preparing for winter temperatures

[matt b]

Hi,
Just wondering when it becomes cold in winter at night do i need a heat source? everywhere i look it says no heat at night as they need at least a 10 degrees drop at night, but what when it is going to drop significantly more at night? also i read that rather than taking the temprature of the basking site you should read it at the other end to get the ambient temperature then adjust the basking area to suit?
Hope you can help

 

[rocket89]

I was told to buy a heater and heat up the room.

 

[AZJ0SH]

Do you let the temp in your house drop more than 10 degrees at night? Do you have a heater for your home? You could always buy a portable heater.

 

[allencg101]

I keep my room temps at 75 year round but my rooms have their own heaters so i just turn the heat to 75 some times ill turn it down to 65 depending how hot my cham room gets during the day!!!

 

[matt b]

thanks, I live in the UK so winters can get pretty bad but il have to just put the heating on at night, just wondered if a ceramic heat bulb was what i needed but appears not. Thanks again

 

[fluxlizard]

Chams do better with a night drop in temperature.
All species I've kept are fine down to 50 degrees at night. That includes panthers and veileds, among many (all?) others. It also includes hatchlings. I always leave my chameleons outdoors in the spring and fall when temps are in the 50s at night and every year temps in my lizard building drop down near 50 at night in midwinter when most of my other lizards are brumating.
Most people's homes never drop below that, even in the basement. So for 99 percent of us (at least here in the USA), no night heat is needed or IMO even desirable.

 

[JackP308]

50f brrr Id be freezing. Most keepers have their chams in heated houses so no issues. Just dont place them by drafts in windows ect. My room is usually 73f all year long give or take few degrees. Id be concerned if housed separately from living area like in a garage, shed, ect. to make sure things are proper temps. Generators are nice for power outages though.

 

[Lancecham]

thanks, I live in the UK so winters can get pretty bad but il have to just put the heating on at night, just wondered if a ceramic heat bulb was what i needed but appears not. Thanks again

I assume you are keeping the cham indoors during the winter. What is the night time temp in the house/room at night during the winter?
What type of cham do you have?
Adult veileds can take 40 degree nights. I assume the room the cham will be in doesn't get that cold.
Panthers can easily take 55 to 60 degree temps at night. Most households have the thermostat set above that. If this is the case, no heat is needed.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

thanks, I live in the UK so winters can get pretty bad but il have to just put the heating on at night, just wondered if a ceramic heat bulb was what i needed but appears not. Thanks again

I would use a ceramic bulb at night to keep your cage temps where you want them. They last along time, and you don't have to heat and dry up, the whole house at night.

 

[bradley]

Im in the uk and have never used heat in the night since I have got mine and all three of my chameleons have been fine

 

[DavidBuchan]

thanks, I live in the UK so winters can get pretty bad but il have to just put the heating on at night, just wondered if a ceramic heat bulb was what i needed but appears not. Thanks again

I would use a ceramic bulb at night to keep your cage temps where you want them. They last along time, and you don't have to heat and dry up, the whole house at night.

Yeah, it's just a choice, heat the room a bit to take the edge off, or get a ceramic bulb. Either way, keep an eye on those temps and don't let it drop below 60F at the lowest to be on the safe side.........

 

[matt b]

Im in the uk and have never used heat in the night since I have got mine and all three of my chameleons have been fine

cool thanks mate, so you know what the glorious uk winters can be like ha

 

[matt b]

I assume you are keeping the cham indoors during the winter. What is the night time temp in the house/room at night during the winter?
What type of cham do you have?
Adult veileds can take 40 degree nights. I assume the room the cham will be in doesn't get that cold.
Panthers can easily take 55 to 60 degree temps at night. Most households have the thermostat set above that. If this is the case, no heat is needed.

Thanks a lot yeh wont hit 40 degrees at night so should be fine then i have 2 veileds,
Thanks again it is useful to have actual temps to work against

 

[brooklynelizabeth]

Although my house never drops below 60 during the winter at night, I live in maine so i have a low watt ceramic heater bulb that i run on cold nights, it gives my cham the option of seeking out the heat source if it wishes