Confused about basking temp range

[diananana]

So I have a male veiled chameleon who is roughly 3-5 months old (pet store didn't know, so that's based on a rough estimate users on this site gave). I have gotten some conflicting advice about how hot his basking area should be. Some people have told me it shouldn't be more than 75-80 for a guy his age, and other have said it needs to be 85+. Then, on the "Raising Kitty" veiled blog I have seen cited a lot, I read that adults should have theirs at 95 (I know he's not an adult, but I was still surprised to see that figure). So, I'm kind of confused!

So, what do you think is really the best basking temp? I don't want to cook him or have him too cold, but I'm not sure where in the 10 degree range I've gotten is ideal.

 

[Olimpia]

I think that for a young guy in a smallish cage your warmest spot could be about 85F, where as the bottom of the cage should be room temperature, so about 70-75F. That way he gets a nice gradient from top to bottom. I usually put my basking lights in one corner of the cage so there's a gradient from back to front of the cage as well, that way they don't HAVE to go downwards to escape the heat.

The 80F max it better for much smaller babies, I think, who dehydrate faster in high temps. But if he's potentially 4-5 months old then he's going to be fine with a basking temp around 85F.

 

[diananana]

Great, thanks! I have him in a 16x16x30 for now, with the basking lamp in the back left, which has allowed temps to hover around 83 at the top down to maybe 74 at the bottom.

 

[Olimpia]

Sounds good to me!

 

[jannb]

Great, thanks! I have him in a 16x16x30 for now, with the basking lamp in the back left, which has allowed temps to hover around 83 at the top down to maybe 74 at the bottom.

IMO 83 is the perfect basking temp. for a young male veiled. When he gets older you will want to bump it up a bit. I bask my adult male veileds at 88 or 89. You might find my blog for new keepers helpful. It's the way I have successfully raised veileds over the years.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html