Hello everyone, this is my first panther chameleon and I just want to make sure I am doing everything right. I have been doing a lot of research lately and I just have 1 specific question on lighting. I have a baby panther coming tuesday (3 month old male), and I have a 100watt mercury vapor bulb that I will be using. I have heard different things. Some people say that it is fine to use, and others have told me that it is wayy to much. The enclosure I have for him right now is roughly 20 in high, 20 in long, and 12 in wide. If that in fact is too close, can I just move the bulb further away from the cage? I would just buy a reptisun 5.0 uvb bulb and a basking light but I have already dropped over $300 on everything (including the little guy). I have spent more than I thought I would and just want to minimize costs. Thanks for all the help.
Baby panther chameleon set up PLEASE HELP!
- Thread starter gsurfn
- Start date
Julirs
New Member
thanks for the help guys. i guess i'll hang onto the mercury vapor bulb until he is older. looks like it is time to surrender more cash
Surrendering cash goes with this hobby!
DJ Richey Rich
New Member
Chameleons are an amazing hobby but can get expensive lots of people on here can help you with cutting cost by directing you to the right sites to buy like www.lllreptile.com is a very good must see site where I get my cal. and cal. D3 they kinda cater to chameleons
ok so here is what i purchased per what you guys told me! the only uvb bulb that my reptile store carries was the "zilla 18 in Desert 50 uvb T8 fluorescent bulb" and then i bought a 40 watt basking bulb with dome. Is this enough now? I am really concerned with humidity levels now. I have the repti-fogger on the way which should help while he is this age, just thinking forward now. How does everything sound now?
PardalisGirl
Avid Member
Picture?
Hi there....I'm not familiar with that Zilla product. I've used only the ZooMed Reptisun tubes. I googled the product you said you got. I found the tube but they did not come with fixtures. Only the compact type 50 UVB tubes came with a hood. Could we get a picture of it? Just to make sure we are talking about the right product? I read the specs on the Zilla 50 UVB light linear tube. It's made for desert reptiles. It admits more heat and UVB than a Reptisun product.
If you want to use it you will need to put it up some distance from the screen so you don't blast your chameleon with UVB and extra heat. There is a person on the forum (Summoner12) who belong to a club that specializes in lighting issues. Maybe you can send a PM to Summoner12 and ask him if he can help you figure out distance that would be appropriate for your baby. It is expensive to set these chameleons up. But it's more expensive if it doesn't end up living due to inappropriate equipment, etc. I'm hoping that Summoner12 or someone else can help you make this light work. Keep the 100 watt Mercury Vapor light for a big cage when your cham is an adult. A number of people here use them and can help you figure out how to use it properly. I use them for my big iguana setups. Keep us posted and post pictures of your new baby and it's cage when you get him!
Hi there....I'm not familiar with that Zilla product. I've used only the ZooMed Reptisun tubes. I googled the product you said you got. I found the tube but they did not come with fixtures. Only the compact type 50 UVB tubes came with a hood. Could we get a picture of it? Just to make sure we are talking about the right product? I read the specs on the Zilla 50 UVB light linear tube. It's made for desert reptiles. It admits more heat and UVB than a Reptisun product.
If you want to use it you will need to put it up some distance from the screen so you don't blast your chameleon with UVB and extra heat. There is a person on the forum (Summoner12) who belong to a club that specializes in lighting issues. Maybe you can send a PM to Summoner12 and ask him if he can help you figure out distance that would be appropriate for your baby. It is expensive to set these chameleons up. But it's more expensive if it doesn't end up living due to inappropriate equipment, etc. I'm hoping that Summoner12 or someone else can help you make this light work. Keep the 100 watt Mercury Vapor light for a big cage when your cham is an adult. A number of people here use them and can help you figure out how to use it properly. I use them for my big iguana setups. Keep us posted and post pictures of your new baby and it's cage when you get him!
Ok, I will keep posted with pictures. I am very concerned though, I have left the cage with the lights going on and everything and its only 26% humidity. The repti-fogger got held up in shipping and I don't think it will be here till friday. Will it survive till then? And will the repti-fogger be able to keep the humidity up that high? I have the basking spot at around 80 right now, but when he gets older I will use the mercury vapor and I'm sure that will put out the high basking spot. I just really hope he survives until that fogger comes, and it actually works. I'm a nervous wreck lol.
PardalisGirl
Avid Member
Hand mist....
You can hand mist the cage with a simple and cheap pump spray bottle. A couple of dollars at Walmart, Target or Home Depot. Make sure you don't use one that was used for something else. Plastic absorbs chemicals. I would personally recommend misting rather than fogging to keep up humidity. Then they can drink if they want to which keeps them hydrated. Potted plants keep the humidity up with moisture locked in their soil and with misted water that stays on their leaves. I keep my juvies in screen cages and hand mist twice each day long enough for them to drink. I don't use anything else other than the plants to keep humidity up. They don't live in a foggy mist in nature.
You can hand mist the cage with a simple and cheap pump spray bottle. A couple of dollars at Walmart, Target or Home Depot. Make sure you don't use one that was used for something else. Plastic absorbs chemicals. I would personally recommend misting rather than fogging to keep up humidity. Then they can drink if they want to which keeps them hydrated. Potted plants keep the humidity up with moisture locked in their soil and with misted water that stays on their leaves. I keep my juvies in screen cages and hand mist twice each day long enough for them to drink. I don't use anything else other than the plants to keep humidity up. They don't live in a foggy mist in nature.
Yeah I understand but, what if I am unable to attain 60% humidity. Will he die very slowly? I mean I just don't understand how I will be able to keep it that high when I currently have it only up to 32%. I am spraying it a lot but that is about where it is staying. The fogger won't increase humidity at all? I was really relying on that. Am I going to kill him? Btw. the gauge for the humidity and temp is at the top of the cage..so it could be higher..or lower. Please help.
pssh
Avid Member
Is it digital? Digital is the only way to go as the analog type are inacurite. He will be fine for a week like that, but try to mist for a longer time 2-5 minutes should be good. A dripper will also help hydrate him.
Try to keep it around 40-60 when dry, 70-99 when misted, and 60-70 for an hour or two after you mist and your humidity should be great for him.
Try to keep it around 40-60 when dry, 70-99 when misted, and 60-70 for an hour or two after you mist and your humidity should be great for him.
Dave Weldon
Avid Member
Howdy,
A quickie note (It's past my bedtime
):The past history on the Zilla Tropical 50 UVB light is that it was (and may still be) probably the most dangerous widely supplied tube available
. I was part of the group that helped to essentially get it recalled. The mfgr has re-formulated it but the independent test results are not released yet so it is too soon to say anythng about their safety. Since we don't know the new formula's status and we don't know if you bought a new or old formula tube, return it and buy a Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0 linear tube and a fixture that fits it.https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-special-report-uvb-reptile-health-problems-6122/#post42969
Zilla Tropical 50 UVB burns after a day or two of exposure:
Dave Weldon
Avid Member
Howdy,
The Repti-Glo 5.0 linear tube will hold you until you can get the Reptisun 5.0 linear tube.
Try online places like LLL Reptile. http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...por-bulbs/-/zoo-med-18-repti-sun-50-uvb-bulb/
Ok, sounds good. I had moss at the bottom of the cage, but I was afraid that the crickets were just disappearing in there and my little guy would never be able to eat them. I cleared it out and put paper towels down. I got 1/4 in crickets. I'm just hoping he eats. Still having trouble battling the humidity. I have been able to get it to roughly 40% when spraying the mist....the repti-fogger comes this week as well as the dripper. I am hoping that this will be enough. Thanks again for everyones help!!!!
