Is this normal
- Thread starter Jhonnywalker
- Start date
Hey there welcome to the forum. With adult chams this happens most commonly when a chameleon is not happy with its environment.
Looks to be a bit small for him. And I am seeing a red light which is not recommended because it can harm their eyes.
Depending on the UVB type your using this may also be why he is going on the top screen.
Can you take some more pics farther back so we can see the entire set up including the lights on top?
Looks to be a bit small for him. And I am seeing a red light which is not recommended because it can harm their eyes.
Depending on the UVB type your using this may also be why he is going on the top screen.
Can you take some more pics farther back so we can see the entire set up including the lights on top?
Jhonnywalker
New Member
Can you tell me more about your lighting on top? Coil bulbs? red bulbs? Is it open on the very top of the fixture or is it all sealed with the bulbs inside? Right now with that entire thing on top your air circulation is going to be reduced if it is sealed on top as well and you will have issues with it circulating properly.
What size is this enclosure?
Jhonnywalker
New Member
Sorry to come back to you only now.
The enclosure is 45x45x65cm with bio active ground in, this enclosure was the biggest i could find as i live in south Africa. The top part is sealed it is custom made so i can easily fix that, my heater is infrared heating bulb gaught that as when i did my research everyone said it would be perfect . I am trying to take him out of his enclosure once a week but sometimes its not possible to enrich his life.
I appreciate any and all advice as i truly love him and want him to live his best life.
So the infared heat bulb you want to replace with a regular incandescent white bulb. The red bulb is bad for their eyes. I personally would get dome fixture for this and remove the big piece you have on top so you have air circulating out the top completely.
Were you advised to use a UVB bulb? The ones we recommend are long linear bulbs. T5HO fixture with a 5.0 or 6% UVB bulb in it. They have to have UVB lighting or they develop Metabolic Bone Disease.
Jhonnywalker
New Member
He has the 5 uvb bulb i cannot really remember were i got that info anymore, will a ceramic heating bulb also work?
I would not use a ceramic heating bulb. These are really meant to provide heat without light. With chams we are not doing that. At night when you do not want lights you also do not want added heat because they need the temp reduction.
Is the uvb a long linear bulb? or compact screw in bulb? On the bulb it should say if it is a T5 or T8 bulb if it is a long linear bulb.
Jhonnywalker
New Member
Screw in one
Ok so the screw in UVB bulbs do not put out the right UVB levels for them. Chams can develop Metabolic Bone Disease with these bulbs.
You want something like this that will run the width of the cage in a 6% bulb strength. https://www.arcadiareptile.com/lighting/prot5/ This would require a 8-9 inch distance between the bottom of the fixture and the closest branches below the fixture to put the cham in the right UVI level.
It would sit on top of the cage. So you would just remove the entire fixture you have now. Get one of the linear fixtures for UVB and a dome fixture with a white bulb approximately 60 watt for heat to put on top of the cage. You will need to raise your fixtures up since he can get so close to the screen.
Jhonnywalker
New Member
Will do thanks
