After much Blood, Sweat & Tears........
- Thread starter lizgentry
- Start date
Metric
New Member
Not to sound offensive or rude, but if it is a Coiled bulb, they are known for causing eye problems including blindness in reptiles. Not to mention your cham is going to want the ability to choose whether to be under UVB rays or Basking under a heat lamp.
If you are using a coiled bulb I'd suggest getting a reptisun 5.0 tube uvb light.
Take care!
If you are using a coiled bulb I'd suggest getting a reptisun 5.0 tube uvb light.
Take care!
Miss Lily
Chameleon Enthusiast
You managed to put the cage together then! It looks good! I see you have a nice big croton plant in there. They look very colourful - a nice change from all the greenery. I just bought one of these this morning for Amy - it only cost me £2.99 in Sainsbury's! How do you stop water from coming out of the back and sides of the cage when you mist? I always wondered how people get around that - I'm sure that all cham owners don't have damp walls and soggy carpets, lol!
My way at the moment is a bit tacky and make shift TBH. Im just wrapping a giant black towel around the 3 side whilst i mist and then taking it down again when im done!
Not sure how other people do it though - i have heard of some people wrapping bin liners around them
On monday i am picking up some bamboo screens for it though so that'll solve that problem and give her a bit more security / privacy!
Not sure how other people do it though - i have heard of some people wrapping bin liners around them
On monday i am picking up some bamboo screens for it though so that'll solve that problem and give her a bit more security / privacy!
Pure
New Member
Looks good, I really like how you tried to mix it up a little with the different plants.
The light you are using is a Mercury Vapor right? Just be careful she doesn't get too much UV. From what I've read those things can put out a lot at close range. I personally wouldn't use an MV without a UV meter.
The light you are using is a Mercury Vapor right? Just be careful she doesn't get too much UV. From what I've read those things can put out a lot at close range. I personally wouldn't use an MV without a UV meter.
Yeah it is a mercury vapour. When i bought it the guy in the shop showed me the UV with a UV meter and the levels from this brand were ok - much better than the exo terra death machine i was origionally sold (by someone else)
It took me bloomin ages to find the plants! I must have gone to about 30 different garden centres and DIY shops! The ficus was £20
But im happy with it - just needs the screens to go in now then it'll be all done
I think she is happy too hard to tell really! But, she has eaten her first ever bit of fruit today - she ate a grape! Yay!
It took me bloomin ages to find the plants! I must have gone to about 30 different garden centres and DIY shops! The ficus was £20
But im happy with it - just needs the screens to go in now then it'll be all done
I think she is happy too
hard to tell really! But, she has eaten her first ever bit of fruit today - she ate a grape! Yay!
Miss Lily
Chameleon Enthusiast
She must be happy in there if she's eating. They don't like change and if she wasn't happy you'd know about it! She'd be dark and might have stopped eating. Looks like she's gonna love her new home!
Did you try B&Q for plants? That's where I get my Ficus and Schefflera from (they do a few sizes in each too).
Did you try B&Q for plants? That's where I get my Ficus and Schefflera from (they do a few sizes in each too).
SliK JiM
New Member
Looks great to me! What size wattage is the powersun? I wish 'd been there to tell you about megaray bulbs though! When you come to replace this one in 6months, looks into a megaray MVB. They're seriously better (in terms of quality of light produced), last an awful lot longer, and are now cheaper than a powersun! Check out www.kimbosreptileworld.co.uk as it's the cheapest place I found. I will always use megaray bulbs as they're just fantastic (check www.reptileuv.com for details!)
Looks great to me though! You might want to watch the bamboo canes as they can be very hard to grasp for younger chams. You may want to get something to wrap round then so she has a foothold or two. You can get soft twist tie (I only discovered it the other day by reccomendation) for like £2.50 for 5 metres (inc delivery) and it's really good. It's bendable and maintains it shape so it's a really good alternative to expensive bendy vines you can buy!
Looks great to me though!
You might want to watch the bamboo canes as they can be very hard to grasp for younger chams. You may want to get something to wrap round then so she has a foothold or two. You can get soft twist tie (I only discovered it the other day by reccomendation) for like £2.50 for 5 metres (inc delivery) and it's really good. It's bendable and maintains it shape so it's a really good alternative to expensive bendy vines you can buy!
dodolah
Retired Moderator
I have never used mercury vapor for the uvb source.. but, i would assume (since Power Sun do emit much stronger UVB than reptisun) that you should raise that bulb couple of inches higher instead of letting it rest right on the screen top.
Anyone care to agree or disagree?
Anyone care to agree or disagree?
Pure
New Member
That's exactly why I wouldn't use one without a meter. It's just too hard to tell how close is too close with these bulbs. Add to that different manufacturers produce varying levels of UV.
SliK JiM
New Member
It depends on the wattage of the bulb. If it's one of the smaller ones, it only needs to be 6 inches above the basking site to provide the right levels of UV (without mesh) so it would be ok if it was the 60W (I think that's the smallest they do but it may have been discontinued). The bigger ones, would need to be about 12" above the basking spot with no mesh, so about 8" gives the correct sort of coverage, but as said, it is helpful to check!
I don't know if you guys have it over there, but we can rent solarmeters for £2 a day (plus about £3 for delivery there and back) which is cheap easy way to test your setup!
SliK JiM
New Member
I do not know anyplace here that offers a Solarmeter rental service.
But, I wouldn't need to do it anyway. I have one
It's alright for some! I will get one when I get a few more chams!
Hi all
I have screened off the sides and back as she seemed to be hiding alot. Since the screening she is now pottering about as normal.
Also, I have raised the bulb so it is now hanging about 10 - 12 inches above the basking spot depending on the room temp.
Just a question - why will i have to replace the powersun after 6 months? I have a 2 yr guarantee(sp) on it from the shop i bought it in.
I am thinking of replacing it with a domestic 80W bulb and a reptisun 5.0, would this be better?
Thanks
I have screened off the sides and back as she seemed to be hiding alot. Since the screening she is now pottering about as normal.
Also, I have raised the bulb so it is now hanging about 10 - 12 inches above the basking spot depending on the room temp.
Just a question - why will i have to replace the powersun after 6 months? I have a 2 yr guarantee(sp) on it from the shop i bought it in.
I am thinking of replacing it with a domestic 80W bulb and a reptisun 5.0, would this be better?
Thanks
Syn
Avid Member
Just do yourself a favor and buy a meter..
No one should buy one of these without a meter.
jojothefirst
New Member
If you have a "the range" store up by you I would recommend checking them out for plants....sometimes they will redue some for you aswell if you ask.
