Basking bulb brands. Help please :)

[ben7ani]

Hey all, I havent posted in a long time. Had my chameleon a while now and he's in a 3foot(L) x 2foot(D) x 3foot (H) vivarium at the moment. This contains real plants, branches vines etc with 100% organic compost substrate and a drainage layer. It also has the lucky reptile super rain and super fog system installed on automatic timers as are the arcadia t5 lights (12% UV 39W & plant pro tube 39W < for the plants obviously >).

He seems to like it.

I currently have a 100W exo terra neodymium basking bulb at the front left of the viv which is on all day (12hrs) causing a basking spot of about 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) with the branch about 1–1.5 foot below the bulb.

I also have a 60W standard bulb which comes on for a few hours at midday in the top right hand corner of the viv with a basking spot of about 31 Celsius (87 Fahrenheit) with the branch about 0.7-0.9 foot below the bulb. The idea of this coming on is to stimulate the peak in temperature at midday and slightly raise the ambient air temperature. It seems to be working ok.

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The question I have for you all however, is what brand of bulb do you use for basking? The exo terras seem to have a low life?? I was also thinking of doing away with the 100W bulb and downing it to either a 75W exo terra or two 60w bulbs, both on for 12hrs of the day… but having the lights at different lengths to the basking site to stimulate different basking temperatures all day in the same location. What are your views?

 

[ben7ani]

Oh and I have an adult panther.

 

[Goggles]

I use a GE incandescent light bulb. The wattage will depend how far away and your ambient room temperature to start. I get away with a 40W and it is WAY cheaper.

 

[ben7ani]

Ill check it out, thanks for the reply.

With the size viv I'm using would you recommend using TWO 50/60W bulbs and adjusting the height of the branches until i get the right temperature for the basking spots?... and keep these on all day?

...or keep ONE higher wattage bulb i.e. the 100W and just provide the one basking spot for him all day.

...Not sure what to do now. :-(

I was just thinking with 2 lower wattage bulbs I can have two slightly different basking point temps and still sort out a cooler part of the viv as well anyway, but wanted other people's opinions - I dont want it getting to hot!

 

[carol5208]

yes, you can have more than one basking spot and let him choose what he likes best. People on here bask their panthers anywhere from low 80's to mid' 90's. It is really a preference but either of the temps will work. I have a 60 watt and 40 watt and my cham seems to prefer the 60 watt basking area.

 

[Midnighthwk]

i use a reg house light for basking, so much cheaper and does the same thing

 

[sandrachameleon]

I use any brand of regular tungsten incandescent household light bulb
A halogen bulb is a slightly better choice

You dont need your temps that high for a panther. My hottest spot for a male panther would be 90F

 

[ben7ani]

Awesome, I've bought a pack of 60W spot bulbs from my local harware store for when the 75w and 60w sun glo exo terras decide to blow

... in other words about 1 wekk

 

[summoner12]

I strictly use Par20 50w flood halogen lamps. They make lots of heat for the wattage and won't break if you get them wet since they are meant for outdoor use.

Always angle te fixture so that the light is not pointing straight down. These lamps are very warm so you need to make sure your animal isn't a screen climber, or just move the light up off the cage top.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

I strictly use Par20 50w flood halogen lamps. They make lots of heat for the wattage and won't break if you get them wet since they are meant for outdoor use.

Always angle te fixture so that the light is not pointing straight down. These lamps are very warm so you need to make sure your animal isn't a screen climber, or just move the light up off the cage top.

^^^ I use these for all my cages now Thanks Kevin!