No idea but those are very good points to consider.
From what I understand no. I read, or kind of read a study that found that UV above 3 did not produce xxx can’t remember but it was something that indicated how much calcium it could process. What I gathered was that there was no gains above a given threshold.
Right but even in areas where there is a higher UVI how often are these chams sitting at the very top of a tree in full exposure? Your going to get a real reduction in UVI level as you move down below the canopy. Not to mention full sun (higher UVI) at noon brings with it the hottest temps of the day. This is when chams go deeper into the plants to stay cooler.
Thanks for the mention. Complete transparency: Despite the intuitive advice of the experts such as Mario, my thoughts on uvb exposure for some montanes comes from facts about their respective habitats. Physics tells us that light diminishes with square of the distance from the source. This means that sunlight, including uvb, is exponentially stronger at 2000 meters above sea level, than it is at sea level. Hence, when montane species such as jax, are exposed to direct sun, they are exposed to exponentially higher levels of uv radiation. However, just so we’re clear: xantholophus aren’t hanging out in full sun all day. Presumably, they get some direct sun exposure to warm up in the AM, then spend the day in dappled shade, hunting etc. So, while the solar radiation (and therefore uvb) they do receive is more intense than their sea-level counterparts, they certainly don’t spend all day in the sun. Long story short, it makes sense that certain montanes are adapted to higher solar radiation intensities. However, they probably adjust for this by their use of dappled shade—not to mention the specific morphological attributes, such as “warty” skin. So, it makes sense that if your goal is to replicate natural conditions, then provide high uvb, coupled with dense areas of shade. However, the jury is still out on whether this approach to montane husbandry is better. It is perfectly plausible that providing high intensity uvb in a densely shaded enclosure is equivalent to providing moderate intensity uvb in an enclosure with less shade. Without question, there is a definitive answer to the question, “how much uvb does my Jackson’s need,” and that answer will look something like, “your Jackson’s needs x number of micro-mols over y period of time.” Unfortunately, we don’t know those values as of yet. In the meantime, we have to grope around in the dark as best we can. My guess is that both approaches to uvb for certain montanes can work. What doesn’t work is throwing unearthly levels uvb at your Cham in a sparsely planted cage. Personally, I like to offer high uvb, but this is a function not only of the size of my enclosures, but the amount of plant coverage I inevitably get in my greenhouse. I highly recommend that anyone thinking about this issue should keep an open mind, so as much research as possible, consult as many experienced keepers as possible, and be ready and willing to change their practices according to available evidence. Finally, take any advice proffered as “the one and only way” with a huge grain of salt!
Here is an explanation of the 6% vs 12% that I tried to put into its simplest form for a YouTube video on Panther Chameleon Care. Maybe this can help?This has proven a very interesting and informative thread. Many voices which I trust have given many points which explain my original question and given a great deal to take into consideration. @DeremensisBlue I’m so thankful that you’ve weighed in here as your knowledge and experience leads our way. So now it’s clear to me that I trust your opinion over that of my vet when it comes to chameleons.
My new 12% bulbs arrived last week and have been shoved into storage for now. Perhaps if my plants grow much denser or I feel like installing more ceiling hooks, they’ll be put to use. For now, I at least have spare bulbs for my beardie.
I told my vet to check out chameleon academy and told him to refer his chameleon people there lolUnfortunately a 20-30 minute vet visit isn’t nearly long enough to have a full discussion about uvb levels and what data Dr Bruce is basing his recommendations on. I have no idea if he keeps or has kept chameleons, but he did say he has a bearded dragon, for which a higher uvi is needed. Hopefully I won’t have need for another visit to Dr Bruce for a while, but maybe I can ask him more. If I’m feeling really bold, I could risk insulting him and ask him check out Chameleon Academy.
Unfortunately a 20-30 minute vet visit isn’t nearly long enough to have a full discussion about uvb levels and what data Dr Bruce is basing his recommendations on. I have no idea if he keeps or has kept chameleons, but he did say he has a bearded dragon, for which a higher uvi is needed. Hopefully I won’t have need for another visit to Dr Bruce for a while, but maybe I can ask him more. If I’m feeling really bold, I could risk insulting him and ask him check out Chameleon Academy.
