Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

jamesj · Contributing Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 79

Ive just put my chameleon into his new enclosure, its a 30x30x72 flexarium. He has some large plants in there upto the top with some other climbing sturctures. Soon after putting him in, he decided to climb the mesh of the flexarium, then on to the UV tube which is covered by a reflector. He then fell off since he couldnt grip the reflector im guessing. So he had almost 6ft drop, this almost gave me a heart attack! As soon as he fell he climbed straight back up one of his plants and is now walking around in his plants. But obviously im still worried he might have hurt himself. He seems perfectly fine, but could he have caused himself any damage? Im also worried about leaving him now incase he does it again, any way i could stop him? Would he have learn not to to climb on UV tubes? A 6ft drop is along way for a small chameleon, so id rather he didnt do it again.

One idea i did have was to put some pillows or something on the floor, so atleast he would have a soft landing.

Any ideas?

lol93 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject:

Keep your eye on him over the next few days, and if you're worried take him to the vet to get checked over. Chances are he'll be fine!

jamesj · Contributing Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 79

I will certainly get him straight to a vet if i think somethings wrong. Do you have any ideas for stopping him doing it again?

lol93 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:25 pm Post subject:

If you have lots of plants in your viv it would possibly break his fall if it happened again. Pillows on the floor sounds good, but if your cham is anything like mine, they'd be manky in a couple of days! Laughing

good12 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject:

Couldn't you put the UV on the outside to stop him slipping on it as it's a flexarium the UV will go through it.
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jamesj · Contributing Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 79

I think that might be a good idea actually. I suppose being a 10% UV tube, and having a reflexor fitted more than enough UV would get through.

jamesj · Contributing Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 79

Well i have now moved the UV and gaurd so it is right up in the top corner insted of dangling in the viv, so he cant get up onto the reflector anymore. Hopefully this should prevent any future accidents!

brittone05 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:41 pm Post subject:

How old is your cham?

I would agree that adding lots nad lots of foliage is a great idea - not only will it make him more secure but will hopefully cushion his fall if he does it again.

I am very wary of UV tubes now and try to keep them all outside the vivs where possible after one of my little ones burnt her tail on a tube and resulted in her losing half her tail Sad

Jan O · Key Member Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 360

Talking of reflectors, am I the only one who has found the edges lethally sharp? That fact alone stopped me fixing the uv inside the flex. Hope your Chams ok and no damage done. Love Jan

brittone05 · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:15 am Post subject:

i had the same problem Jan so gave up on them - very expensive in my local shop too - I now buy a hugeeee roll of tin foil and fold it over loads of times till it goes rigind and then simply pop that over the Uv tube - works exactly hte same for a fraction of the costs Smile

(I know, I know I am a skinflint lmao Wink

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