how long should i keep my chams basking light on for?

[alex arango]

how long should the basking light be on for? i have a 10 month old female jacksons xanth. also what time should i turn it on and what time should i turn it off? is from 12pm to 12am ok? or is that too long?

 

[Elizadolots]

I think trying to match it to sunrise/sunset is probably a better option. Unless you keep them in a cellar, chances are some external light will happen and that might confuse the little internal clocks.

 

[Darwin760]

I believe it depends on the temperature of enclosure and basking spot

 

[TreeTopChameleons]

I agree with Elizadots...matching their light cycle with the natural light cycle is very important I believe. Adjusting the on and off times over the course of the year to match the changing sunrise/sunset times will probably be better for your chameleon in the long run.

 

[camimom]

I would keep the light on the same schedule as the sun rising and setting in your area.

 

[Darwin760]

What if it is 80 degrees at the top of his cage without basking light on? I keep UVB on 12 hours and use basking light in the mornings

 

[Kate]

What if it is 80 degrees at the top of his cage without basking light on? I keep UVB on 12 hours and use basking light in the mornings

I would keep both lights on for 12 hrs. Can you raise your basking light up so it doesnt produce so much heat?

 

[Elizadolots]

What if it is 80 degrees at the top of his cage without basking light on? I keep UVB on 12 hours and use basking light in the mornings

I would keep both lights on for 12 hrs. Can you raise your basking light up so it doesnt produce so much heat?

While Kate's suggestion is the way I would approach it, only having the basking light on for a few hours in the morning to help with digestion is something I've seen people say works.

You can also try using a lower watt bulb in the heat lamp.

 

[Darwin760]

While Kate's suggestion is the way I would approach it, only having the basking light on for a few hours in the morning to help with digestion is something I've seen people say works.

You can also try using a lower watt bulb in the heat lamp.

Ok I have a 60 w with a dimmer, so I should just dim it down halfway?

 

[Carlton]

I think about it in terms of what the temps and light cycles would be in the wild. The day goes through a cycle of heat and light...mild and lower intensity in the morning and evening with the peak at around mid day. Why not do this for a captive cham? In the early morning there would not be direct full heat from the sun nor would there be that same heat in the late afternoon. Effective heat is much easier to provide for an indoor cham than UV, which is why we need to expose our captive chams to 12 hours of it every day. We don't need to do the same for heat. So, my UV light comes on first in the morning with the basking light following an hour or so later. Then the basking light goes off mid afternoon and the UV goes off a couple of hours after that. As long as they get a good long bask during the middle of the day to hunt, drink, patrol, and digest their food that should be good. At least it seems to work for my chams.

 

[Elizadolots]

Ok I have a 60 w with a dimmer, so I should just dim it down halfway?

That would probably work, you'd have to check the temps. Carlton though is on board with your current "turn the light off" way of doing things and she's been doing this for a long time in tricky conditions so maybe you just want to keep going as you are but change the time frame to more closely match natural sunrise, sunset.

 

[Darwin760]

Thanks for your input. I will have to test a few ways out and see what works best for him.

 

[Carlton]

This is where plug in timers are worth every cent! The only time you have to remember or mess with the lights is after a power failure or daylight savings time change.