How many watts for basking bulb?

The wattage will depend on where your temps are given your AC/heating, etc. I may be able to get an 85*F basking spot with a 60w here in Florida, but if it's colder where you live then maybe a 75w+ will do the trick. For me 60 and 75w usually work the best to get a basking spot in the mid to high 80's. And if it's a female then I use a much weaker bulb.

And yea, it's fine if the bulb is a little longer than the cage. It won't hurt it.
 
thats fine if it extends off the cage.

you can use any wattage bulb you like as long as the basking spot is the appropriate temperature.

HOWEVER! the issue with high wattage bulbs is if you chameleon climbs the screen up directly under the bulb he can either burn himself that close or injure himself falling from trying to get away from the heat. ei. toenail or tail stuck in the screen as he trys to drop or even the fall itself.

its all about placement and basking temp, avoid allowing him to be able to get any closer than the basking spot.

this is why 60w are usually recommended. a regualr houshold incandecent does just fine you dont need to buy a "special reptile basking bulb" if you berfer a spotlight or flood light those can be purchased just as well from your local home improvement store. be wary though floods and spots focus heat downward so the basking spot is going to need to be further away
 
I got the light supplies. They didn't have a 60 watt so I got a 75 watt basking bulb with a zoomed ceramic lamp clamp fixture. :)
 
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