South Dakota Winter is coming !!!

[alonnamarie2216]

Well friends, I've only had my little turd (Utu the Panther Chameleon) since April. We haven't spent a winter together yet but hope to spend many. Being the middle of September, already experiencing my first cold of the season and feeling like death. What the best bulbs for warmth for my little one during the day so she doesn't feel like death as well? She's my favorite little turd so I gotta take care of her! Thanks for the help!!!

 

[carol5208]

Ah winter! Something I do not see here in Florida thankfully!. I would maybe get a blue daylight bulb which simulates the sun the best I believe. Most people just use housebulbs, which is probably what you are using now which is fine also.

 

[alonnamarie2216]

I have a normal housebulb now but it's not providing enough heat, it's chilly the house today but it will get colder this winter and she's logging in at 72 maximum. 69 in other spots. That's not really aduquate daytime temps for her.

 

[carol5208]

I would just keep uping the wattage on the bulb until you get the desired amount of heat. How cold is your house??

 

[alonnamarie2216]

Right now to me it feels like the Arctic tundra! I imagine it to be around low 60's. And unfortunately it will be around these temps this winter as well. She's got a 60w incandescent now.

 

[JoCarp]

Dimmer Lamp

To avoid buying a bunch of bulbs, I bought a lamp fixture just like the normal ones, but with a dimmer dial. Then I just bought the highest output reptile light I could and then use the dimmer to dial it back if it's too hot. This saved me a few bucks and some effort not having to experiment with different bulbs to get the right amount heat.

Hope that helps!

 

[Blang]

I'm in Wisconsin! And it gets colder than cold in the winter here! I set my furnace at 74° to keep the house warm & leave my lighting they way it is!

 

[alonnamarie2216]

Well unfortunately I have a roommate who is in control of the heat more than I, and he's one of those people that like it colder. :/

 

[unixmiah]

Forget all that.
I'm getting an emitter (a blub with no bulb/lilght but heat only)

It's super cheap. You can order them from amazon:

 

[JoCarp]

Forget all that.
I'm getting an emitter (a blub with no bulb/lilght but heat only)

It's super cheap. You can order them from amazon:

The problem I've had with these is that since they don't put off visable light my chameleon didn't recognize it to go to it and would sit under his UV bulb trying to warm up with no avail. I know it sounds crazy (he should feel it) but since it didn't put off any light he didn't really know it was there or use it. At least that's how my breeder explained it to me. My breeder also told me to be very carful at night since they don't recognize it, they can go to sleep too close to it and basically cook since they won't move once they are asleep.

Just a word of caution

 

[unixmiah]

You're 100% correct-- put it over the enclosure-- chameleons are not from Virginia lol and the winter is is cold -- i have no choice but to get it for night just in-case we have those winter nights where inside heat isn't enough because the blazing wind is seeping through the window frame cracks.

 

[alonnamarie2216]

The problem I've had with these is that since they don't put off visable light my chameleon didn't recognize it to go to it and would sit under his UV bulb trying to warm up with no avail. I know it sounds crazy (he should feel it) but since it didn't put off any light he didn't really know it was there or use it. At least that's how my breeder explained it to me. My breeder also told me to be very carful at night since they don't recognize it, they can go to sleep too close to it and basically cook since they won't move once they are asleep.

Just a word of caution

You're 100% correct-- put it over the enclosure-- chameleons are not from Virginia lol and the winter is is cold -- i have no choice but to get it for night just in-case we have those winter nights where inside heat isn't enough because the blazing wind is seeping through the window frame cracks.

I agree with you JoCarp. I'd like to have a light for her.
And I'm not doubting your winter winds but even here in South Dakota I've never had a house drop below the 40 degrees that a chameleon can withstand at night time temps...

 

[laurie]

Another word of advice. I keep a couple shipping boxes packed with all the stuff I need for my chams for several days. I am sure you can lose power like we do, here in Montana, and without you having boxes and heat packs ready you can lose your cham. I always have my stuff ready in case of a fire, loss of power, basically any kind of emergency that could affect my chameleons.