Someone please explain lighting/heating to me, from the very beginning

[OrianaB]

Hello, I just got a chameleon but he was given to me in a crappy set up: exo terra glass tank with UVB bulb. That's it. I'm going to switch him to a screen cage soon but of course I'll also have to get a new heating and lighting set up. So far this is what I understand: I need a UVB bulb (5.0) and some source of heat, like an incandescent light bulb (or ceramic bulb?) to be used for the basking area. There should be different temperatures throughout the cage, and a general decrease in temp. at night. So how the heck do I do this? I've been reading about dimmers and thermostats and timers and probes and quite honestly I have no clue what any of this means. I have a general idea that the dimmers/thermostats help control the temp by regulating the amount of electricity going into the bulb (or something like that, I'm probably wrong) but I just keep getting more confused, and I really don't want to buy something that I don't need or that isn't compatible with another item. So if someone could explain this to me (In a heating/lighting for chameleons for dummies type of way) that would be greatly appreciated. I mean...does the light bulb and UVB bulb get screwed into the thermostat? Does the thermostat go into the cage? Does the thermostat have a timer or will I have to plug a timer into the thermostat? Or do the bulbs get screwed into the timer? PLEASE HELP ME.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Welcome to the forums. You dont even need to get that complicated! You place all your lights on the outside top of the cage pointing down. This will make the hottest point of the cage at the top just under the bulbs. If your cage is the right size (at least 36" tall) the temperatures will decrease as you get further down in the cage. The bottom will be the coolest point naturally, which will allow your chameleon to chose any of the temperature zones in between as needed during the day. This is why you'll need a thermometer at the top and lower part of the cage. You can change the temperature at the top (and throughout the rest of the cage) by changing the wattage of the basking bulb. The UVB light doesn't put off hardly any heat. Higher wattages make higher temperatures so you can change out the wattage to get different temps. For example, I use a 40w bulb in the summer but a 60w in the winter, or even a 100w when it gets really cold. But this varies based on the temps in your house so you may have to do some trial and error to get the right wattage. A few boxes of different wattage bulbs are much cheaper than thermostats. You can use regular white light house bulbs. Chams are drawn to warmth and light to bask so I wouldn't sugget a ceramic bulb unless you need heat at night (not needed unless temps drop below 60). The temps drop at night because you turn all the lights off at night. Cheap Christmas light timers work excellently for keeping your lights on a regular cycle so you don't have to worry about it!

 

[OrianaB]

Welcome to the forums. You dont even need to get that complicated! You place all your lights on the outside top of the cage pointing down. This will make the hottest point of the cage at the top just under the bulbs. If your cage is the right size (at least 36" tall) the temperatures will decrease as you get further down in the cage. The bottom will be the coolest point naturally, which will allow your chameleon to chose any of the temperature zones in between as needed during the day. This is why you'll need a thermometer at the top and lower part of the cage. You can change the temperature at the top (and throughout the rest of the cage) by changing the wattage of the basking bulb. The UVB light doesn't put off hardly any heat. Higher wattages make higher temperatures so you can change out the wattage to get different temps. For example, I use a 40w bulb in the summer but a 60w in the winter, or even a 100w when it gets really cold. But this varies based on the temps in your house so you may have to do some trial and error to get the right wattage. A few boxes of different wattage bulbs are much cheaper than thermostats. You can use regular white light house bulbs. Chams are drawn to warmth and light to bask so I wouldn't sugget a ceramic bulb unless you need heat at night (not needed unless temps drop below 60). The temps drop at night because you turn all the lights off at night. Cheap Christmas light timers work excellently for keeping your lights on a regular cycle so you don't have to worry about it!

Thank you so much for simplifying this. I still feel kind of dumb, I've never actually seen a timer of any sort for lighting. How do Christmas light timers work?

 

[OrianaB]

Welcome to the forums. You dont even need to get that complicated! You place all your lights on the outside top of the cage pointing down. This will make the hottest point of the cage at the top just under the bulbs. If your cage is the right size (at least 36" tall) the temperatures will decrease as you get further down in the cage. The bottom will be the coolest point naturally, which will allow your chameleon to chose any of the temperature zones in between as needed during the day. This is why you'll need a thermometer at the top and lower part of the cage. You can change the temperature at the top (and throughout the rest of the cage) by changing the wattage of the basking bulb. The UVB light doesn't put off hardly any heat. Higher wattages make higher temperatures so you can change out the wattage to get different temps. For example, I use a 40w bulb in the summer but a 60w in the winter, or even a 100w when it gets really cold. But this varies based on the temps in your house so you may have to do some trial and error to get the right wattage. A few boxes of different wattage bulbs are much cheaper than thermostats. You can use regular white light house bulbs. Chams are drawn to warmth and light to bask so I wouldn't sugget a ceramic bulb unless you need heat at night (not needed unless temps drop below 60). The temps drop at night because you turn all the lights off at night. Cheap Christmas light timers work excellently for keeping your lights on a regular cycle so you don't have to worry about it!

Sorry for these questions - also wondering when I get the bulbs, what lamp do I use? Currently the exo terra's light is built in, so I can't use that. Can both the UVB and heat bulb be in the same type of lamp? And how do I get a lamp that points downward in a cage >.>

 

[maxttu]

You can pick up a digital timer for under $20 at wallyworld, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. set your time (7am-7pm, or whatever cycle you'd like) and walk away. Like Ferret said, regular house bulbs in varying wattages are all that you'll need.

And welcome!!

 

[maxttu]

Sorry for these questions - also wondering when I get the bulbs, what lamp do I use? Currently the exo terra's light is built in, so I can't use that. Can both the UVB and heat bulb be in the same type of lamp? And how do I get a lamp that points downward in a cage >.>

You can also get a clamp light, found in the hardware section for under $5 at the aforementioned stores. It's called a dome light. You'll want to get the 5.0 tube, so you'll actually have two fixtures on top of the enclosure.

 

[maxttu]

This is what you'll be looking for:

Again, it's only $5-6 or the 5.5" dome at wallyworld. They also have like an 8" for $8-9...

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Here's a clamp lamp that works really well for basking bulbs. You can just sit it flat on the top of the cage so it shines downward.

Linear UVB bulbs are better since they cover a larger area so you use one of these hoods for that.

Edit: Max beat me to it

 

[maxttu]

Edit: Max beat me to it

Haha! Great minds think alike!

 

[OrianaB]

Here's a clamp lamp that works really well for basking bulbs. You can just sit it flat on the top of the cage so it shines downward.

Linear UVB bulbs are better since they cover a larger area so you use one of these hoods for that.

Edit: Max beat me to it

Awesome, thank you both so much. Where can I find a linear UVB bulb and the hood?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Walmart or a home improvement store like Lowes or Home Depot are going to be less expensive than a pet store for the hoods, but you can find them at both. The UVB bulb can only be found at pet stores. Just remember the UVB bulb has to specifically say it has UVB in it. Some are labeled in confusing ways. Just look for reptisun or reptiglo 5.0 and you'll be set.

 

[OrianaB]

Awesome, thank you both so much. Where can I find a linear UVB bulb and the hood?

Also are there any specific brands of bulbs you'd recommend, like for UVB? And should I have a night bulb? And is something like this ok for the linear UVB bulb? http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/linear_fluorescent_bulbs.php (sorry for so many questions)

 

[OrianaB]

Walmart or a home improvement store like Lowes or Home Depot are going to be less expensive than a pet store for the hoods, but you can find them at both. The UVB bulb can only be found at pet stores. Just remember the UVB bulb has to specifically say it has UVB in it. Some are labeled in confusing ways. Just look for reptisun or reptiglo 5.0 and you'll be set.

ONE MORE QUESTION! For the linear UVB bulb, should it be reptiglo 5.0? or 10.0? Does it depend on cage size?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Also are there any specific brands of bulbs you'd recommend, like for UVB? And should I have a night bulb? And is something like this ok for the linear UVB bulb? http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/linear_fluorescent_bulbs.php (sorry for so many questions)

Yes, that is what you need. Just look for reptisun or reptiglo and you'll be set. I'm using a 10.0 on half of my cages and 5.0 on the other (all 36" tall) and don't see any difference so imo either is fine. You do not need any bulb at night unless your temps drop below 60. If they do you can use a ceramic bulb. The black and red 'night bulbs' disrupt their sleep so shouldn't be used.