new cham

kit

New Member
hello to everyone ive been reading as much as i can on this and other sites as i am going to buy my first yemen cham i know you guys dont like glass tanks but i bought a exo terra 60x45x45 before i started looking into it but as i have read it will be ok for the first 4-6 months if i keep on top of the temp and humidity it came with a t-rex 100w active uvheat light which im told will do the job of heat and uv is this right or do you think i should buy new lights ?im not getting my cham untill next week so i have time to run my setup to see the temp is ok its running at 89f in the basking and about 75f at the bottom is this to hot?im going to make a dripper feeder as well and get that going i have time to make sure all is well before i bring my new cham home cant wait also waiting on a cricket keeper so i can start feeding them up on some nice friut and stuff not looking forward to that bit to much but i will get used to it in time dont think the wife is looking forward to it to much though anyway any help would be great and just like to say what a great site this is and i will keep you posted.
 
Welocme to the forum! Its a good place to learn!

I have never used that bulb so I can't tell you if its good or bad. I use the linear tube light for a UVB source and a regular incandescent light in a hood for basking (although I don't usually have a basking light on babies unless the temperature in the cage can't be kept warm enough without one). Having the two separate gives the chameleon the opportunity to sit under the UVB if it choses without having to be basking at the same time.

I keep baby veileds with a slightly lower basking temperature (low 80's) since their bodies are small and they can overheat and dehydrate more quickly than adults.

Here are some sites that you might like to read...
http://www.adcham.com/
http://www.chameleonnews.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/20060502...rnals.com/vet/index.php?show=5.Vitamin.A.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/uvinviv.htm
https://www.chameleonforums.com/supplementation-mbd-1-a-2451/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
 
Welcome Kit. I hope you have lots of fun with your new pet.

As far as the enclosures, Many of the keepers across the pond keep their Chams in a Glass enclosure very successfully. So it is possible. Keep an eye out for their posts. I think the main thing to remember with glass enclosures is that you need to prevent the stagnant wet air, so some kind of venting of the viv is important.

Hope that helps

OPI
 
Some Canadians keep them in glass cages too...and have for years. It takes different precautions than all screen cages though.
 
it came with a t-rex 100w active uvheat light which im told will do the job of heat and uv is this right or do you think i should buy new lights

Hello and welcome

The T-Rex is a mercury vapor bulb, right? So long as you have the newer flood and not the spot type, I think that should work. Check this site to be sure: http://www.uvguide.co.uk/mercuryvapourlamps.htm
Word of caution - those bulbs get HOT - so make certain there is no way your chameleon (such as his tail) will be able to touch it. Chameleons are not smart about avoiding contact burns, so you have to do the thinking for them. Also do not spill or splash water onto the lamp as this may cause it to break. And ensure you keep the bulb at the minimum safe distance from your chameleon - the box insert should say how far that is for the 100 watt (probably 12", meaning make sure your chameleon is not sitting closer than that).
And of course you have to maintain the right environment inside the enclosure. I think 89F may be a little hot for a young one.
The exoterra does have small vents on the front at the bottom of the doors, in addition to the screen top, right? Yes that will be fine for a young chameleon.
 
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hi and thanks for the replys yes the exo does have some small vents below the door and the t-rex is in a cage that sits on the top of my exo and ive made sure the cham cant get any closer than about afoot so should be fine but i think i might get some new lights next payday just to be on the safe side.hopefuly heres a pic
 

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