Getting started

[Zilla005]

Alright, I got the other suppliments and a clamp lamp. I hung the lamp from a hook on the wall next to the cage, it has a infrared heat bulb in it, the basking area is 83.5-84.5 degrees in temperature. The ambiant temp is 76-78. i believe I have the terrarium set up now. after two days of messing with lighting to get the right temperature i think its time to get the cham. I also put a few more fake amapallo around the basking area to give him a "safe" feeling. So, how do you all think I'll do? I heard chams are a bit difficult. But then again i have some very knowledgeable people here to give me advice if i need it. Thanks again for your help, ill post pictures when i get them.

 

[rcmike]

You want a regular light bulb in it. Heat bulbs aren't good for chameleons.

 

[Zilla005]

Why do i need suppliments with and without D3???? and if its because i dont want to over load them with calcium due to too fast of bone growth, how often do i use the D3 and how often do i use the one without D3.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

Read the articles on supplements and lighting.
Actually, read the whole thing!

Ditch the red bulb ... no good for chameleons .. the basking spot should be white light.

-Brad

 

[dodolah]

Why do i need suppliments with and without D3???? and if its because i dont want to over load them with calcium due to too fast of bone growth, how often do i use the D3 and how often do i use the one without D3.

supplementation of with and without D3 is basically for safe insurance that your chameleon is getting a D3. If you plan on keeping the chameleon outside of your house (if you live in Florida or sunny California), then calcium with D3 generally is not needed.

Yes, you do not want to overload your chameleon with this supplement.
therefore a very tiny amount is used. just lightly coat the insect with it. Don't turn them into walking tiny white ghosts.

Brad has a nice supplementation regime in his site.

 

[Zilla005]

ok i put a white bulb in it instead of the infrared. can someone tell me why i needed to do this? i know im asking a lot of questions, i just like to know why these things are important so i can understand it all. I couldnt find the reason behind why red bulbs are bad in the readings

 

[Julirs]

Chameleons don't recognize the red bulbs-they recognize white light (sunlight) as basking light and a heat soure. Think as natural as possible.

 

[dodolah]

Use the red bulb ONLY for this condition:
at night when the ambient temperature drop below 50F

 

[dodolah]

IMHO, red bulb often confuses chameleon.
Chameleon associates light as a heat source.
Since red bulb does not emit light, he does not know that it's a heat lamp.

In this case, thermal burn becomes a definite risk.
Chameleon does not have the proper skin sensation to get away from heat (that's why chameleon in captivity often burn himself by staying to close to the bulb). They just know, when their body temp gets too hot they should move away from the light.

See the problem?

Hope that helps

 

[Zilla005]

thank you for making that clear to me, i was hearing red bulbs are bad but no reason of why, and now i know. Thank you that makes perfect sense.