75 watt basking bulb??

[SuperSambava72]

I got a 75 watt basking bulb with a deluxe porcelain clamp lamp and of course a zoomed 5.0 uvb bulb in preparation for a baby panther I am getting in a week. Anyways the 75 watt bulb seems very hot next to the screen. Do I need to get the lamp stand? It came with a clamp but cannot really clamp it on the screen cage. I was told that the baby panther will not get under it if it is hot, but I don't want him to burn. Any ideas??

Thanks

 

[Solid Snake]

You need to check the actual temps you are getting from it.

With it being directly on the screen, there is risk that the screen will heat up and if the chameleon climbs it, it could be burned.

I have always kept the dome on the screen.
IMO, with proper temps, and a proper basking spot(plenty of climbing surfaces underneath the basking area, to allow many different temp. options) and other places to explore, the risk is negligible.
JMO

Check the temps, check the sreen to see if it burns you after it heats up.

What size enclosure are we talking about here?

 

[Hoj]

if you can put something near the cage like a shelf or tall lamp, then you can clamp the dome light to it and raise it up a bit to lower the temp.

 

[SuperSambava72]

It is a 16 x 16 x 30 cage.

 

[Rottsko]

i have it set up both ways. i have the ones w/ flood lights hung up on the ceiling and the ones w/ regular household incandeschent bulbs right on the cage. if i had to do my cages all over, i'd just get regular household incandeschent bulbs and just rest it on the cage. i haven't changed my other cages to this b/c i'm lazy and the current setup is working fine. the most important thing is the temperature of the basking spot. if it's too hot, get a less wattage bulb.

 

[Solid Snake]

It is a 16 x 16 x 30 cage.

The smaller the enclosure, the harder it will be to maintain a proper temp gradient.

Generally:

The higher the wattage, the more heat the bulb gives off.
More heat from the bulb, the higher the ambient temp in the enclosure.

If the ambient gets to high, you need to use a lower wattage bulb.

If that makes the basking to low, the bulb needs to be brought closer to the basking spot. (or basking spot closer to the bulb, same difference...)

You may indeed need to use Hoj's suggestion, and use a piece furniture or something to attach the light to to achieve this.

Just play around with it, and you will get it right.

 

[SuperSambava72]

Thanks guys!!

 

[Elizadolots]

You can also elevate the lamp by putting "risers" on the cage. Little tea cups, like from a child's set, would work. Set the light on the cups. But, however you do it, you need to measure the temperature you are getting in the cage.