A few questions for a beginner

[woodsball]

Hey everyone, after about a week of reading the forums I got a few questions I want answered before I go out and purchase my first chameleon.

Ive been busy building a home for the new lil guy (will post picture of the enclosure I built in a seperate thread in the proper section), and want to ensure that I am doing things correct.

I am looking into getting a vibrant chameleon and I was thinking along the lines of an ambilobe or nosy panther... I've already purchased the light fixture for the UV light, however I want to ensure that it will be adequate. The enclosure is 4x2x2... and I have a 15" UV light fixture. Will this be adequate?? and I want to clarify that a 5.0 UV light would be the proper one.

Now as for a basking light, my buddy told me a 150w reptile light would be good, however I feel it would be too hot. I thought maybe something in the 50w range would provide adequate basking from about 6 inches to a foot.

Now as for building the enclosure, what is the best way to set up the basking spot. should i have a thermometer handy and get something in the 90f range?? and where should i have the therm/hydr setup permantly to monitor the temperature at night and humidity levels of the cage??

As well for a dripper, where do I set this up? i understand it should be at the top, but should it be dripping through the mesh or should i puncture the mesh and have hosing hanging into the enclosure? Will the chameleon drink from the hose or off the water droplets on the foilage??

As for keeping humidity I am going to be misting 2-3 times a day.. Will this be adequate?

 

[cambech]

the 5.0 UVB is perfect.
A common household lightbulb in the 60 to 100watt range is usually sufficient for a basking bulb. Ideally i would try to keep the basking spot at 90F max but 85F is where most will tell you put it for a panther.
you can set the dripper on top of the cage and just let it drip through the mesh onto as many leaves as possible.
Try to use as much living foliage as possible as this will help maintain humidity levels.
hope this helps,

 

[carol5208]

i have my temp and humidity gauge towards the top of my cage on the back screen wall. Mine is affixed with velcro. If you want to see the temps at the bottom just but the gauge down there for a few minutes and you can see what the temp is. The bottom of the cage will be cooler or atleast it should be. I let my dripper drip through the mesh right onto a branch. he comes over and licks the branch. And your cham will benefit from misting for both humidity purposes and also for drinking.

 

[jastate09]

A 24 inch UV fixture should be used on a cage this big. Also don't buy a baby. This cage is to big for a baby. Get at least a 6 to 8 month old panther for this cage.

 

[Clifford]

Hello
My cage is about that size. I have a Nosy Be. I use and 18" UVB 5.0 tube and I wouldnt go smaller than that. 24" would be better probably.
85F is sufficient for basking for an adult (lower for a baby), so use whatever light bulb gets the basking area to that point. I use a temp guage placed near the basking spot and another placed mid-cage so I know at a glance there is a good gradient. You need a humidity guage too, to ensure that you are misting enough. A dripper works well also for hydration. Place it such that the drips fall into the enclosure onto leaves, or if having a tube go into the cage place that tube end near a branch so the chameleon can drink easily right from the hose as it drips.

 

[Psi]

Is your enclosure going to be 4h x 2d x 2w?

just wanna make sure, cuz taller is significantly better

 

[woodsball]

sweet, thanks for the help... the more the better.

and yes, thats the size it is... posting pics up now

 

[woodsball]

so i think i may have found my first chameleon!

ambilobe X tamatave hybrid.

so excited!!! now to get the foilage and that setup in the tank and getting it to the proper temperatures before i secure my new lil guy!