outdoor enclosure/ direct sun exposure

[tonycannons]

Hi all, I've been lurking around the forum for a month or so since I purchased a chameleon for my kids . I have since become what i say is interested in chameleons, my wife says obsessed. I really enjoy the community you all have created here. On to my question: I live in Southern California and I am toying with the idea of keeping our Veiled Chameleon outdoors part time. My concern is the area that I have to put the enclosure would only receive a couple of hours of direct sunlight per day. Is this enough sun or is it something that I would need a UVB meter to determine? Thanks in advance

Also introducing Fire Lazer Disco Panda (Waldo)

 

[Rush2112]

What type of Cham? If you can I would meter the UV intensity in that area and see how many hours. Make sure to meter from inside whatever type of enclosure you plan on using. I meter in full sun and have seen 7.0ish drop to 4 or 5 from inside the mesh of the enclosure. If your only getting 2-3 hours at a lower range then you may have to supplement with a UV light on a timer.
We love pics on here too. Hint Hint
Enjoy

 

[Kaianuanu]

I'm not saying it is a bad thing to start keeping babies that young outdoors. But I personally would wait till he's a bit older and stronger, maybe even a subadult before he is left out unsupervised.

 

[tonycannons]

What type of Cham? If you can I would meter the UV intensity in that area and see how many hours. Make sure to meter from inside whatever type of enclosure you plan on using. I meter in full sun and have seen 7.0ish drop to 4 or 5 from inside the mesh of the enclosure. If your only getting 2-3 hours at a lower range then you may have to supplement with a UV light on a timer.
We love pics on here too. Hint Hint
Enjoy

Thanks for the info Ill get some pics up this afternoon. He is a Veiled around 3 months old. I ran into this article from Olympia I believe she is a member here too http://muchadoaboutchameleons.blogspot.com/2012/07/importance-of-uvb-light-and-sunshine.html very helpful article. So what kind of weekly exposure should one shoot for to not need any additional D3 or UV light? Thanks again for the advice

 

[tonycannons]

I'm not saying it is a bad thing to start keeping babies that young outdoors. But I personally would wait till he's a bit older and stronger, maybe even a subadult before he is left out unsupervised.

Thanks for the reply I'll definitely take that into consideration.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

question: I live in Southern California and I am toying with the idea of keeping our Veiled Chameleon outdoors part time.

What do you consider part time? You would most likely need to have a basking bulb for the AM hours, until the overcast burns away to sunshine. What time of day would the cage be exposed to sunlight? Also consider ants. If food is left in cage, this will attract ants. Ants can easily swarm a baby chameleon and kill, this time of year, as days grow longer.

 

[tonycannons]

What do you consider part time? You would most likely need to have a basking bulb for the AM hours, until the overcast burns away to sunshine. What time of day would the cage be exposed to sunlight? Also consider ants. If food is left in cage, this will attract ants. Ants can easily swarm a baby chameleon and kill, this time of year, as days grow longer.

I'm thinking if the lows are consistently higer than 55f and highs lower than 95f which should be a good part of the year here in OC. The area is on a second story balcony that receives sun between 8 -11 am. I hadn't thought about the ants but i'll definitely keep them in mind since i had them in the house last summer. My only reason for wanting to keep him out side is to give him a better quality of life, if it doesn't make sense then he will stay inside. Thanks for your response!

 

[SSimsswiSS]

I'm thinking if the lows are consistently higer than 55f and highs lower than 95f which should be a good part of the year here in OC. The area is on a second story balcony that receives sun between 8 -11 am. I hadn't thought about the ants but i'll definitely keep them in mind since i had them in the house last summer. My only reason for wanting to keep him out side is to give him a better quality of life, if it doesn't make sense then he will stay inside. Thanks for your response!

That sound like a good deal. Even if overcast during those hours, he/she would still be getting UV's And ant threat is low up on balcony. Just make sure cage is planted heavy, so cham can get out of the sun if too hot. And I'd have a dripper going if left outside, so take that into consideration (drainage) to, on a balcony.