Appropriate basking spot? And branch placement.

[ColeCham333]

I began cage set up today. I am putting in my main basking branch. People have said the basking spot should be 6 inches away from the lamp, but is that too close? I have a 100 watt bulb, and the branch in the picture is 8 inches away from the top of the cage. Should I make it 2 inches closer, or would it be too close and burn my cham? Any other advice for branch placement around the cage would be helpful too, but my main conflict is where to make his basking spot. Thanks

 

[tenchijin]

It's most important to know the temp at the actual basking position- at 8" away, a tall cham will have its head and/or back maybe 4-5" from the source, which could well be too close. You need to measure the temp at THAT spot. It's also helpful to know what type of chameleon this is.

 

[ColeCham333]

It's most important to know the temp at the actual basking position- at 8" away, a tall cham will have its head and/or back maybe 4-5" from the source, which could well be too close. You need to measure the temp at THAT spot. It's also helpful to know what type of chameleon this is.

A panther chameleon

 

[kinyonga]

You also need to make sure that the chameleon can't climb up onto the screen and be so close to the basking light that it gets burned. At the closest spot the chameleon can get to it should not be hot enough to burn it.

 

[EarlMT]

You also need to make sure that the chameleon can't climb up onto the screen and be so close to the basking light that it gets burned. At the closest spot the chameleon can get to it should not be hot enough to burn it.

I had my basking spot 8 inches my 75 watt bulb and it was too hot for my veiled, but an infrared thermometer would be a good cheap investment