Forest lighting

[lthrbecks]

As mentioned yesterday ive purchased the Reptibreeze enclosure and hope to set it up within the next week or so.

The shop where I purchased it advised me to buy the Desert uvb light and not the forest. He says that you lose 30% of the rays through the mesh roof. Just wanted clarification on the above matter.

Looking forward to getting Figaros new set enclosure set up!

 

[MissSkittles]

Not sure what either of those are, but you want neither. You need a linear (long) T5HO fixture with a 5.0 (or Arcadia 6%) uvb bulb. Like this ReptiSun. You need it to span the width of your enclosure.

 

[lthrbecks]

This is the one i bought

 

[lthrbecks]

This is the Forest i was advised not to buy

 

[Lil’ Sneak]

This is the one i bought

This is what I’m using as well. You just need to make sure you lift it far enough off the top of the enclosure so as to provide a safe level of UVB. Lots of good info here: https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-cage-set-up-replicating-the-sun/

 

[lthrbecks]

Are you using Arcadia desert light, the same as ive ordered?

 

[Lil’ Sneak]

Are you using Arcadia desert light, the same as ive ordered?

Same Arcadia 12% lamp...different fixture... The article I linked should contain the necessary information to get your UVB levels in check. You're going to have to get your fixture suspended about 7-10 inches (~18-25 cm) above the top of your enclosure, depending on the height of your basking spot.

 

[lthrbecks]

Its easier to have the branches and plants around 10 inches lower down, same difference i guess!

 

[MissSkittles]

Its easier to have the branches and plants around 10 inches lower down, same difference i guess!

No, not really. With a 6% uvb sitting on top of enclosure, basking spot should be 8-9“ below. So if you don’t raise the 12% at least 7-8”, you’d have to have basking spot 16-17+” below that, which is a lot of space. Not to mention, how are you going to get basking temps in ideal range? So, either return the light and exchange it for the 6% uvb or raise the uvb from the enclosure top.

 

[Lil’ Sneak]

Its easier to have the branches and plants around 10 inches lower down, same difference i guess!

You just need to be careful with a lamp as powerful as the Arcadia 12%, if the fixture is suspended too low you can introduce dangerous levels of UVB into the enclosure! Read the article I linked and follow the guidelines for distance between the lamp and where your basking spot will be located. Raising the fixture would be preferred, so as to not reduce the usable area of the enclosure...

 

[Lil’ Sneak]

No, not really. With a 6% uvb sitting on top of enclosure, basking spot should be 8-9“ below. So if you don’t raise the 12% at least 7-8”, you’d have to have basking spot 16-17+” below that, which is a lot of space. Not to mention, how are you going to get basking temps in ideal range? So, either return the light and exchange it for the 6% uvb or raise the uvb from the enclosure top.

THIS!!!

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Not sure what either of those are, but you want neither. You need a linear (long) T5HO fixture with a 5.0 (or Arcadia 6%) uvb bulb. Like this ReptiSun. You need it to span the width of your enclosure.

Forest & Desert are euphemisms for 5.0/6% and 10.0/12% respectively.
The shop clerk was steering him toward the stronger bulb, rationalizing that the screen will cut down the effective UV. This is (technically) true, but generally not enough to warrant the stronger bulb unless the distance from bulb to chameleon is also taken into account.

Ideally, all keepers (IMO) should have Solarmeters, both to establish optimum distances, and determine more accurately when a bulb is actually decreasing its output (rather than robotically junking it after X months). Dead UVB bulbs pollute the planet enough (they contain mercury) without adding to their numbers by replacing them sooner than necessary.

The stronger (10.0/12%) bulbs also pose a greater risk to keepers' eyesight. In most cham enclosures, they're not behind glass, which acts as a barrier UVB can't pass through. In screened enclosures, there's no protection. This might be a good topic for discussion.

 

[Flick boy]

I have also purchased a repti breeze and built a wooden frame to sit on top of it to raise the uvb also arcadia 12% as I don't want to lose to much of the enclosure height but as Beman noted chams can climb the mesh so even the basking area is far enough away doesnt mean they could get to close. So suppose best to check uv level as I personally would rather buy a new tube than a new cham

 

[lthrbecks]

No, not really. With a 6% uvb sitting on top of enclosure, basking spot should be 8-9“ below. So if you don’t raise the 12% at least 7-8”, you’d have to have basking spot 16-17+” below that, which is a lot of space. Not to mention, how are you going to get basking temps in ideal range? So, either return the light and exchange it for the 6% uvb or raise the uvb from the enclosure top.

Thanks for your reply. As a matter of interest if i decided to raise the light off the roof are there any ways of doing so as in gizmos or gadgets?

 

[nightanole]

I have also purchased a repti breeze and built a wooden frame to sit on top of it to raise the uvb also arcadia 12% as I don't want to lose to much of the enclosure height but as Beman noted chams can climb the mesh so even the basking area is far enough away doesnt mean they could get to close. So suppose best to check uv level as I personally would rather buy a new tube than a new cham

yea i dont have the chart infront of me, but if you have a screen climber, you need to raise the bulb 4-8" so that the little guy doesnt get more that UVI 7. At the bulb i can measure UVI 50 if the bulb was sitting almost directly on the screen, not good for chameleon feets.

 

[Flick boy]

Simple wooden frame to raise uv and I will also screw exo terra light bracket for basking fixture hope this helps

 

[MissSkittles]

Thanks for your reply. As a matter of interest if i decided to raise the light off the roof are there any ways of doing so as in gizmos or gadgets?

Aside from adding a frame to the top (which would add the aesthetic of hiding light fixtures), you could also suspend the light from the ceiling.

 

[lthrbecks]

yea i dont have the chart infront of me, but if you have a screen climber, you need to raise the bulb 4-8" so that the little guy doesnt get more that UVI 7. At the bulb i can measure UVI 50 if the bulb was sitting almost directly on the screen, not good for chameleon feets.

I spoke to the chief at Arcadia today. I reckon a good 12 inches of a gap is sufficient

 

[Chameleomom]

You need a meter to determine your UVB output

 

[lthrbecks]

You need a meter to determine your UVB output

Its ok, im sorted thanks