37 Innovative Chameleon Cage Setup Ideas [Beyond Basics]

Do you want to make something innovative for your chameleons? Then, you can take suggestions from this article that offers you 37 innovative chameleon cage setup ideas. These cage ideas will be the portrayal of your creativity, including the basic requirements to keep your chameleon happy. Also, DIYing these chameleon cages can save you money from spending on readymade chameleon enclosures.

So, let’s take a quick look at this article. Here you can pick any of these superb ideas, or you can modify these ideas to create your chameleon cage with your plan.

Key Takeaways

• You must know the basic requirements of your chameleons before setting up their tank.
• Make your chameleons feel secure in your cage setup with plants and climbing features.
• While implementing any tank design, you can fusion your ideas.

1. Tiki Hut Style Chameleon Enclosure

Supplies and décors	DIY wooden cage with glasses, hays, rocks, artificial branches, vines, UVB lighting, fogger, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

This chameleon tank design will surely blow anyone’s mind with its unique tiki hut-style feature. It’s a long wooden structured cage with a glass window. Make sure to keep the enclosure well-ventilated for your chameleon.

At the bottom of the tank, you need to add rocks in this tiki hut-style chameleon enclosure. These rocks will retain the heat of the terrarium. To keep your chameleon healthy, you should keep UVB/UVA fluorescent lighting.

Also, this tank design shows the addition of live or artificial plants for your chameleon. After all, a good chameleon cage should have lots of vines and branches.

Besides, you should add sturdy branches that are suitable for the grips of your chameleons. Moreover, you must monitor the humidity level to keep it between 65-80%. That’s why you can include an automatic misting system.

2. Rainforest Vibing Chameleon Enclosure

Supplies and décors	20-50 gallon tank, clay soil, topsoil, ledges, branches, live plants, UVB lighting, fogger, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

You might know that a large number of chameleon hails from the rainforest. To provide a naturalistic home in captivity, you can follow this rainforest-vibing chameleon enclosure. Due to their specially featured two-toed hands and feet, these chameleons are popular as good climbers. Hence, you must bring a tall enclosure.

To DIY a rainforest chameleon enclosure, you need to fix the background with clay soil, topsoil, silicone foam, etc. As a result, the enclosure will give a dark naturalistic vibe. Afterward, you should add branches, ledges, and rocks inside the enclosure.  

But, the tank setup hasn’t finished yet. The addition of trees will fulfill this rainforest chameleon enclosure. Do not forget to add a lighting source to mimic the day and night cycle for your chameleon.

Since you recreate rainforest in this enclosure, you must keep the tank damp. To keep the chameleon happy, you should keep the humidity range around 80%. However, you can add other animals if you want to turn it into a Paludarium.

3. DIY Closet Chameleon Tank

Supplies and décors	Old closet, potted plants, vines, ledges, branches, UVB lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

This tank design idea will allow you to reuse your old cabinet. No wonder it’ll be a marvelous way to turn your old stuff into a new chameleon enclosure.

This tall closet will give your chameleon enough vertical space to enjoy climbing. Because of its great height, you do not require any substrate at the bottom layer.

Also, this closet chameleon tank design shows a DIY background on one wall. Then, you need to add potted plants, leady and woody plants, vines, ledges, etc. Do not forget to add UVB lighting. Otherwise, your chameleon will face difficulty absorbing calcium.

4. Basic Chameleon Setup With Artificial Plants

Supplies and décors	Substrate, artificial plants, water dish, driftwood, lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

If you want to make something quicker, this basic chameleon tank setup will be of your help. Instead of adding too much stuff, you can complete the tank with just a few items. For this, you must know the basic requirements of your chameleon.

After choosing an enclosure, you should add bedding at the bottom of the tank. While choosing a substrate, you need to choose the best moisture-absorbing substrate for your chameleon. After all, you have to keep the humidity level within 60-80%.

The basic tank shows how you can set up a simple chameleon tank with artificial plants, driftwood, a water dish, and other required items. These artificial plants will give your chameleons climbing opportunities in captivity. Also, a water dish is a must in this tank design. Your chameleon can soak themselves in the water dish.

5. Cozy Chameleon Home

Supplies and décors	Potted plants, reptile hammock, lighting, fogger, thermometer, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

This tank design is pretty simple and basic. The first thing to do is to choose a tall tank. Since your chameleon is a climber, you need to keep lots of climbing opportunities in this cozy home.

So, a cozy chameleon home requires lots of live or artificial plants. Another drawback of this tank design is no substrate. Since chameleons spend less time in the ground, these reptiles do not require substrate much. For this reason, you can not keep plants in any ground of the tank.

That’s why you can choose potted plants with long leaves and branches. To add more comfort to your chameleon, you need to hang a reptile hammock at a certain height. Your chameleon can enjoy the basking light while sitting on the hammock.

6. Epic Monster Chameleon Tank

Supplies and décors	A monster tank, substrate, clay foam, plants, UVB lighting, LED lighting, water dish, thermometer, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

The specialty of an epic monster tank is to set up the chameleon cage in a monster tank. This tank design chooses a huge tank of 180*60*145 (6 feet). You can aim to create a Paludarium in this monster tank. Make sure that the tank is well-ventilated.

After spot-cleaning the tank, you need to set up the bedding with a safe substrate. You can use moss, bark, compressed coconut, cider, or coconut husk fiber. These kinds of substrates will absorb the moisture and air to maintain the ideal humidity level.

To create a naturalistic environment, this tank design shows the DIYed background of the monster tank. The entire tank gives a dark and vintage look. To help your chameleon climb, you can keep woody and leafy foliage. Some safe plants for chameleons are the Jade plant, hibiscus, bromeliads, golden pothos, etc.

Lastly, you must include the required items for your chameleons. Such as heat lamps, UVB lighting, LED lighting, thermometer, water dish, etc.

7. DIY Outdoor Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	Enclosure, substrate, plants, ledges, branches, thermometer, hygrometer, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

Do you want to think out of the box? Then, you can DIY an outdoor chameleon cage instead of an indoor enclosure. In the case of an indoor cage, you must adjust the basking light, fluorescent or LED lighting to maintain the day and night cycle, etc.

You’ll get rid of these hassles if you set up an outdoor chameleon cage. For this, you must ensure the safety of the place where you set up the outdoor chameleon cage. Instead of choosing a shady area, you must place the cage in a place with an abundance of sunlight.

This tank design shows the substrate at the bottom of the cage. Since chameleons are climbers, you must add branches and ledges inside the enclosure. Not to mention, plants are the life of a chameleon enclosure to bring out the. Naturalistic vibe. Besides, you must keep a thermometer and hygrometer to monitor the environmental parameters of your outdoor chameleon cage.

8. DIY Wooden Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	Wood, sticks, rope, ledges, vines, potted trees, lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

This DIY wooden chameleon cage idea requires your craftsmanship skills and patience. You need to prepare a cabinet-styled structure with wood. Another feature of this tank design is having no substrate. For this reason, you will have to bring potted plants.

There’s also a special feature of this wooden chameleon cage. This tank design shows to DIY the climbing ladders and pathways. All you require will be sticks and rope. Also, some vines will increase the beauty of these climbing opportunities for your chameleon.

You might know that chameleons tend to blend with nature. To help chameleons practice this natural trait, you must add large-leafed plants. Lastly, you should add the required equipment needed for your chameleon.

9. Jungle Style Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	Glass tank, substrate, plants, vines, ledges, UVB lighting, water dish, thermometer, fogger, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

A jungle-style chameleon cage will serve your chameleon the whole vibe of the rainforest. Greenery will be abundant where your chameleon can blend itself. If you want to bring a small jungle inside your home, you should go for this jungle-style chameleon cage design.

First, you need to choose a large enclosure with a screen lid. It’ll ensure proper ventilation inside this chameleon cage design. The main feature of this tank design is the addition of lots of plants.

You might know that chameleon requires at least 60-70% humidity for shedding. These plants will retain the moisture level inside the terrarium to keep your chameleon happy. The next important thing is to add ledges and vines. Make sure that the diameter of these ledges is suitable for the grips of your chameleons.

In this jungle-style chameleon cage, you must add UVB lighting to help your chameleon bask well. These chameleons can regulate the amount of basking in the wild. Since this tank design is heavily planted, your chameleon can also regulate their basking in the cage.

10. DIY Chameleon Cabinet Vivarium

Supplies and décors	Old cabinet, clay soil, foam, substrate, plants, vines, ledges, lighting, heat lamp, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

This tank design allows you to recycle your old cabinet. Instead of wasting your old cabinet, you can turn it into a chameleon cabinet vivarium. The first thing to do is to DIY the background of the cabinet enclosure.

By using clay soil and foam, you can make an uneven formation that brings a vintage vibe. Although chameleons do not spend much time on the ground, you should add substrate at the bottom layer. A deep layer of substrate will collect the excrement of your chameleon. Moreover, the substrate will hold moisture in this chameleon cabinet vivarium.

The next significant thing to add is plants. These plants will chameleon change color, provide climbing spaces, and hold moisture. This tank design shows vines and ledges for your climbing pet.

Besides, chameleons require UVB lighting to absorb calcium in captivity. Also, these reptiles need lighting to maintain their day and night cycle. Hence, you must add LED lighting and UVB lighting. Since these chameleons prefer a temperature drop at night, you should keep a low-wattage heat bulb for the nighttime.

11. Chameleon Heaven

Supplies and décors	Substrate, plants, ledges, vines, dried leaves, heat lamp, UVB lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

Chameleon heaven means such a comfortable place for chameleons where they can thrive well. The first condition to create a chameleon heaven design is to choose a large tank. Your chameleon can roam and hide well in a larger space.

Since chameleons are arboreal reptiles, their wild habitations have an abundance of foliage. To create a chameleon heaven, you need to add lots of plants for these arboreal plants. This tank design shows the adjustment of ledges from one wall to another wall. In short, you need to fill the tank with plants, ledges, branches, and vines to make a paradise for your chameleon.

Also, this chameleon heaven tank design has substrate bedding at the bottom of the tank. You can keep some brown dried leaves in this chameleon heaven. Because of being cold-blooded animals, chameleons require heat lamps in the tank. However, you must add LED and UVB lighting to keep your chameleon happy in this heaven tank.

12. Mossy Chameleon Enclosure

Supplies and décors	Clay soil, silicone foam, moss, lighting, thermometer, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

To try something unique, you can choose a mossy chameleon enclosure idea. The main hero of this tank setup is the Mosses. You might know that humidity plays a crucial role in the good health and happiness of your chameleon.

In this mossy chameleon enclosure, mosses will provide insulation and hold moisture in the tank. Besides, your chameleon will not succeed to shed without the ideal level of humidity. Some drawbacks of this tank idea are having no substrate, plants, or branches for your chameleons. But, you can always modify the ideas in your way.

To implement this tank design, you need to DIY the background of this tank. For this, you can use silicone foam, clay soil, etc. You need to add mosses over the background.

There are several excellent choices of mosses for your chameleon. Such as green sphagnum moss, golden moss, pillow moss, royal pillow moss, etc. Lastly, you must add a good lighting source to your mossy chameleon enclosure.

13. Naturalistic Chameleon Cage Setup

Supplies and décors	Substrate, clay soil, climbing plants, rainforest vines, artificial vines, logs, ledges, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

This naturalistic chameleon cage design recreates the wild habitations of chameleons. So, there will be an abundance of foliage, vines, and other sources of greenery. After choosing the tank, you must add bedding with a safe substrate for chameleons. The best substrate will be any moisture-absorbing substrate.

To bring the naturalistic vibe, this tank design requires DIYing the background. You can carve the background to help your chameleon climb the tank. Afterward, you should add climbing plants, rainforest plants, vines, ledges, and artificial vines. Some logs or driftwood may add more aesthetics to the tank.

14. Indoor Chameleon Bioactive Vivarium

Supplies and décors	Substrate, clay soil, plants, vines, ledges, lighting, clean-up crews, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

To create a bioactive vivarium for your chameleon, you need to place the enclosure at a suitable place first. Although many chameleon owners do not add substrate to their chameleon tank, this tank design keeps a layer of substrate bedding. You can also some dried leaves that preserve the moisture level of the substrate.

Another feature of this indoor chameleon bioactive vivarium is its background. Instead of keeping bare background, you can DIY the background to create an uneven formation with clay soil. Adding mosses will bring out the naturalistic vibe of the tank.

Since your chameleons are arboreal reptiles, the tank is incomplete without plants and branches. Keep a lighting source to mimic the day and night cycle for your chameleon. Because of setting up a bioactive vivarium, you need to add some cleaning crews to this tank.

15. Simple Chameleon Tank With Ledges

Supplies and décors	Clay soil, foam, ledges, substrate, dried leaves, lighting, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

Although this tank design might look simple, you need to give some effort to DIY this enclosure. To bring out the natural look, you must make a formation in the background with clay soil, foam, loose soil, etc. Since ledges play the leading role in this enclosure design, you will require a bunch of ledges.

These ledges will give climbing opportunities to your chameleon. To make an aesthetic appearance, you can keep the ledges in a zigzag formation. Another feature of this simple chameleon enclosure is the substrate bedding. You can readily maintain the precise humidity level with the help of substrate and background soil.

16. Dual Chameleon Enclosure

Supplies and décors	Substrate, leafy plants, artificial vines, ledges, water dish, heat lamp, LED lighting, UVB lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

It’s not a combo tank. But, you can get ideas to set up two separate tanks for your chameleons. One of them is pretty basic, and another is full of luxuries for chameleons.

If you do not want to take much hassle, you can set up your chameleon tank with a potted plant. Like the first picture, this chameleon tank has a leafy potted plant, vines, ledges, etc. These will provide lots of climbing opportunities for these arboreal reptiles.

Also, the substrate will give a naturalistic vibe, like the ground of a forest. Because of having more space, your chameleon can freely roam in the enclosure.

The second chameleon enclosure is too tall which gives huge vertical climbing space to your chameleons. From the second picture, you can notice different-sized foliage, hanging plants, and vines in this chameleon cage. Also, these tank designs do not require DIYing the backgrounds.

17. Automated Natural Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	Substrate, plants, auto-fogger, DIY dripper, UVB lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

By the name of this tank design, you might comprehend that this tank can run automatically. You’ll not require to take much hardship to run this chameleon cage.

One of the coolest features of this cage is its easy-to-open door of the front. It will aid you to feed your chameleon smoothly. In addition, this tank design includes an auto-misting machine, DIY dripper, UVA, and UVB lighting.

In short, these automatic features will keep the precise humidity level for your chameleons. Also, there are full of leafy plants in this automated chameleon cage. These plants will help your shy chameleon take coverage.

18. Repurposed Cabinet Chameleon Tank

Supplies and décors	Substrate, plants, vines, lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

Here comes another cabinet chameleon enclosure design. You can DIY a chameleon tank with a repurposed cabinet or wardrobe. This tank design shows its feature of two easy-to-open windows at the front. As a result, you’ll not face any hassle with tank maintenance or feeding your chameleons.

Inside the tank, you can set up the space with plants, vines, and ledges. Keep many climbing and hiding opportunities for your chameleons. Moreover, you can keep extra items in the rest of the bottom drawers of this cabinet.

19. Rectangular Chameleon Tank

Supplies and décors	A rectangular tank, substrate, plants, vines, ledges, lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

You can save money for a chameleon cage by DIYing any rectangular furniture. This tank design shows ample space in horizontal and vertical ways for your chameleons. Start the setup by keeping a layer of substrate at the bottom of the chameleon tank.

Then, you need to fill the chameleon cage with lots of plants, ledges, and vines. Also, this tank design focuses on a good deal of climbing opportunities for chameleons. Due to heavy plantation, this rectangular chameleon tank gives off a shady and dark appearance.

20. Chameleon Climbing Heaven

Supplies and décors	Substrate, plants, vines, climbing limbs, ledges, lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

You might know that the special physical features of chameleons help them grip and perch the trees. Since these reptiles tend to hide themselves, they require lots of climbing opportunities. So, you can simply make climbing heaven for your chameleons to keep them happy.

The secret ingredient to creating a chameleon climbing heaven is to put leafy plants, vines, and climbing limbs. These items can be real or artificial. You must ensure that your chameleons can take a good grip on these climbing limbs.

In addition, this tank design shows a proper arrangement of these plants and climbing limbs. You need to set up these items in such a way that helps your chameleons climb up to the cage.

21. Chameleon Palace

Supplies and décors	Plants, substrate, climbing limbs, lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

This chameleon palace is also a DIYed cabinet tank. To turn the tank into a chameleon palace, you need to provide all the necessary facilities for your chameleons. The huge space of this chameleon palace gives your pet reptiles adequate room to roam and explore.

In the wild, chameleons tend to live in higher trees, shrubs, and bushes. To recreate the natural habitation, you need to add long-leafed plants. The long leaves will help your shy chameleon hide in the tank.

Make sure to add lots of branches, ledges, and other artificial climbing limbs. These will aid your chameleon to get the pleasure of climbing vertical spaces. Finally, you must keep this chameleon palace warm like its native home.

22. Indoor Chameleon Forest

Supplies and décors	Substrate, dried leaves, driftwood, moss, ferns, plants, clay soil, lighting, automatic dripper, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

This indoor chameleon forest tank idea will surely make you stunned. Firstly, you need to choose a huge tank to set up an indoor chameleon forest tank. This tank design features large driftwood with moss, several types of plants, and a DIYed background.

To create a forest-like environment, you must add a bedding of substrate. Then, you should place the large driftwood in the middle of the tank. Focusing the driftwood as a hero, you must add other plants, vines, ferns, and moss. Add some dried leaves to the ground.

If you want to set up a water drainage system, you must DIY a waterproof base with a drainage tray. To keep this indoor chameleon forest lively, you should choose between manual misting, automatic misting, or automatic dripper. Also, you must add a good lighting source for the better growth of plants and good health of chameleons.

23. Top Floored Chameleon Home

Supplies and décors	Substrate, clay soil, UVB lighting, LED lighting, plants, mister, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

Do you want to make a home for your chameleon and leopard gecko? Then, you can get an idea of a two-in-one tank. To implement this tank design, you need to get a double enclosure or a two-shelved tank.

Since the tank design idea is named top-floored chameleon home, it’s pretty obvious to keep your chameleon on the top shelve. So, you need to prepare the top portion perfect to inhabit for chameleons.

This tank idea features a DIYed background at the back, a safe substrate at the bottom, and full of foliage. Also, you must add a heat mat, LED lighting, UVB lighting, automatic mister, etc. Since your chameleon home is at the top part of the tank, you need to DIY the water drainage system.

24. Perfect Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	Potted plants, hanging vines, ledges, climbing limbs, lighting, heat mat, water dish, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

Setting up a perfect chameleon cage is pretty challenging for any beginner. You need to ensure the correct temperature and humidity range, sufficient climbing opportunities, hiding options, and so on. Here, you can choose any cabinet or large enclosure to set up this tank design idea.

A significant feature of this perfect chameleon cage is no bare glass wall. You can adjust a Pascal background on one wall of the tank. Now, it’s up to you how you want to imitate the natural habitation of these chameleons.

Keep lots of sturdy plants, potted plants, hanging vines, climbing limbs, etc. The arrangement should have lots of hiding places for your shy chameleons. Despite keeping several basic items, this tank design shows adequate space for your chameleons to freely roam around the tank.

In this perfect chameleon cage, you must not forget to continue a 12/12 photocycle. Also, you should keep the humidity range within 60-80% to help your chameleon thrive in captivity.

25. Chameleon’s Secret Den

Supplies and décors	Potted plants, excavator clays, silicone foam, ledges, branches, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

This tank design portrays a dark environment for your chameleons that makes them feel safe. That’s why you can name it a chameleon’s secret den. The specialty of this tank design is its DIYed background.

You can use silicone foam and excavator clay to create this uneven textured formation. It’ll imitate the environment of grassland for your chameleons. To make the tank a safe place, this tank design features an abundance of foliage, branches, and ledges.

The entire setup of this chameleon’s secret den is perfect for these skeptical reptiles. However, one drawback of this tank design idea is its no substrate. Also, you need to ensure keeping a good lighting source in this den.

26. Chameleon Cage With Dragon Ledges

Supplies and décors	Dragon ledges, potted plants, ledges, branches, lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Easy

This tank design features a naturalistic cage with dragon ledges. The entire setup is pretty simple and beginner-friendly. Firstly, you’ll require a 36”×18” ×36” sized large enclosure.

Then, you need to set up the main hero of this chameleon cage which is dragon ledges. This tank design shows two horizontal ledges per side and some vertical dragon ledges. These dragon ledges will provide support to keep potted plants and horizontal branches.

But, the lacking of substrate and background can come off as shortcomings of this tank design. However, you must ensure the basic requirements of your chameleons to keep them healthy.

27. Medium Atrium Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	An atrium cage, plants, lighting, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

This medium atrium chameleon cage is unique due to its open sky. Like other enclosures, this tank design doesn’t have an upper lid. To make the tank naturalistic, you need to make the tank densely planted.

Also, you must add a basking light for your chameleons on one corner of the tank. Because of having an open upper side, your chameleon will enjoy the high-lighting area. Besides, the light gradient will help your chameleons enjoy basking and natural hideouts.

28. Epic Bioactive Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	Substrate, branches, plants, humidifier, water dish, heat mat, lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

This tank design is a combo of a surrealistic presentation of nature and basic supplies for chameleons. The first thing to do is to choose a tall enclosure to set up this bioactive chameleon cage. You must ensure to provide adequate airflow in this chameleon cage. Otherwise, the tank will trap the heat, which will cause a high-temperature range.

Then, you need to set up branches and leafy plants. Keep the arrangement in such a way that aids your chameleon to climb vertically. These climbing structures are a must for chameleons.

To keep your chameleon happy, this epic bioactive chameleon cage ensures the correct humidity level. Also, you must keep a water dish where your chameleon can soak in.

29. Into The Wild Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	Plants, ledges, branches, lighting, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

You might know that chameleons are naturally shy creatures. That’s why they always seek shelter in bushy areas or leafy plants. Also, these chameleons demand a humid area to thrive well. All these can be ensured to create this ‘into the wild cage’.

This tank design idea features bushy spots inside the enclosure. In addition, you must add some climbing features for your chameleons. Some safe plants for chameleons are ficus plants, golden pothos, Boston fern, Devil’s ivy, etc.

Besides, you should add a good lighting source for the growth of these plants. You can manually mist the chameleon cage to maintain the ideal humidity level.

30. Massive Vintage Chameleon Enclosure

Supplies and décors	A massive tank, substrate, moss, fern, driftwood, plants, lighting, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

This tank design features a massive chameleon enclosure that gives off a vintage vibe. The bigger the tank, the more space your chameleon gets. If you’re a plant lover, you can surely arrange this tank design wonderfully.

To set up this massive chameleon enclosure, you need to add a deep layer of safe substrate at the bottom. It’ll work as the ground for chameleon where the impurities gather on top. Moreover, the substrate is a must in this tank design to keep live plants.

Another astonishing feature of this tank design is its DIYed background. Along with the background, you need to add driftwood, moss, leafy plants, woody plants, ledges, ferns, and grass. These items will bring out the vintage vibe of this chameleon enclosure. To keep the tank humid, you should add an automatic fogging system too. 

31. Statue Themed Chameleon Enclosure

Supplies and décors	Clay soil, foam, moss, fern, plants, statue, climbing structures, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

If you want to set up a theme-based chameleon cage, you can choose a statue as a perfect décor item. Your chameleon may not recognize the difference between wild and captivity in this tank design. You need to create an uneven formation in the background with clay soil, rocks, and foam. It’ll create a jungle-like environment in the tank.

Also, this tank design shows the substrate at the bottom layer of the tank. After setting up the bottom layer and background, you can add moss everywhere. Then, you need to place the statue in a suitable corner of the tank.

To help your chameleon climb, this tank design adds climbing limbs to this enclosure. You should join these climbing structures securely. Lastly, you must not forget to add the most significant item of a chameleon tank which is foliage.

32. Simple Chameleon Vivarium With Climbing Features

Supplies and décors	Substrate, dried leaves, plants, ledges, sisal rope, lighting, heat mat, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

Nothing can beat climbing décors as essential décor items for chameleons. So, you can set up a simple chameleon vivarium with the basic required items for chameleons. These include sisal ropes, ledges, leafy plants, branches, etc.

Also, this tank design includes a substrate and brown leaves at the bottom of the tank. You should DIY a water drainage system in this chameleon vivarium. In addition, you need to add lighting sources, a humidifier, a heat mat, a water dish, and other required items for your chameleons.

33. Chameleon Paludarium

Supplies and décors	Clay soil, woods, foam, branches, lighting, moss, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

Since chameleons have popularity for changing color, these active reptiles are popular choices for Paludarium. To set up a chameleon Paludarium, you need to choose a large enclosure. Otherwise, your chameleon will not get sufficient space to roam and explore freely.

Besides, you must ensure proper ventilation in your chameleon Paludarium. This tank design includes a carved formation at the background of the Paludarium. You can also notice a water feature in this Paludarium though chameleons do not require water features.

To keep your chameleon happy, you must add lots of climbing features to this tank. Make sure to install lighting sources, heat mats, humidifiers, etc. However, it can be hard to cohabit chameleons with other animals in a Paludarium.

34. DIY Acrylic Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	An acrylic cage, moss, clay soil, driftwood, plants, branches, humidifier, lighting, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

Instead of setting up a glass enclosure, the most suitable DIY setup for your chameleon can be an acrylic chameleon cage. You can give any shape to this acrylic cage, unlike a glass tank. Because of being flexible material, you can create an uneven formation in the background of this chameleon enclosure.

When the formation is created, you can put moss everywhere inside the enclosure. These mosses will retain moisture to maintain an ideal humidity level. To recreate a naturalistic vibe, you need to add driftwood, ledges, branches, and plants.

Make sure to provide lots of climbing opportunities for your chameleons. Though an acrylic cage does not trap heat, you should monitor the temperature range. 

35. DIY Cabinet Jungle For Chameleons

Supplies and décors	Old cabinet, potted plants, branches, lighting, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

This tank design shows an example of turning an old cabinet into a chameleon enclosure. You can set up a jungle-like environment in this cabinet. Since your chameleons are skittish reptiles, the abundance of foliage will give them lots of hiding places.

Moreover, a jungle environment is an ideal place for chameleons to change their coloration. You must keep lots of climbing features in this cabinet jungle for chameleons.

If you look closely, you’ll find no substrate in this tank design. That’s why this tank design shows potted plants available for chameleons. This tank design will aid you if you do not want to go for rooted plants.

36. Hide And Seek Chameleon Cage

Supplies and décors	Plants, vines, automatic dripping system, water dish, etc.
Difficulty level	Moderate

You must be aware of the camouflage trait of chameleons that helps these shy reptiles blend with the environment. Because of their shy nature, these chameleons tend to hide a lot. Inspired by this behavior, you can DIY this hide-and-seek chameleon cage.

For this, you need to create lots of opportunities for your chameleons to hide. So, this tank design shows an abundance of foliage and vines in the enclosure. You must add a manual or automatic dripping system to this chameleon cage.

37. Chameleon Fusion Tank

Supplies and décors	Substrate, topsoil, clay soil, plants, automatic fogging system, spotlight, thermometer, humidifier, etc.
Difficulty level	Hard

The final chameleon tank design idea to introduce is the chameleon fusion tank. This tank design features a deep layer of substrate at the bottom, a DIYed background, and lots of plants. Also, an automatic fogger needs to be installed in this tank design which creates an illusion in this chameleon tank.

Moreover, there is an underwater spotlight. It changes the whole mood of the chameleon Paludarium. Make sure to monitor the ideal humidity and temperature level for your chameleons.