??? Light Elevation Questions & Temps.

[chamB]

So I'm putting the finishing touches to my Forever Cage from Kammers. Tomorrow my 5 month Nosy Be male will arrive

I'm very concerned that he will get burned from the heat light if he hangs on the screen. Does anyone have the Zoo Med Lamp Stand????? Is it worth getting? Or is there a better way to safely elevate the basking bulb?

The cage is sitting on a table plush against the wall. The UVB light (Reptisun 5.0 18 inches) is on the rear top of the cage (is that proper placement)?

I came from work yesterday and my bedroom was 85 degrees. 97 under the 60 watt bulb when I put it on and measured!!!!!! What do you do in instances like that? Keep the light off? Lower the watts? I live in Jersey and soon it will start getting cold, but its been very warm the last few weeks.

Thanks for your responses

 

[fluxlizard]

Where was your chameleon located at those temps? Probably wasn't basking all day right?

Personally, I haven't had problems with burns. My lamps have always sat right on top of the screen (for 20 years, hundreds of chameleons).

I believe it is because I use true thermal gradients rather than simple hot spots where it is warm vs cool. Burns happen when lizards have to choose warm vs cool. Their core temp is what they use to thermoregulate- unlike us humans who move away when the heat makes our skin temp uncomfortable. They need warm core temp to operate properly, not simply skin temp, and their bodies and instinct know it. So they sit while their skin burns trying to warm their core. In a true thermal gradient situation with lots of options, they can move slowly and gradually warm and cool their core temp- just as they would in nature, just as their instincts tell them.

Provide that by using lots of branches at lots of different levels and distances from the heat lamp.

My guess- when the room temp is that high, a 60 watt bulb is not going to burn your lizard because of how their thermoregulatory instinct works. It will take the lizard a relatively short length of time to reach its preferred operating temp when basking and then it will move away.

Depending on species and what you are trying to do (cold veileds= long lived females) then you may want to shut the bulb off or open a window at those temps so you get a little more cool. If everything I just wrote sounds like a bunch of garbledy gook, then remember, it is best to err a little on the cool side over the short term... When in doubt, shut the heat light off.

 

[Rottsko]

it's fine to keep the basking light resting on top of the cage. just use a lower wattage bulb and make sure to keep the basking spot at least 8-10 inches away from the basking light/ceiling. you should keep your basking light and the uvb light on all day. hope this helps.

 

[chamB]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I'm just a nervous new momma, who read lots of posts about chams getting burned. I also had an iguana burn his toe years ago from hanging on the screen.

The lowest basking spot is about 8 inches down. I will def. put lots of levels (branches) for him to hang out on and provide different hiding cooling down spots. Just stinks when your at work all day and aren't home to monitor the temps., etc.

My lil guy is arriving Fed Ex tomorrow morning! I will have the whole weekend to get him adjusted and settled in.

I will post pics of the finished cage and new addition. Have a great day !!

 

[NHenn]

Congratulations on getting a Nosy Be from Ed. They are an absolutely amazing family and you will most definitely not be disappointed in any way, shape or form!

I took a picture of my current set up for you which is a Forever Cage, Reptisun 18" 5.0 UVB, 5.5" Clamp Lamp with a 50W Bulb, ZooMeds Digital Thermometer, and of course a beautiful Nosy Be male from Ed.



I have a branch placed about 3-5" from the top under the light where he can bask. This helps prevent him from hanging upside down directly under the light. Right now the room is at 76 degrees and the thermometer reads 89 which would be the temp on his back if he was sitting on the branch.

I previously had the light closer to the cage and his branch a little bit lower in his cage and he decided to hang upside down while I was at work and got a minor burn on his belly. It wasn't anything major as it never scabbed over, decreased in size within a week and after two sheds is completely gone but it was still an eye opener of what could happen if the light is too close and they just hang out under it for too long.


Burn Day One


Burn One Week

A good test I like to do now is place my hand inside the cage at the closest point to the light and hold it there for at least a minute. If it is too hot for you to keep your hand there, it will be too hot for him if he would decide to hang on the screen at that location.

Hope this helps and be sure to post pictures of the new little guy!

 

[chamB]

Poor baby. Glad it wasn't a severe burn and your cham is alright! That really does worry me..esp. being at work all day

Who is the sire of your Cham?? Stunning! I'm getting a "Chili" baby.

Yes, I am so glad I chose Kammers! Briana is great also. She has been working with me getting "the one" and answering lots of my questions. I am confident in them! They are super friendly, passionate, knowledgeable and have amazing healthy chams.

Thanks for the pic of your Forever Cage. I have my set up very similar to yours except my light is sitting on the screen, which I will elevate as a precaution. I do believe that down the line, I will get a way bigger cage!

Anyway, I sure will post pics so excited....