Flexarium light set up

[jondavis30]

I am trying to set up the lighting system for the exo terra flexarium, as the flexariums are technically non weight bearing (made from plastic and plastic like mesh), i can't put the lamp/s directly ontop of it.

The Equipment i have is :

-Ceramic Heat Emitter & Habistat Thermostat
-60 Watt Household Lamp

I live in the UK and at the minute temps are around 68 Farenheit, With the lamp pointing directly on what i would like to be the basking area, it is reaching around 80 Farenheit without the Ceramic Heat Emitter on.

I have a few questions regarding this.

If i am using the 60W lamp, will this lamp always create a basking temp of 80 Farenheit or will the ambient temperature affect the temp of the basking spot?

How is it best to maintain a good basking temperature (at the minute I have only 1 x Thermostat that i can either connect the ceramic heater to OR the 60W Household lamp)

Many thanks

 

[carol5208]

What are you using for a UVB light???? I am a little confused on what you are asking. If you plug in 60 watt lamp, you will have to take the temp at the spot where your cham will bask. How old is your cham and what species is it?

 

[Echoezra]

The ambient temperature will affect the temp of the basking spot, that's why we need to utilize thermometers, etc. I would not use the ceramic heat emitter all the time, just check if you need to turn it on when you notice your own house temp is really low. The weather will be warming up soon. If you're worried about basking temps too high, then put that basking bulb on the thermostat. Maybe switch them when winter comes back around.
That's not your only lighting equipment though right? You do have a UVB light too?

 

[carol5208]

The ambient temperature will affect the temp of the basking spot, that's why we need to utilize thermometers, etc. I would not use the ceramic heat emitter all the time, just check if you need to turn it on when you notice your own house temp is really low. The weather will be warming up soon. If you're worried about basking temps too high, then put that basking bulb on the thermostat. Maybe switch them when winter comes back around.
That's not your only lighting equipment though right? You do have a UVB light too?

oh, dah, I see what he means! I had to go back and reread!

 

[jondavis30]

I don't yet have the chameleon, but I am going to get a yemen/veiled chameleon, I'd like to get all the temps / decor etc exactly right first before i do anything.

To answer the question about UV, i have the reptiglo 5.0 UVA/B light, which i am resting on the top of the mesh as it is quite light.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how i can position / get the rest of the lights to sort of "hang" above the mesh by 1cm so not to burn it ?

With the basking lamp being a 60W household bulb, it's either on OR off, there is no way of varying temp / light on it.

I always though the basking area had to be the brightest and hottest spot and that this had to be on for at least 12 hours per day, is this correct or does it just have to be the hottest spot?

Many thanks for the help guys.

 

[Echoezra]

If the 60 watt is too hot, you either raise it farther away, or you switch it to a 40 watt, know what I mean? Not hot enough, in winter or whatever, same thing, move bulb closer to cage, branch closer to bulb, or switch bulb to 75 watt.
Some people will have a shelf above cage and hang from there, there's also "clamp lamp" style domes that you can clamp onto the frame of cage or something nearby to raise it off. Whatever works!

 

[summoner12]

No need for a ceramic heater unless you have issues keeping the room warm... but even then I wouldn't use one, they mostly just waste power.

 

[Tigergrr]

With the basking lamp being a 60W household bulb, it's either on OR off, there is no way of varying temp / light on it.

Try to get hold of a dimmer stat - we use one with our Beardy - it will dim any household bulb to keep the temps correct with the exception of those pesky energy savers

With the Veiled's, they're in an exo terra and we have a clamp lamp which lifts the basking light off the mesh (which is metal). I've had trouble in the past where the bulb has been housed in one of those metal reflectors and it's been resting on top of the exo's and has actually melted the frame

Then put the lighting on a timer and providing your room ambient temps aren't cold, you should be fine