Getting the Most From Your Dragon Strand Dragon Ledges

floating garden cage with Dragon Ledges

Getting the Most From Your Dragon Strand Dragon Ledges

Introduction to Dragon Strand

The Dragon Strand Chameleon Caging Company was started to solve the problems we chameleon keepers have in keeping chameleons. One perennial problem was how to build up inside a cage with screen walls that can offer no support. There were, and still are, all sorts of hacks that place stress on the screen or else look less than natural. The patented Dragon Ledges are the answer to that problem.

What are Dragon Ledges?

Dragon Ledges are anchors that are mounted to the sides of a cage that offer convenient mounting surfaces for branches. They are permanently attached to the aluminum frame and take all the weight of the branches or potted plants and transfers it to the side frame.

Dragon Ledge
Each Dragon Ledge in the set comes with a “Ledge” which is the one piece that goes inside the cage, a Spacer which makes sure the screen wall is not stressed, and a Back Brace that will attach to the outside frame.
Large Clear Side Chameleon Cage
On this Large Clearside Enclosure, the mounted Dragon Ledges are inconspicuous. Their job is to provide solid support without being obvious.

How to Attach Dragon Ledges

Dragon Ledges are screwed into the side frames. A common concern is that you are making holes in the frame and the screen to install a Dragon Ledge. This is true, but it is okay because this will be a permanent addition to your cage. All holes are covered and out of sight. Once your Dragon Ledges are installed your cage is actually structurally stronger so there really isn’t a reason to take them back off! But if you want to trash the cage and reuse the Dragon Ledges in another cage, this is not a problem.

Dragon Ledge Installed on Chameleon Cage
This image shows the mounting hardware for the Dragon Ledges.

How to Use Dragon Ledges

Dragon Ledges can certainly be used to attach horizontal branches directly. They have holes and surfaces that make it convenient to zip tie just about anything on. But I would like to share the way to get the most out of your Dragon Ledges. Select two thick branches and zip tie them on vertically. If you get branches that span from a couple inches from the floor to a couple inches from the top panel you have given yourself anchor point all along the side – not just where the Dragon Ledges are mounted.

Dragon Ledges from top to bottom
By attaching vertical branches and forming a grid on the Dragon ledges you are free to mount horizontal branches at any level.
Chameleon cage setup: mounting plant pots
With strong vertical branches attached to the Dragon Ledges, branches and pots may be mounted at any level.

Installing pots for plants on the Dragon Ledges

If you want to install a potted plant in “mid-air” you will need three points of anchor to fix it in space so it does not swivel on any axis. I like to use each of the vertical posts as well as a crossbeam that I install for the pot to sit on. If I am placing the pot somewhere where I don’t have three points of contact, a firmly lashed down stick strategically placed so it brushes the side of the pot gives me that needed stability. I use a double pot method where I use an identical pot to mount and then just slip the potted plant in afterwards. This allows me easy replacement if necessary.

A crossbar branch between the two vertical support posts provides a strong and convenient platform for a plastic pot.
If another anchor point is needed to achieve three points, a branch can be run along the side of the pot.
Chameleon Cage Setup: Anchoring pots
There are many ways to give your pots three points of support using the Dragon Ledges and your branch network.

End Result

The end result is a cage with a hanging garden type feel with vines trailing down. This allows you to create hidden glens for your chameleon to retreat to when he wants to get out of sight and rest or sleep. By creating these micro-environments in your cage you can allow a wide range of natural behaviors in your chameleon. Here are some examples of the end result.

chameleon cage with foam used in background

Naturalistic Chameleon Cages

Naturalistic Adult Chameleon Cage Setup

floating garden cage with Dragon Ledges
A floating garden style cage made possible by Dragon Ledges

Conclusion

The purpose of the Dragon Ledges is to be functional without being noticed. Part of our quest for having a naturalistic cage is it looking natural to our eyes. Thus the Dragon Ledges do their job of supporting multiple potted plants while still being as unobtrusive as possible.

For Further Study

To dive deeper into how to use Dragon Ledges please check out the following content

Application note on how to build up a Medium Atrium Cage

Video on how to install Dragon Ledges

Application note unbuilding up a Large Keeper Cage

For Purchasing Information go to

https://dragonstrand.com/dragon-ledges/

Share this post

Comments (2)

  • Deadvarmint

    What type of branches are you using for the inside framing? Is it ficus?

    February 8, 2019 at 4:38 pm
    • Bill Strand

      I use sycamore branches because of their strength and character!

      February 10, 2019 at 6:19 am

Comments are closed.