I have an extra light, should I use it?

[m1ndless]

I got my light fixture from a buddys old fish tank, its 24", I put a reptisun 5.0 bulb in there, and took out the fish tank bulb.

Should I use the fish tank bulb along with the reptisun bulb, or is that overkill?

Any advantages to using this bulb too or no?

 

[Jordan]

It will help the plants out some and probably add a little bit more visability. No real disadvantages other then setting you back a couple bucks for another fixture or if it holds two then nothing at all.

 

[m1ndless]

It holds two lights, I only have the 1 reptisun bulb, its alot brighter with the other bulb, I think ill use it.

 

[Dean Pulcini]

Not if its a uva/uvb bulb. you can use a regular florescent tube.

 

[Jordan]

Dean even if he was to add an additional UVb tube he would not actually be increasing the amount of UVb rather the saturation. In which case it is second hand and most likely used, so I doubt it would put off any UVb at this point. As most people are use to hearing with fluorescent UVb lights all, fluorescent lights do degrade with time. So if you like the addition of the light it might just be better to get another one in the near future to keep the benifits to your plants up. Just a standard run of the mill fluorescent bulb as Dean said will do fine. They, as do all fluorescent bulb degrade so changing these every six months to a year keeps the benifits to your plants. If you just like the extra brightness then leave it tell it quites working.

 

[m1ndless]

I am not expecting any UVB out of the fish tank bulb, but I assusme it will help the plants and add some brightness.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

When it eventually burns out (or maybe before) I would replace it with a regular fluorescent. It will be much brighter.

-Brad

 

[m1ndless]

With just the reptisun5.0 bulb its pretty bright, adding this made it insanely bright.

Off topic, but instead of making another thread...

Will a black light bulb wake a chameleon up? Or is it like red and blue lights where they dotn notice it?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Chameleons can actually see more colors in light than we can, they just don't recognize the red light as a heat source.
Night time should be: all and any lights out.

-Brad

 

[m1ndless]

All and any lights out? Thats too bad for my chameleon, I dont go to bed til 1-2 am, and my bedroom light is usually on til then where he sleeps, he will just get used to it I guess.

 

[Nicodemayo]

i would advise against keeping him up that late unless you want a cham thats always lethargic. Ive seen some members suggest taking a sheet and throwing it over the cage like a bird cage at night if your in a lit room. Chams never want to seem to change their sleeping shedual, even if theyre in rooms that never see the light of actual daytime. Ive tried varying their days in 30 min increments, changing the time alittle later by 30 min every few days and gradually going till like 10 but it never worked. They always seem to want to be on their sleeping perches at 7 or so and wake up at around 8. Now i have them on an 8am to 8pm schedule.

 

[m1ndless]

Alright, thanks for the advice, I have the lights set to 7am on and 7pm off, ill throw a towell over the thing at night.

 

[joefarah]

Alright, thanks for the advice, I have the lights set to 7am on and 7pm off, ill throw a towell over the thing at night.

That's just what I was going to suggest.

Regarding the light - I use a 2-bulb fixture in addition to the basking light. I have one 5.0 tube and a regular, bright house bulb in the other slot. I am a huge proponent of "brightness" for diurnal lizards. It seems to have a psychological benefit in my experience.

 

[m1ndless]

I went ahead and put the other bulb in there, with the new plants I added, the light was well needed. Thanks guys!

 

[Cale24]

I also tend to shield my 2 month old veiled from light after he goes to sleep around 7/8pm. I'd suggest only partially covering his enclosure, and with thinnish material or heat and humidity levels may climb. Can't hotbox the lil guys now can we!
I was also wondering about sound- I've played music with bass turned down and volume not high since I got him, whether my guy is awake or asleep. Can anyone tell me how sensitive they are to sound? I have to have SOME kind of music going.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

Chameleons can actually see more colors in light than we can, they just don't recognize the red light as a heat source.
Night time should be: all and any lights out.

-Brad

I strongly second this.

Most chameleons not only tolerate a drop in night time temps but need one. I personally don't use any type of heating equipment for most of my herps at night. My home stays around 73-77 at night even in the winter.

For those times over the years where heating at night was needed, I use pearlco ceramic heaters. No light at all from one of these. I've seen that chameleons can still see you with only a red or blue light on. Darkness is best.

 

[m1ndless]

My room drops to 60 at night, we dont like using heat, I like the cold, it gets to like 60 in my room no colder, usually around 65, is that alright for him?

 

[Julirs]

The drop to 60-65 should not hurt him a bit. Is that "other" bulb some kind of bulb that produces heat? That could be bad in the glass tank.

 

[m1ndless]

No heat, just a normal fish tank bulb.