Chameleons are delicate creatures, and as such, need a certain type of living space to reduce their stress levels and make sure they’re as comfortable as possible. Store-bought aquariums don’t always make the best environment for sensitive chameleons, which is why you might want to consider a chameleon enclosure for your next DIY project.
Building a DIY chameleon enclosure is a great way to save money (in some cases), tailor your chameleon’s living space to their needs, and make sure it fits perfectly where you want it to go in your home. Check out these awesome DIY chameleon enclosures that you can make today or over a period of time.
Please bear in mind that the material and tool lists may not be extensive and are based on the pictures or information we have available.
The 8 DIY Chameleon Cage Plans
1. DIY Chameleon Mansion Build
| Materials: | Red oak, black cherry stain, polyurethane coating, satin nickel hinges, aluminum rails, fiberglass screen, handles, sash lock, screws, wood putty, styrofoam sheet |
| Tools: | Cabinet hardware, drill, screwdriver, c-clamp, brackets, braces, staples, hammer |
| Difficulty Level: | Difficult |
If you don’t mind spending a little more time on your chameleon enclosure, this awesome enclosure coated with black cherry stain might be for you. We like its warm, classy appearance and the obvious time, energy, and thought that went into making it. If you’re looking for something quicker and easier to make, though, check out some of the other plans.
2. Wooden Chameleon Enclosure
| Materials: | Pine boards, wood screws, gorilla glue, screen, spline, stain, door hardware, floor material |
| Tools: | Table saw, miter saw, sander, planer, cordless drill, tape measure, screening tools, screwdriver, cutting knife |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
We love the simple, down-to-earth design of this wooden chameleon enclosure. The creator mentions that it takes about 6–8 hours to put together, but for beginners, it could take a day or two. Fortunately, the creator has written out really detailed instructions on how to build it. The great thing about this design is that the dimensions are entirely up to you—you can tailor this enclosure to just the size you want.
3. DIY Chameleon Cage/Enclosure
| Materials: | Wooden frames, L brackets, sanded plywood, paint, stain, mesh, stainless steel pipe, screws |
| Tools: | Cotton cloth, screwdriver, pliers, drill, gorilla glue, tape measure |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate–difficult |
This chameleon cage was built for a growing chameleon that needed some extra space. The creator notes that the total cost was around $400 CAD and was made over a period of two weeks in their free time. There’s quite a lot to put together here, but the end result looks like a real chameleon paradise, so if you have the time and willpower, why not?
4. Giant Outdoor Chameleon Cage
| Materials: | Mesh, wooden beams |
| Difficulty Level: | Difficult |
There isn’t a whole lot of information to go on as to the material or tools used to make this magnificent DIY chameleon cage, but one thing’s for sure—if you’re using this cage as inspiration, expect to spend a significant amount of time building one similar as the creator spent a few months putting it all together. Equally certain is that your chameleons would be very lucky indeed—this is an absolute giant of an outdoor enclosure!
5. Chameleon Enclosure Set Up
| Materials: | Varies depending on the type of enclosure you choose to build |
| Tools: | Varies depending on the type of enclosure you choose to build |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy–difficult |
Though this is not a DIY project per se, the writer of this blog shares a lot of useful information on how to set up your chameleon enclosure, whether you’re buying or building your own. She shares some fantastic tips and photos to show you what an appropriate chameleon enclosure looks like and what it needs to contain to keep your chameleons as happy as possible.
6. DIY Two-Hour Outdoor Enclosure
![DIY Outdoor Enclosure [Pictures]](https://petkeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DIY-Outdoor-Enclosure-Pictures.jpg)
| Materials: | Quest plastic chicken wire, plastic hanging flower pots, hot glue, twine, PVC pipe, zip ties, wood, plant wire |
| Tools: | Wire cutters |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Another creative, easy-to-make chameleon enclosure is this outdoor enclosure that took the creator only 2 hours to put together. Even better—the creator has written out detailed instructions as to how they made this enclosure. This enclosure is perfect for those who want an outdoor space for their chameleons without having to spend too long on assembly.
7. DIY Corner Vivarium
| Materials: | Walnut hardwood, walnut veneered MDF, ultravue screens, low iron glass, screen |
| Difficulty Level: | Difficult |
Cabinet enclosures are some of the best DIY chameleon cages to make because they’re great for concealing the drainage system in the lower parts. We like how this enclosure combines width and height to give the chameleon ample space to move around and how perfectly it fits into corners. The finished interior looks amazing due to there being plenty of space for a variety of plants and wood.
8. Alicia’s Chameleon Cage and Cabinet
| Materials: | Pinewood, oak plywood, plexiglass, fiberglass screening, screws, Minwax water-based stain |
| Tools: | screwdriver, tape measure |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate–difficult |
If you’re looking for something with very detailed instructions and clear information as to the materials and tools you’ll need, try this chameleon cage and cabinet by Alicia. Another enclosure with a lot of thought given to both width and height, this one can fit a range of plants and decorations. It may take a bit of time to put together, but the result is certainly worth it.
Summary
And voila! Eight DIY chameleon cage plans by some very talented—and, it must be said—dedicated chameleon enthusiasts. We’ve covered a variety of plans and designs ranging from simple to complicated, and hope they’ve given you a good dose of inspiration for your own chameleon enclosure DIY project.
Featured Image Credit: the_chris_spencer, Shutterstock
