Basking light
- Thread starter Danny247
- Start date
Tygerr
Avid Member
Definitely not infrared lights. Those are not recommended for chameleons since they respond to visible spectrum heat sources (like the sun or regular spot bulbs).
You don't need to buy those overpriced 'desert sun' spot bulbs they sell in the pet stores. A regular halogen spot bulb in either 100W or 120W will work as a basking light. Please note it has to be a halogen/tungsten bulb, not one of the new LED 120W 'equivalent' bulbs (they don't generate the heat that the halogens do).
The most important thing is to monitor the temperature AT the place where your chameleon is basking - you have to adjust the distance of the spot bulb so that the temperature at that point is not too hot for the chameleon or you run the risk of burning them (but also not too cold that they keep trying to climb onto the roof of the cage to get warm enough).
Also don't put the bulb right up against the roof of the cage because again you risk burning the chameleon, and you risk melting/damaging the cage.
And remember that as the seasons pass, different ambient temperatures in the room might mean that you need to move the bulb closer or further away to keep the temperature correct at the basking spot.
You don't need to buy those overpriced 'desert sun' spot bulbs they sell in the pet stores. A regular halogen spot bulb in either 100W or 120W will work as a basking light. Please note it has to be a halogen/tungsten bulb, not one of the new LED 120W 'equivalent' bulbs (they don't generate the heat that the halogens do).
The most important thing is to monitor the temperature AT the place where your chameleon is basking - you have to adjust the distance of the spot bulb so that the temperature at that point is not too hot for the chameleon or you run the risk of burning them (but also not too cold that they keep trying to climb onto the roof of the cage to get warm enough).
Also don't put the bulb right up against the roof of the cage because again you risk burning the chameleon, and you risk melting/damaging the cage.
And remember that as the seasons pass, different ambient temperatures in the room might mean that you need to move the bulb closer or further away to keep the temperature correct at the basking spot.
