Lighting

[Shasta]

So I'm new to the whole chameleon thing and I got the ReptiBreeze mesh cage. So I have one question, how long does my Daylight Blue (60 Watt) need to be on until it the cage gains the right temperature?

 

[gotwqqd]

The basking bulb needs to be off appropriate wattage to get a spot to correct temperature.

It's on the whole duration you have"lights on"

 

[mvad]

The basking light shouldn't heat the entire enclosure and most likely if large enough (enclosure) it won't be able to. Chams need different temps within their habitat so they will be able to regulate their bid temp. The temp gradient should be about 10 degrees from top to bottom. I go between a 60w and 75w bulb depending on time of year. Also a regular incandescent bulb will work just fine compared to a pet store bulb. It doesn't need to be blue. Much cheaper to by household bulbs too.

 

[carol5208]

what he said above, and no lights on at night. Be sure and turn everything off. I go with sun up, sun down. Some people go 12 on 12 off.

 

[trickedoutbiker]

The basking light shouldn't heat the entire enclosure and most likely if large enough (enclosure) it won't be able to. Chams need different temps within their habitat so they will be able to regulate their bid temp. The temp gradient should be about 10 degrees from top to bottom. I go between a 60w and 75w bulb depending on time of year. Also a regular incandescent bulb will work just fine compared to a pet store bulb. It doesn't need to be blue. Much cheaper to by household bulbs too.

I thought regular white incandescent bulbs can be bad on their eyes sometimes? I've been buying the Daylight Blue 60 watt bulbs for a while now as my heat bulbs.... WAS going to use regular house bulbs because they are cheaper, but I've read a few places that white standalone bulbs can be bad for their eyes and that's why they make the Daylight Blue bulbs or red/orange basking bulbs...

Lots and lots of people also recommend a tube UVB bulb instead of a single standalone UVB bulb because again, the standalone white light can (supposedly) be bad for their eyes.

So apparently there are mixed feelings on this topic, depending on who you talk to.... mvad - how long have you been using regular incandescent bulbs and have you ever experienced any sort of eye problems on a chameleon from using them? I'd feel so silly to think that instead of $6 a bulb, I could have been paying like $8 for 4 bulbs of the same strength this whole time :-(

 

[gotwqqd]

Anyone else use a100+watt basking bulb?

My enclosure is glass with ambient 70 and it takes a 100w to get 85 spot temp 8" away

 

[mvad]

Been using regular incandescent light bulbs for over a year. No eye issues to report. I believe the pet store basking bulbs are a gimmic to make money.