snitz427
Chameleon Enthusiast
I am absolutely wrecked. I brought Charlie out to free range this morning and found a small thermal burn on at least three of his back scales. He is in the process of shedding so I really can’t tell if other scales are affected, but it is definitely limited to the crest of his back. I feel like such a failure.
Charlie was being treated for a potential URI at Christmas. His basking light had gone out for 1-2 days without being noticed and he was gaping even when not basking. So he was treated for URI as a precaution, since the vet didnt see other symptoms. I was upset that I had not noticed his basking light going out, and I’ve absolutely helicopter mom’d the whole group since. So while he was being treated I literally spent hours every day sitting in front of his cage and adjusting his basking light to get the absolutely perfect temperatures. I am not exaggerating when I say that I spent hours in front of the cage. I am double checking temperatures with a temp sensor, as well as a temp gun. I finally settled on a bulb and location when I could find that the temperature range of the branch STAYED between 85 and 90°, and I estimated that his crest would hit about 95° Max. I went through several bulbs and several light fixtures, as I found that the temperature seemed to fluctuate. That has been about a month in place, but I still check his temperatures daily.
I don’t know how it happened but there is no undoing it. These past two months have been crazy, we have had three vet visits for the Chameleons, Charlie treated for URI, three of the six having pinworm, and now Penelope with an eye infection. The two juveniles have been quarantined and are two of the three with pinworm. I am really beating myself up over all of it, and diligently hovering over each of them each day. I still just cannot believe that this happened and how.
So I need some help. I cannot trust the basking temperatures for Charlie, who needs the highest of the bunch. Everyone else is basking temperatures are around 82°, and the only risk of a burn would be if they climbed the screen. The juveniles certainly do that and it is a possibility for them. Charlie seems to suffer if his basking temperatures are not closer to 90. He will bask most of the day. But in doing that he has suffered a burn .
I am using 75 to 100 W incandescent lightbulbs. What other alternatives are there for basking lights? At what point are basking temps or basking lights no longer required? In the summer their enclosures probably get to a rather comfortable temp with out the basking light, But in the winter their ambient temps are in the 70s and so the light is an absolute necessity. I just feel like I cannot trust incandescent lights with Charlie‘s burn. I don’t understand why the temperatures are fluctuating when I initially was testing, and how he burned himself when I made sure the temps were in the range they were supposed to be. I did buy a programmable surge protector where I will put their basking lights on timers, but it was not installed yet. I was thinking of setting the time timers to turn on for two hours or so in the morning to help them warm up and then two hours or so around noon. Would this be adequate?
Any input and discussion around alternatives for basking would be greatly appreciated. I am so distraught over this, I will not be able to sleep without knowing that there’s not a chance of it happening again.
From today... since he was firing up plus shedding, it is hard to tell the difference between norma and burn... one side looks ok, but the right side you can see at least 2-3 scales affected towards the rear of his back.
Charlie was being treated for a potential URI at Christmas. His basking light had gone out for 1-2 days without being noticed and he was gaping even when not basking. So he was treated for URI as a precaution, since the vet didnt see other symptoms. I was upset that I had not noticed his basking light going out, and I’ve absolutely helicopter mom’d the whole group since. So while he was being treated I literally spent hours every day sitting in front of his cage and adjusting his basking light to get the absolutely perfect temperatures. I am not exaggerating when I say that I spent hours in front of the cage. I am double checking temperatures with a temp sensor, as well as a temp gun. I finally settled on a bulb and location when I could find that the temperature range of the branch STAYED between 85 and 90°, and I estimated that his crest would hit about 95° Max. I went through several bulbs and several light fixtures, as I found that the temperature seemed to fluctuate. That has been about a month in place, but I still check his temperatures daily.
I don’t know how it happened but there is no undoing it. These past two months have been crazy, we have had three vet visits for the Chameleons, Charlie treated for URI, three of the six having pinworm, and now Penelope with an eye infection. The two juveniles have been quarantined and are two of the three with pinworm. I am really beating myself up over all of it, and diligently hovering over each of them each day. I still just cannot believe that this happened and how.
So I need some help. I cannot trust the basking temperatures for Charlie, who needs the highest of the bunch. Everyone else is basking temperatures are around 82°, and the only risk of a burn would be if they climbed the screen. The juveniles certainly do that and it is a possibility for them. Charlie seems to suffer if his basking temperatures are not closer to 90. He will bask most of the day. But in doing that he has suffered a burn .
I am using 75 to 100 W incandescent lightbulbs. What other alternatives are there for basking lights? At what point are basking temps or basking lights no longer required? In the summer their enclosures probably get to a rather comfortable temp with out the basking light, But in the winter their ambient temps are in the 70s and so the light is an absolute necessity. I just feel like I cannot trust incandescent lights with Charlie‘s burn. I don’t understand why the temperatures are fluctuating when I initially was testing, and how he burned himself when I made sure the temps were in the range they were supposed to be. I did buy a programmable surge protector where I will put their basking lights on timers, but it was not installed yet. I was thinking of setting the time timers to turn on for two hours or so in the morning to help them warm up and then two hours or so around noon. Would this be adequate?
Any input and discussion around alternatives for basking would be greatly appreciated. I am so distraught over this, I will not be able to sleep without knowing that there’s not a chance of it happening again.
From today... since he was firing up plus shedding, it is hard to tell the difference between norma and burn... one side looks ok, but the right side you can see at least 2-3 scales affected towards the rear of his back.
.
