Air Conditioning Question

[Jon S]

OK, so my first cham gets here on Thursday. I've had the enclosure set up for a few weeks and have tweeked it to where it will be perfect for him and I'm just trying to come up with last minute things to consider and I have a question about air conditioning.

During the summer, it can be very hot here, and the temps in the house and room he will be in can get in the 80's, and at night they can maintain in the 75+ F range. When I flip on the air conditioner, I can get the temps perfect to where they need to be- 85-90 in basking area during the day, and 70-65 at night (It's an ambilobe panther, by the way).

I have read many times not to keep him where it will be drafty. Is air conditioning considered a draft or will he be ok? Its the only way I can really cool down the ambient temps.

 

[ColorCham427]

is this the room u sleep in?

i dont know about you, but i have an extremely hard time getting to sleep if my room isnt lower than 67.

if u r comfortable at keeping ur room at 72-74ish at all times. then u have nothing to worry about.

its not too cold for the day time, aslong as u have a basking lamp with a comfortable vine for him under it.

at night i would use a small nightlite... incase ur room gets lower than 67.

 

[ColorCham427]

if u can, place an actual towel on the side of his cage, where ur a/c vent is on.

also, put a cloth over the vent, so the air doesnt come out as a breeze, but more of a flow.. u kno what i mean dude?

 

[nick barta]

You will have no problem with A/C, unless the A/C vent is directly on the cage, and within 6 feet or so.

Nick

 

[kelso]

my a/c vent is almost directly under my chams cage... maybe 3-6 inches to the left of his cage and he is only on a small end table so probably about 2ft from the bottom of his cage... i have covered the vent with a thick folded towel, there is still some of the airflow that escapes around the towel but most of it is stopped from directly affecting the cage.
Does this sound like it could be a problem or is what I'm doing the best option???

 

[lanceman]

I believe you can get an adapter to go over your vent to send the draft in another direction across the floor so that it isnt blowing up at your cage. that way you still get the a/c but without the draft at the cage

 

[cushcameleon]

I thought that airflow was a good thing for cages? I know several members have fans that circulate air around their cages. What is the issue with having air blown into the cages?

 

[kinyonga]

Airflow is good...a draft or cold air blowing on the chameleon is not.

 

[cushcameleon]

a draft or cold air blowing on the chameleon is not.

Why? Does it cause respiratory problems?

 

[Jon S]

Thanks everybody. I think its going to work out fine now. T Minus 2 days. I'm friggin stoked

 

[summoner12]

I think you could keep him a bit warmer at night that 65... maybe 69ish 70... they need a cool down... but it will help your electric bill if you don't try to keep it too cool at night. and during the day you can let the room hit 75-78.

I keep a fan on in my cham room that osilated back and forth and none of the chams seem to mind it.... I keep it on low so there isn't a ton of air blowing on them. As long as the AC isn't blowing into this cage directly he should be ok. If the air is blowing on the side or something you could always put up a pice of plastic on one side of the cage.

You will find it harder to keep his humidity up with the AC on. More misting during the day if you can will help. just give him some small spitz.

 

[Jon S]

My goal isn't go have it down to 65 at night, but I know that is about hte lowest it should go. I do want there to be a cool down for him. Since I've had the enclosure set up for a while and have been able to tweek it, I think I've found the range where it will be where it needs to be during the day and at night with the AC on for days that it is needed. I guess much of it is trial and error

 

[Binksy]

good luck, Got mine todat. X

 

[ColorCham427]

Why? Does it cause respiratory problems?

yes indeed it does.

every chameleon video that i have watched, there seems to be a decent amount of wind.

im not saying it is good, but im sure it doesnt hurt.

i have two fans in my chameleon room. to keep the air from getting all stale. the water shouldnt be left around the floor, air flow helps it.

cold draft = no good.

 

[cushcameleon]

Ok, so the problem is similar to humans getting pneumonia when we become to cold?

 

[hallenhe]

Ok, so the problem is similar to humans getting pneumonia when we become to cold?

While I like good airflow where I am, I get very uncomfortable if air (fan or air conditioner) is being blown on me; I feel it dries out my nasal passages uncomfortably, among other things. Don't know if it's the same for chams, but I wouldn't think being kept in an unescapable draft would be that comfy.

 

[cushcameleon]

While I like good airflow where I am, I get very uncomfortable if air (fan or air conditioner) is being blown on me; I feel it dries out my nasal passages uncomfortably, among other things. Don't know if it's the same for chams, but I wouldn't think being kept in an unescapable draft would be that comfy.

So then your saying the issue is that it stresses the chams out?