I have a couple quick Questions..

[CAHeidi]

My Husband is getting me a Ambanja Chameleon for mothers day ( I have wanted one for sooo Long!)

I have most of the set up ready just trying to get temperatures right before I get him..

Do they need a basking light at night? I have read that temps should be above 60 at night, my house does not drop below 70 usually. It is a baby will he do better with heat at night?

I have a Reptisun 10.0 over the cage right now but I also have a Mercury bulb, I would rather use the mercury bulb to eliminate some of the clutter from the top. I have read that the chams do not do well under the mercury bulb, is this true? I would love some opinions on this!

I am also confused on basking temps, I have read allot of different temps.. Another concern I am having is wont the high temp kill the ficus tree? I have vines close to the lamp, but there is not any cover there, will they leave there safe cover to bask in the open?

Sorry about the questions but I like to eliminate all my worries..

ThanX

 

[Sporkthedork]

As for lighting I use ReptiSun 5.0 and a normal heat lamp/bulb. I think the ReptiSun 10.0 is more suited for the PVC Reptarium cages made by Apogee and NOT the metal (aluminum) screen cages. I bought my first panther from screameleons.com and I visit their website all the time. This page tells the advantage and disadvantages of using a mercury bulb compared to the ReptiSun and heat lamp.

 

[CAHeidi]

Thanx

Wow Thanks that is a good info site i did not come across yet!

 

[Dean Pulcini]

No night light/heat at night unless it drops below 60 chameleons need a drop in temperature some more then others.
Most people use 5.0 I use 10.0 florescent tube. For my adults I use mv bulbs with no ill effects don't recommend them for hatchlings or young chameleons and new chameleon owners.
I would not exceed 85 degrees at the basking spot for young one with an ambient in the mid 70's.

 

[Dave Weldon]

...basking light at night?

I have a Reptisun 10.0 over the cage right now

...I also have a Mercury bulb...

...wont the high temp kill the ficus tree?

Howdy Heidi,

As has been mentioned, young or old, there isn't anything to worry about with temps above 60F at night so long as you have a healthy chameleon. If you should ever be in a situation where you do need to add heat at night then try one of the ceramic heat emitters sold for reptiles.

If you are stuck with the Reptisun 10.0 linear tube (don't use a 10.0 compact) just raise it up to 12" to 16" away from the closest area that he can get to. Otherwise snag a Reptisun 5.0 and use it in the 6"-12" range.

Save the mercury vapor (MV) to play with after he is over a year old and well established so that if anything goes wrong, you'll be able to spot it and he will have a better ability to recover. Depending on what mfgr and model, some of them are downright dangerous while others just need extra attention in placement to get the UVB levels and heat levels set correctly.

I have found that the worst that happens with high basking temps and plants is that you will damage a few of the upper-most leaves.

If you want to add plant cover up high but your plant is still too small, put it on something to raise it up .

Sunny CA! Welcome. Which part of sunny CA? I'm one of the co-founders of the South Bay Chameleon Keepers group. We get together the last Tuesday of the month from 7:30pm-9:30pm at a meeting room in Torrance. Among other things, we share bulk orders of feeders like silkworms and roaches. We have beginners to long-time breeders.

 

[CAHeidi]

I am in Alta Loma right now, In the middle of a move to Wildomar CA

Where abouts is Torrance? Sounds fun but with 3 kids i would never make it LOL

Thanks for all the input, it helps!

Heidi

 

[Brian]

I live in Alta Loma also, on 19th and Haven.

Brian

 

[Dave Weldon]

I am in Alta Loma right now, In the middle of a move to Wildomar CA. Where abouts is Torrance?...

Howdy Heidi,

That would be a bit of a drive (80 mi) . The meeting room is near the west end of the 91 fwy.