Heat light

[Ricardopalma12]

So I have my veiled chameleon and he is new in the cage (the cage is 24x24x48) and he seems to be cold he is brown and he is at the top under his uvb light but the problem is his heat light I got a 25 W because I thought it was going to be enough but it's so cold for him i guess, my house is always around 72-74 most of the time and I have a normal house bulb that is 60w and it's a ultra soft white I was wondering if I could use that? And right mow I have him a halogen light that it is more hot than his original one and of that house bulb wont work which bulb should I get considering the temp at my house and the size of the cage

Thank you and merry Christmas

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Standard incandescent house bulbs are all I use for heat, no special(expensive!) bulbs required!

Merry Christmas!

 

[JoshD49]

I live in socal and in the summer I use a 65w house bulb but swapped it out for a zoo-med 75w since it got colder here. 25w is way too low.

 

[Ricardopalma12]

Yeah do you think the 50 or 75 will work? I live in Austin Texas

 

[JoshD49]

Honestly it's based on the basking locations temp. My veild loves his spot close to 90 so whatever wattage bulb gets you there.

 

[Fiona's Mom]

Adjust a branch or your light to make sure his basking spot is thevright temp. Make sure it is not to close to burn him. They do not know to move if it is too hot and can easily get burned. You can purchase a temp gun at a Lowes or Amazon that will be your best purchase. Your cage size is perfect.

 

[celeste_knitter]

I would get a 75w dimmable & a dimmer so you can adjust based on temps as necessary

 

[Graves923]

Since nobody has asked this yet, what are you using to measure the temps? Use a good quality thermometer or laser temp gun for accurate temp readings. measure the temp on the basking branch and adjust either the light bulb wattage or the branch height to the bulb. Do not put the branch within 6 inches of the bulb.

 

[JoshD49]

@Fiona's Mom recommended some equipment to buy.

 

[Fiona's Mom]

The light should be no closer than 6-8 inches from the top of your chameleon no matter what position it's in.

 

[Grandma-to-two]

I live in socal and in the summer I use a 65w house bulb but swapped it out for a zoo-med 75w since it got colder here. 25w is way too low.

Josh - what kind of zoo-med? Regular house bulbs are getting harder to find.

 

[Grandma-to-two]

Josh - what kind of zoo-med? Regular house bulbs are getting harder to find.

All good I found where you described in another post.

 

[Giantspleen]

Regular old bulbs work perfect. Just make sure you don't burn the dude. If it's touching the screen on top i like to put some sort of spacer in between the light and the screen. I prefer the clear or blue tinted plant lights as it looks a little nicer. Good luck!

 

[Giantspleen]

Also! Don't forget, if using a probe thermometer, make sure you measure about 3 to 4 inches above his basking spot. I've noticed a lot of people wondering why their chams are too hot and they are measuring from where there feet are on their basking spot and not their backs or veils etc. A few inches can make a lot of difference in temperature!

 

[JoshD49]

@Grandma-to-two I recently went back to the house bulbs for my panthers too reduce the bask temp but kept the 75w zoo med for the veiled so always just check your basking temp to see what it is instead of being concerned with bulb wattage. My locale and house temp tend to stay in the warmer region so my bulb wattage will be more consistent and lower.

 

[Grandma-to-two]

@Grandma-to-two I recently went back to the house bulbs for my panthers too reduce the bask temp but kept the 75w zoo med for the veiled so always just check your basking temp to see what it is instead of being concerned with bulb wattage. My locale and house temp tend to stay in the warmer region so my bulb wattage will be more consistent and lower.

Thanks. I’m getting a carpet soon. I currently have a reg 60w soft white (can’t find anything that has the 5000k (daylight) but need to get my cage temp up about 3 or 4 degrees.

 

[Grandma-to-two]

Also! Don't forget, if using a probe thermometer, make sure you measure about 3 to 4 inches above his basking spot. I've noticed a lot of people wondering why their chams are too hot and they are measuring from where there feet are on their basking spot and not their backs or veils etc. A few inches can make a lot of difference in temperature!

That’s a great point and one I would not have thought of.