Room to warm?

[RustyShackelford]

Hello all,

I'm kind of new here, but not new to keeping reptiles (chinese water dragon, bearded dragon). I really want to get a chameleon now, but I want to make sure I have a sweet setup and perfect enviroment for the little guy.

I live in north Orange County, CA, where the weather is beaultiful... But my concerns are in my bedroom (where he would be kept). I live upstairs in a large house, which can get fairly warm during the day in these summer months. During the day, temperatures can reach 85-90 degrees in the room, even reaching 95 on days when it's over 100 outside. However, it does seem that the hottest part of summer is past us and winter shouldn't be a problem, I would still like to get advice from the boards.

A couple questions I have are: Will the heat cause any stress? Would I still need a basking light if the room is 90 degrees?

Any advice or recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks,
Rusty

 

[jannb]

Hello and welcome to the forums! In the warm weather you would not need a basking light but I would consider a window AC or something to get the over all temps down. Chameleons also like to sleep with it cool. At lease 10 degrees cooler than the day time.

Below are a couple links with some good info for fiest time cham owners.

Jann

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs...ging-home.html

 

[Carlton]

I'm sure you are already considering what species would do well. None of the montane species such as jacksoni would work. A veiled, panther, oustaleti or verrucosus possibly. It sounds as if the major problem for you will be providing a temperature gradient in the cage so your cham can select what temp it needs at a particular time. If your room doesn't cool off at night, that will be a problem for amost all cham species. They need at least a 10 degree drop in temp at night, and NO visible light. Chams need to bask for UV exposure not just heat. What you could do is have a small regular house light bulb on a timer that comes on in the morning (when most chams naturally want to find the sun to warm up for the day), but turns off as the room gets hot. A ReptiSun 5.0 fluorescent light that runs for 12 hours during the day. They produce little extra heat and will provide the UV it needs to metabolize calcium and vit. D3. The problem may be evening and night. If it takes most of the night for your room to cool down, your cham won't be sleeping well all summer. Your summer heat will be a problem next summer too unless you move. If your room gets that warm during the day, the other thing to consider is the humidity level. I'd test this with a good electronic humidity meter before getting a cham. Test just how dry the room gets every day and night. You may find this a harder problem to deal with than the heat. Humidity below 50-60% is going to be a problem unless you really fill the cage with large bushy live plants and use a humidifier. The plants may have trouble in the room heat too.

 

[RustyShackelford]

I have definitely considered the species and I'm leaning more towards the veiled because of availablity and price reasons. But I would love a panther if I come across one and the price is right.

The room cools off at night. Recently, it gets down to about 78 about an hour after sundown and reaches a low of about 72 by morning. I will measure the humidity levels to see if those are acceptable. I did buy some plants to start growing for the cages, so I'll see if those have any trouble surviving, but as cooler temperatures approach, I assume they'll be fine.

But like you said, I could very well be in this same situation next year. So thinking about possible solutions, I thought of an extremely crude airconditioner. Could something like a bowl of ice with a fan blowing over it (at the bottom, just outside the cage) be a temporary solution for a week of 100 degree weather? That way, there's cool air at the bottom? I figure this could work for an adult as it could find the cool area better than a youngin'.

As far as NO visible light for sleeping, are black trashbags ok to use outside their cages at night? Will the removal of it in the mornings stress out the chameleon? I'm active in my room until at least midnight everynight with small ambient light from the TV or computer screen.

 

[Malicious]

Rusty,

Get an room air conditioner, one that goes into a existing window or a stand alone unit that ducts out a window. You can pick up a window mount style at Lowes on HD for around $100. I use one, and keep my room 73 degrees 24/7. The cost to run one isnt bad, all the new ones are pretty efficient.

Chameleons need a temperature graidiant, and when the room is 90+ your not going to be able to provide one. The use of live plants and 3-4 mistings sessions per day should provide ample humidity. Veileds are comfortable arount 45-55% and Panthers 55-65%.


Here is what I use, Lowes $89, works great.

 

[slamwise]

I'm having the same problem, New York summers are the worst...

Would a fan help to cool down the lower section? My window is oddly shaped and will not accommodate an air conditioner.

 

[jojackson]

Measure temps on the ground floor, heat rises! Why does everyone keep them in bedrooms anyway? I do , but then I dont want mine seen by visitors I dont know.
Why does everyone else?

 

[Malicious]

Measure temps on the ground floor, heat rises! Why does everyone keep them in bedrooms anyway? I do , but then I dont want mine seen by visitors I dont know.
Why does everyone else?

It's often the room that gets the least amount of traffic. I wish I had more room to have a dedicated cham room, but untill then, they will reside in my bedroom.


-Jay

 

[slamwise]

I share a place with 3 roommates, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and visitors. So my room is the only space available.