pot.
My goal is to have the best of both worlds here. I really want this cage to be a mini jungle I love as much variety as I can get with my conditions. I am especially drawn to unique orchids so please feel free to list anything that can grow and thrive here.
All mounted orchids have their roots covered in co co husk to help hold some moisture but not too much.
Before I began to order orchids I raised Nigel from a baby and he has never tried to eat any plant I have placed him with. He has done very well with the current selection of orchids now. The only problem I could say is that he walks on the orchids to move around so I have to make sure everything is zip tied securely.
I'll add some more pictures for better views.
http://img.tapatalk.com/a6937897-7890-ed94.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/a6937897-78b2-00a4.jpg
Attachment 72351

Bud 09-01-2012 10:25 PM

Wow...that is an amazing set up....I noticed some blooms and some budding plants....show us pictures of your blooms

NatalieS 09-02-2012 02:22 PM

You are 'making plans for Nigel'. :)

That's one gorgeous chameleon! I don't think you mentioned what temps you get in your terrarium?

AuGrower 09-02-2012 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud (Post 519709)
Wow...that is an amazing set up....I noticed some blooms and some budding plants....show us pictures of your blooms

Thank you very much! I have put a lot of effort into planning and putting it all together. I am currently at the beach right now. Which is how I actually got the time to post all this. Those are older pictures the only plant blooming now is my psychopsis that blooms consecutively. Unfortunately I did loose a few orchids in the beginning. I underestimated how hard it would be on them to transition to S/H also didn't realize in the beginning I needed the co co husk. I will get you updated pictures when I get home

AuGrower 09-02-2012 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatalieS (Post 519791)
You are 'making plans for Nigel'. :)

That's one gorgeous chameleon! I don't think you mentioned what temps you get in your terrarium?

Thank you he really is something else and his personality is very loving. I didn't that is one thing I forgot. The temps pretty much stay in the room temp range the only hot spot is near his basking bulb at the top. Which is about 100 F. I will give you more of an accurate reading on the temp levels when I get home. I havent taken them in a while after the initial setup and testing. Also the lights all go out at night so you get a drop to regular room temps tank wide.

nenella 09-02-2012 04:23 PM

Beautiful set up.
Nigel is lovely too are you planning to get him some company like a ... Nigella for instance?

AuGrower 09-02-2012 05:37 PM

Thanks! I really want to add a lot more orchids to it and make it really something amazing.
Unfortunately males and females don't really do well in a single cage together it seems to stress them. He actually has a brother "Monty" next door who is a blue nosy be. However they are territorial and would try and fight one another of they could see each other. So instead of a towel or something I made the wall of Eco web so they can't see one another. Plus it's a lot of great mounting space

AuGrower 09-02-2012 05:39 PM

Does anyone think that milt. Would do well on there? I really want some different kind of plants like this summer's project orchid got me drooling.

NatalieS 09-03-2012 04:08 AM

Well, I must have spent about an hour last night looking at panther chameleons and now I want one too!

Do you have a fan above the cage by any chance, or is it open to the air at the top? I can't really see from the pics. Milts tend to like lots and lots of fresh air, but having said that, I have one growing in a mini-greenhouse setup and it seems to be doing well. They like very high humidity. I'm growing two species and one hybrid milt. and they do get big quickly. The hybrid is taking over my bookshelf, and if you've already looked at the project thread for the milt spectabilis, you'll have seen how big they can get. Your cage is big so if you mounted one on your eco web you would probably get a very impressive display.

AuGrower 09-03-2012 11:30 AM

Ha ha yea there seems to be a correlation between what it is we are drawn to orchids about and chameleons. Let me warn you tho chameleons are one of the hardest reptiles to take care of they take a lot of work. Not trying to discourage you but just a heads up I spent atleast a month researching everything before I got one. But if you are interested check out chameleonforums.com.

No I don't have a fan the entire cage is open mesh like a screen porch so I assume there is good air flow. I could add a fan no problem. How much humidity we talking?

Do you think I have enough light to get them blooming?


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