Light ?

[harleyc]

Hello everyone, I have been looking for different kinds of lights for my Val- chameleon's I am sick of having 2 or 3 different lights on top of the cages. Its a pain in the Ass!! Can i get away with just 1 light per cage? I know there is different size light bulbs for different size cages, and skreen or glass and so on. Mine are 2x2x4 wood & metal skreen with 1/4in holes from lowes. I live in FL, so i need more air for them. I saw these spot light bulbs for sale that say they have all 3 different things in 1 bulb, (UVB, UVA,& heat) Have any of you used these spot lights and do you like them?

1)SUNFORCE MERCURY VAPER BULB
2)ZOO-MED POWERSUN UV BULB
3)EXO-TERRA SOLOR GLO BULB

Thank you for your time, Harleyc

Here is the link, with video's

http://www.bigappleherp.com/REPTILE...a5b7c8b4231c6daa.e3eSc3uNaNuTe34Pa38Ta38Qc3r0

 

[pssh]

I don't recommend these unless you have a UVB meter. They can have a high UVB output for chameleons.

 

[sandrachameleon]

MVs are great for big rooms, but Im not sure they are useful for a single cage set-up. The bulbs run HOT and if water hits the bulb it can explode (delicate filiments), and the UVB focus is difficult to get right. Like pssh said, you'd need a UVB metre. With something like the Powersun, you'd need to hang the lighting from the ceiling to be above - not resting on - the cage. Some produce levels of UVC - bad.

Check this link:
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/mercuryvapourlamps.htm

and
https://www.chameleonforums.com/mercury-vapor-bulbs-34380/#post316931

and
www.reptileuv.com

and maybe talk with summoner12 (a member here who seems to know about these things)

 

[shanksfaml]

lighting?

I have 3 of the ZILLA compact lights on my three cham. cages, I love them because they run on timers. They all have a T-5 rod (light) plus I added a ceramic heat bulb (75watts) , a red night light as well a dayligh bulb -all ZILLA brand. Is this enough coverage for my guys?

 

[Metric]

I have 3 of the ZILLA compact lights on my three cham. cages, I love them because they run on timers. They all have a T-5 rod (light) plus I added a ceramic heat bulb (75watts) , a red night light as well a dayligh bulb -all ZILLA brand. Is this enough coverage for my guys?

It's not about coverage. It's about producing the correct ammount of heat, and UVB level for your cham to access is the correct way. Heat and UVB depends on the size of the encloure, amount of wattage, what it's made of (is it all screen, glass, wooden?), Where you are placing the lights,are the "branches" setup for your cham allowing him to bask the correct distance from the different lights depending on their ammount of expsore.

Bassicly, to find out if your lights are correct you need to measure your heat lamp with a digital thermometer, and the UVB with a meter. If you want to skip the UVB meter part you could always use a linear reptisun 5.0 http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/img/shop/full/reptisun5.0uvb.jpg It's what a lot of members would reccomend and what I would personally reccomend.

@OP I"d say you could get away with just 2 lights, if you really want just ONE light and stearing towards the MVB, you're probably going to want to listen to sandra's advice.