lighing problems for Rascal. Panther chameleon

[rikerchameleon]

Hello every one i need some serious help i have a large 3 month old panther chameleon. I do think i am using to much light . i first started with on 100 watt but it wasnt geting hot enough around 80 degrees . so i got another 75 watt and now i cant get it right what does everyone think. I was thinkong about taking them all out and putting a mercury Light in there
I have a reptibreeze 2x2x4 cage with fake plants

 

[rikerchameleon]

Rascal

Rascal and parts of cage

 

[jamjam]

for a 3month old panther 80-82 is right where you ant it than increase a degree each month. i dont understand how living in florida though a 100w is only getting you to 80. the cold started to come where i am so i upped mine to a 75w and been getting low 90s which cause me to lower the branch a little.

by saying you got another 75w did you add that to the 100 watt? i feel like you would be cooking the little guy. what kind of bulbs are you using? what are you ising to measure the temps?

do you currently have a uv bulb? mercury vapour bulbs arent suggested by very many because they think the chameleon should be able to choose uv over heat and vise versa instead of being under both all the time

 

[rikerchameleon]

reply

Today at lunch i read the temps in the hotest place and with the 75 watt it was at 120 so i moved it right away where it was reading like 89 and the 100 watt it was reading low 90s didnt move the 100watt i am going to get 50 watts in the next day and i have a 5.0 uv light wich is where he stays. I feel so bad he sits in that spot for like 20 minuts moves away from it but the bulbs are coming out!!abaint temp is like 75 ish

 

[Alex21]

it should'nt be 120 anywhere he sits or even above 90 for a panther. he's also a baby so as jamjam said, 80-82. i use a 50 watt bulb for my 4 month old panther. 82 where he sits under the heat and 79 in his cage.

 

[rikerchameleon]

I will defiantly be changing tomorrow and recommendations on brand of light

 

[jamjam]

house hold incadescents bulbs. i find the new replacement bulbs like 72w for 100 dont put out much heat at all so been using par 20/30 halogens