Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Open Air Screen Cage, 24 x 24 x 48 Inches Review (2026)

What this cage is and is not

This is the base ReptiBreeze, model NT-13, an X-Large open air screen cage measuring 24 by 24 by 48 inches, sold without the LED lighting fixtures that come bundled in Zoo Med's pricier ReptiBreeze LED Deluxe version. That makes it the more budget friendly route into a full size screen enclosure for keepers who already own UVB and basking fixtures from a previous setup, or who prefer to choose their own lighting rather than use what a bundle includes. The screen construction itself is identical in spirit to the LED Deluxe model, just without the lighting hardware and at a correspondingly lower price.

Build and access

The cage is built from corrosion resistant black anodized aluminum screen, a material choice that holds up to the repeated misting and high humidity that chameleon care typically involves without rusting the way plain steel mesh would. It ships with all assembly hardware included and Zoo Med rates the build as straightforward with just a screwdriver, backed by a one year warranty and an official instructional video for step by step setup. Daily access comes through a large front door for handling, feeding and misting, plus a separate bottom door specifically for removing or refreshing substrate without having to open the main door and risk an animal making a break for it.

Setting it up for a chameleon

Because the ReptiBreeze is all mesh rather than glass, it needs its own substrate tray underneath, which Zoo Med sells separately as a 24 by 24 by 2 inch tray, and most keepers add a waterproof liner or drip tray regardless once a misting system or dripper is running daily. The open screen design is exactly what most chameleon species need since it maximizes airflow and prevents the stagnant, overly humid air that can cause respiratory problems in a mostly glass enclosure, but that same airflow means a screen cage does not hold heat or humidity as efficiently as glass, so basking lamps and misting schedules generally need to run a bit stronger to compensate.

Standard ReptiBreeze versus the LED Deluxe version

Zoo Med's own LED Deluxe version of this same 24 by 24 by 48 inch cage bundles in LED lighting fixtures and currently outranks this standard version on our list, largely because it saves a separate lighting purchase for keepers starting from scratch. For anyone who already owns compatible UVB and basking fixtures, though, this standard ReptiBreeze is functionally the same cage at a lower cost, and the flexibility to choose your own fixtures rather than being tied to what a bundle includes is itself an advantage for keepers with specific lighting preferences or existing equipment.

Bottom line

For experienced keepers who already have lighting on hand, or anyone who wants to choose fixtures independently rather than take a bundled set, the standard ReptiBreeze remains a well built, proven screen cage that earns our score of 8.7 out of 10. First time chameleon keepers without existing lighting should weigh the LED Deluxe version instead, since building an equivalent lighting setup from scratch can close much of the price gap between the two once UVB and basking fixtures are added to this base cage. Either way, the aluminum screen build itself is the same proven design Zoo Med has sold for years, so the choice mainly comes down to whether you need lighting included or already own fixtures you plan to reuse.

Frequently asked questions