To be a chameleon, or not to be a chameleon?!

[TheVeiledProphet]

To be a chameleon, or not to be a chameleon? that is the question.
Whether tis nobler in the lizard mind to suffer the flinging tongue and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to climb my cage and take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them.
To die, to sleep no more, and by a sleep we mean no heat lamp, no dusted crickets, nothing.
End the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks, like when they cut my feeding to every three days, I mean WTF, right?
Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. To die. To sleep.
To sleep perchance to dream of crickets,
Aye! There in lies the rub!

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

You use a red heat bulb for basking?

 

[TheVeiledProphet]

To be a chameleon, or not to be a chameleon? that is the question.
Whether tis nobler in the lizard mind to suffer the flinging tongue and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to climb my cage and take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them.
To die, to sleep no more, and by a sleep we mean no heat lamp, no dusted crickets, nothing.
End the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks, like when they cut my feeding to every three days, I mean WTF, right?
Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. To die. To sleep.
To sleep perchance to dream of crickets,
Aye! There in lies the rub!
View attachment 159647

You use a red heat bulb for basking?

why no, I myself prefer natural light and often bask outside for hours during the day.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

why no, I myself prefer natural light and often bask outside for hours during the day.

Hmm ok. Well if you're using a red heat bulb over your chameleon, I suggest to swap it out with a daylight basking bulb or incandescent house bulb. They cant see the red light very well and can overheat/burn themselves. Just a thought.

 

[TheVeiledProphet]

Hmm ok. Well if you're using a red heat bulb over your chameleon, I suggest to swap it out with a daylight basking bulb or incandescent house bulb. They cant see the red light very well and can overheat/burn themselves. Just a thought.

That is an oft repeated sentiment in this forum. Chameleons "can't see the red light". But that doesn't mean it's necessarily true. (Much like a host of life's other oft repeated sentiments).
Try to explain to me scientifically(that means use big words) why there is a belief that chameleons can't see a red light.
The only real reference I can fin that suggests that is Wiki-pedia, which I of course adore as the worlds largest open source encyclopedia, but am dubious of its use as a precision tool.
I like empirical science. Put a small 25 watt "red bulb" mounted 3 or for inches above the enclosure in one corner. Then put a small regular. Light in an opposite corner in the same position. And just observe why takes place. And how neither choice will cause the chameleon to burst into flames or scorch a giant scar on its face because it didn't see the light.
I wish I had a giant scar on my face. That would be cool!

 

[MissLissa]

I think it makes sense that chameleons would be able to see red light. Why otherwise use red as a signalling colour if they cannot see that part of the spectrum? Makes no sense. However, I still don't use red lights as a daytime basking bulb for several reasons:

1) There is some evidence that red lights can cause "light stress" in diurnal animals. There are several studies (mostly involving passerines, but we take what we can get when chameleon studies are so few on the ground) that even 4 hours of exposure to red light can lead to increased cortisol levels, and red light raised cortisol levels the most compared to white and blue lights.

2) Using a 60 watt white bulb is cheaper because I can get 4/$1 at the corner store, and I don't have to make a special trip to the reptile store to source them if one goes out.

3) In my opinion, chams looks prettier under white light, but this is obviously down to personal preference!

No type of light should be used at night, as chameleons have a parietal eye so any light exposure may disrupt sleep.

Anywho...
I love the Chameleon Hamlet! Hilarious (and accurate!) thanks for sharing