Day light hours are shortening

[lysinlight87]

Well, it's autumn & it gets dark outside before Neelix's bed time, it's fine when I'm home & have the lights on, but when I'm out his flexarium gets very dark even with his UV & basking lights. I have a spare full-spectrum tube 2.0 UVB that would brighten things up for him, is it suitable to use in conjunction with his other lights?

 

[sandrachameleon]

Well, it's autumn & it gets dark outside before Neelix's bed time, it's fine when I'm home & have the lights on, but when I'm out his flexarium gets very dark even with his UV & basking lights. I have a spare full-spectrum tube 2.0 UVB that would brighten things up for him, is it suitable to use in conjunction with his other lights?

I doubt he needs the extra light. You could even start turning off his cage lights a little earlier too. I shorten the length of time my cage lights are on on a cycle similar to the season.

 

[lysinlight87]

Thanks for the input. I'm confused though, had a bit of conflicting info, everyone says they need 12 hours on, 12 hours off, then loads people say they change it with the seasons? I could change the timing but would they not still need their 12 hours?

 

[carol5208]

no they don't really. Having the lights go on and off with sun up sun down you are just trying to simulate their natural environment. With the days getting shorter, there is less daylight so your cage lights can be shut off earlier too. I always say if it is dark outside then it is ok for their cages to be dark.

 

[lysinlight87]

Ok, thanks. At the moment, both my chams have the lights come on at 9am & go off at 9pm. If I changed it to match daylight hours they'd come on 7.30am & switch off about 6pm, which is significantly different to what they're used to. Neelix knows when it's bed time & gets ready. Would it stress them to change this suddenly?

 

[carol5208]

I cannot answer that. Right now both mine are sleeping in freerange on my patio. When it gets dark they go to sleep and they wake up when it gets lights out.

 

[lysinlight87]

Ok. Well, thanks again. I guess all I can do is try it & see what they do.

 

[carol5208]

that is the way to think. Try it and see if they will go to sleep when the lights are out even though it is quite a bit earlier then their regular bed time.

 

[Turningdoc]

I don't know who "everyone" is, but the best in husbandry is to try to mimic native surrounds. I'm pretty sure the sun's schedule dictates this anywhere in the world.

 

[sandrachameleon]

why not adjust the lights by 15 minutes to half an hour at a time, until they are closer to the rise and set of the sun. doesnt have to be perfect.

 

[Elizadolots]

Possibly the only really good piece of advice I got when I bought my first chameleon was "the light is the sun".

 

[Miss Lily]

I have also thought about the day/night cycles too. I am also in the UK and we are putting the clocks back next weekend which means it will be even darker in the mornings and evenings. If I was to set my lights by sunrise and sunset they would come on at 7.30 am and go off at 4pm in the middle of winter. Some days when the weather is really wet and miserable it can get dark even earlier than this! Is it really acceptable to have such a short day of lighting for them? How many hours of UV is acceptable to tide them over during these horrid winter months?

 

[lysinlight87]

I got this from Ferritinmyshoes frequently asked questions,

"Q: How long should I leave the lights on?
A: Chameleons should have at least 10-12 hours of uninterrupted UVB light every day as they would in the wild for proper metabolism. After this time they need the equivalent uninterrupted darkness, as they would have in the wild."

If I matched winter daylight hours my cham wouldn't be getting much more than 8 hours.

 

[Decadancin]

I have noticed that even if the lights are on in the enclosure, Zaphod has settled into his sleep spot right about the time the sun goes down. I have the lights go out a little after that. The UVB light is on from about 9am to 7pm and will be shortened a little more in winter. I stagger his two basking bulbs to mimic the heating of the day as well.

 

[pssh]

I try to give them 10 hours of daylight, but at the same time I change the light timers to work with the sun. I dont have so muh of an issue because of my location, but if I were you, I would try for 9-10 hours in the winter.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I have also thought about the day/night cycles too. I am also in the UK and we are putting the clocks back next weekend which means it will be even darker in the mornings and evenings. If I was to set my lights by sunrise and sunset they would come on at 7.30 am and go off at 4pm in the middle of winter. Some days when the weather is really wet and miserable it can get dark even earlier than this! Is it really acceptable to have such a short day of lighting for them? How many hours of UV is acceptable to tide them over during these horrid winter months?

Your lighting doesnt have to exactly match the sun. And dont forget they usually get some D3 from supplements. They are not totally reliant on the UVB lights.

Where I am is similar to where you are. THe sun is up before 7am in summer and down as late as 10pm in summmer, and its not light until 8:30 am in winter and dark by 5.
My cham lights are on from around 7:30am -9pm in summer, 8:15am - 6pm in winter.

 

[bradley]

My lights go from 7.30am - 9pm in summer and 7.30am - 6.15pm in winter. Even with this my jacksons goes to sleep when its drak out regardless of wether his uv and heat light are still on.

 

[lysinlight87]

I'm going to change the times and reduce the hours over the course of this week. From 9am-9pm to 8am-7pm & see how they go. I'm also going to install a couple of LED lights just to make Neelix's flexarium a bit brighter, cos it is very dark in there on dull days.

 

[wendyeeeo]

My chams started going to bed earlier with the change of seasons & before I made any move to turn lights off sooner. I guess they are one step ahead of me.

 

[mcbdz]

Everyone needs to also remember unless you are in a their homeland it's not Their Wild. If they are a panther How long are the day hours in Madagascar, etc. If you follow by your hours it may not be so good if you live in say, Alaska. Just my 2 cents. The idea is mimic their natural habitat not your exactly.