UVB lighting

[Paul30]

Hey all..... I'm new to this forum and to chameleons... I recently got a blue bar panther chameleon female. With everything setup cage plants etc..... I had to get lights for her..... So I got a daylight 50watt basking bulb which makes her basking spot 80-82 degree....

But when I went to get the reptisun t8 5.0 I was told to use the reptiglo 10.0 t8 I already had...... So thats what I am doing.... But I want to make sure I'm doing it right.......

This is when I first got her.

First trip outside.

And her yesterday

I also have beardies and banana split lizards...... And known the 10.0 is for dessert but the guy at my local store said the 10.0 will allow more Uvb threw her hole setup..... Is this true or should I go get a reptisun 5.0 ASAP????

 

[bradley]

That bulb is fine to use especially as it is above mesh which blocks some uv rays out.

 

[NHenn]

I wouldn't necessarily say that it is fine. From looking at your cage, I can see that you need more cover for her to hide in as well as be shaded from the UVB light if she doesn't want to be basking under it. Also, since you have white paper on the sides the amount of UVB that would normally escape the cage is now bouncing around inside creating higher than usually UVB levels.

So my recommendation would be to add double the amount of plants in the cage. Give her an area up top where she can bask in the direct rays and then have the majority of the cage heavily planted for her to be able to get into the shade. Then you could continue using the 10.0 and she would have a great setup and feel safe and secure as well.

 

[Paul30]

I wouldn't necessarily say that it is fine. From looking at your cage, I can see that you need more cover for her to hide in as well as be shaded from the UVB light if she doesn't want to be basking under it. Also, since you have white paper on the sides the amount of UVB that would normally escape the cage is now bouncing around inside creating higher than usually UVB levels.

So my recommendation would be to add double the amount of plants in the cage. Give her an area up top where she can bask in the direct rays and then have the majority of the cage heavily planted for her to be able to get into the shade. Then you could continue using the 10.0 and she would have a great setup and feel safe and secure as well.

What type of plants should I use? Real or fake?

 

[NHenn]

If you can get more live plants that would be idea but you could always go fake for the time being and as your current plants grow and start to fill in you could then remove the fake ones and just have all living plants.

 

[Solid Snake]

Hello, from your wording I assume that the 5.0 came with the setup? If so, you should purchase another anyhow, as you don't know how old the bulb is, and if its putting off enough UVB.

A 10.0 can be used, provided the enclosure is large, and there is ample cover. In my opinion, a 5.0 should be used with your setup, even with more foliage added. Especially if the animal is getting outside time, 5.0 is fine in-cage.

Now, if you own/are willing to purchase a UVB meter, then you could check actual levels, and make sure the current bulb is good/bad, and or if its ideal to switch to a 10.0.

-SS

EDIT: Also, if that is in fact a bird cage, that harbors a living bird to the left of the enclosure, its imperative that the cage be blocked from full view of the chameleon. They are natural enemies, and birds sort of freak them out.

Live plants are best. Id recommend getting a small tree, that fills the entire enclosure, although pothos is awesome, and you can hardly ever have too much pothos, provided there are enough dead branches/sticks/vine for the chameleon to commute on.

 

[Paul30]

Hello, from your wording I assume that the 5.0 came with the setup? If so, you should purchase another anyhow, as you don't know how old the bulb is, and if its putting off enough UVB.

A 10.0 can be used, provided the enclosure is large, and there is ample cover. In my opinion, a 5.0 should be used with your setup, even with more foliage added. Especially if the animal is getting outside time, 5.0 is fine in-cage.

Now, if you own/are willing to purchase a UVB meter, then you could check actual levels, and make sure the current bulb is good/bad, and or if its ideal to switch to a 10.0.

-SS

EDIT: Also, if that is in fact a bird cage, that harbors a living bird to the left of the enclosure, its imperative that the cage be blocked from full view of the chameleon. They are natural enemies, and birds sort of freak them out.

Live plants are best. Id recommend getting a small tree, that fills the entire enclosure, although pothos is awesome, and you can hardly ever have too much pothos, provided there are enough dead branches/sticks/vine for the chameleon to commute on.

No lights came with the setup. I went to the store to buy a 5.0 and was told to use the 10.0. I had one spare for my beardies so I am using it...

The bird cage houses sugar gliders not birds... Regardless the sides are covered so only the front is a viewing point.....

She spends most of her time under the basking light.....

 

[Paul30]

Also..... The guy I got her from used the 5.0 reptisun t5 high put. And she seemed to stay on the UVB side of the enclosure. Now with me she stays on the basking side......

I also changed to a different basking light.

 

[Solid Snake]

No lights came with the setup. I went to the store to buy a 5.0 and was told to use the 10.0. I had one spare for my beardies so I am using it... Ok, you did mention that

The bird cage houses sugar gliders not birds... Regardless the sides are covered so only the front is a viewing point..... I appears in the phot that the cover only goes part way down, I could be wrong. I recommend full coverage if so though.

She spends most of her time under the basking light.....

That may be due to a colder air temp in the room overall, so you could check for that. It could also just mean she has a great need for digesting.

Also..... The guy I got her from used the 5.0 reptisun t5 high put. And she seemed to stay on the UVB side of the enclosure. Now with me she stays on the basking side......

I also changed to a different basking light.

I recommend a regular household bulb for basking. A 75W white bulb will work great, no clear ones.

A large dome will help spread the heat more evenly also. If there is a draft or breeze for any reason in the room, that could be effecting temps also.

 

[Paul30]

That may be due to a colder air temp in the room overall, so you could check for that. It could also just mean she has a great need for digesting.

I recommend a regular household bulb for basking. A 75W white bulb will work great, no clear ones.

A large dome will help spread the heat more evenly also. If there is a draft or breeze for any reason in the room, that could be effecting temps also.

So what should the over all temp be? With the bulb I currently have, the temps are 80-82

 

[Solid Snake]

75f-80f.........

 

[Paul30]

Ok...... I've now noticed that she's keeping one eye closed..... And when she opens it it's not at all like the other one.... Than she closes it and seems like it's getting sucked in..... Then she pushes it up into her eye lid......

Any ideas on what this is......

 

[Solid Snake]

Like this?




Because that is normal.

If its for prolonged times, that is an issue.

 

[Paul30]

Like this?




Because that is normal.

If its for prolonged times, that is an issue.

Yes it ls like that..... But than she kept her eye closed for couple min.... I'll keep an eye on it.

 

[Paul30]

Ok....... My Cham has been nothing but dark black lines in her. Like picture on page one..... Sobibwent and got a Repti sun 5.0 put that in and the next day she went back to pinky/peach..... So I don't know but think she didn't like the 10.0 bulb...... Because other than switching the bulb I did nothing else.