Myth 41: “The Mesh Cages Must Be Wrapped in Foil To Raise Humidity”

A bizarre trend is spreading across social media: wrapping mesh chameleon cages in foil or plastic to "raise humidity." It's not just misguided — it can be harmful, counterproductive, and absurd.

Imagine this: you buy a brand-new Mercedes S-Class, fully equipped with a four-zone climate system and ten high-efficiency filters. And before you even drive it out of the garage, you take a 10-pound hammer and smash all the windows, including the windshield. Then you punch a hole in the grille — right where the airflow sensors and filters are. Why? Because someone told you it would "improve air quality." That's exactly what wrapping a mesh cage does to a chameleon's environment. It destroys the very system designed to keep them alive.

A Brief History of Cage Design

In the 1980s and 1990s, reptile husbandry was still in its DIY phase. Keepers built cages from whatever materials they could find — glass was popular, but ventilation was poorly understood. Over time, we learned that ventilation is one of the most critical factors in keeping reptiles, especially chameleons, healthy.

The minimum requirement for a healthy chameleon enclosure is:

• A fully ventilated top
• At least one full mesh side — ideally more

When manufacturers began producing lightweight mesh cages, it was a breakthrough. These cages were easy to ship, affordable, and — most importantly — they prevented respiratory infections by allowing proper airflow. For newcomers to chameleon keeping, and not only for them, mesh cages were a game-changer.

The Reality of Indoor Conditions

Most mesh cages are kept indoors — in homes with stable temperatures between 65–75°F (18–24°C). This range is ideal for most chameleon species kept in indoor captivity during the day. If additional warmth is needed, it can be locally provided with a basking light.

As for humidity:

• Daytime humidity around 40–50% is perfectly fine, even for tropical species.
• Nighttime humidity should be higher — but that doesn't mean the entire cage needs to be sealed.

Chameleon Physiology

Chameleons are reptiles. Their skin is covered in a thick, water-resistant layer of keratin. They do not absorb moisture through their skin like amphibians. What matters most is humidity around their nostrils and airways — not their entire body, because this is the only place, where the water penetrates and leaves the bodies, this is the gate for hydration and desiccation.

A well-ventilated mesh cage is perfectly adequate if you provide:

• A cold fog or mist falling gently over their head at night
• Proper hydration through potential additional drinking and 
• Ambient humidity not at the level of extreme desert

The rest of the cage can remain ventilated. Moisture for plants is a bonus — not a necessity.

The Danger of Wrapping Mesh Cages

Wrapping mesh cages permanently:

• Blocks essential airflow
• Suports bacteria and fungi growth and reproduction and sporulation
• Raises the risk of respiratory infections for the chameleons
• Raises the risk of respiratory infections other pets in the house
• Raises the risk of respiratory infections or allergies for humans in same facility
• Creates stagnant, unhealthy microclimates
• Undermines the very design that keeps chameleons safe

If you need to temporarily increase humidity, use removable panels at night — not permanent foil wraps. And never block ventilation during the day.

When Exceptions Might Be Justified

There can be good reasons to break this strangely rigid-looking rule — but the minimum standard must always be respected:
A fully ventilated top and one full mesh side is the absolute minimum (not optimum) for functional ventilation.

If you reduce ventilation to this minimum, it may not be optimal. In such cases, you might need to compensate the difference of airflow with a small ventilator on top of the cage or use forced airflow in the entire room (e.g., ceiling fans). It's a bit ironic to limit the cage's built-in ventilation only to reintroduce airflow artificially — but if necessary, do it.

Valid exceptions include:

• Visual barriers: If your chameleon is stressed by seeing another chameleon, a bird, or a cat, you may need to block that specific view. Consider removable panels or opaque dividers. If no other solution works, wrapping one side may be justified.

• Cages placed side-by-side: In setups with multiple cages, you might accept the risk of reduced ventilation, relying on the door and top mesh as "enough." Try to avoid wrapping — but if necessary, wrap only what's essential.

• Protecting walls from water spray: Many keepers mist excessively, flooding cages with liters of water daily. This leads to complex drainage systems and soaked surroundings. In reality, wild chameleon habitats aren't constantly drenched, chameleons do not live in swamps. If you're draining your cage, you're likely overwatering. Consider fogging with ~200ml instead of misting gallons. Use drippers or mist in controlled directions. Only if no other option exists, wrap the side.

• Cost-saving hybridization

  : Some argue that mesh cages are cheaper than hybrids, so wrapping sides creates a "DIY hybrid." In Europe and Asia, price differences can be significant — double-check this claim. If valid, wrapping may be a practical compromise.

• Extremely dry climate: If you (and you would be an exception of one of hundreds of thousands) live in the middle of the sandy desert and/or if for whatever reason the facility's humidity is extremely low, you might want to wrap to raise the humidity in the cage a bit. Only if no other option exists, wrap. Under such conditions, there will be very likely many other reasons why not to keep chameleons anyway.

Final Word

Don't wrap blindly. Never compromise the minimum ventilation standard: a full top and one full side must remain open.

"Mesh Cages Must Be Wrapped in Foil To Raise Humidity" is a myth mainly born from misunderstanding and poor advice; and, there are exceptions. Respect the engineering of mesh cages. They were designed to protect, not suffocate.

Give your chameleon:

• Ventilation
• Targeted humidity
• Required fluctuating temperatures
• Proper diet
• Space to thrive

No foil. No wrapping. Just good husbandry 

— with thoughtful exceptions when truly necessary.