Wattage of heat bulb

[ragingreefer]

I have been doing some research on chameleons for the last year or so and have decided to finally take the initiative and start to piece my enclosure together. I plan on getting a baby male veiled and was wondering if a cage of 16x16x30 would be fine for about 9 months or so. I have also heard several different theories on basking bulbs. I have heard everything from no basking bulb to 100 watt basking bulb. So would a 50 watt be ok? And any info on placement would be helpful.

Thanks definitely more questions on the way haha

 

[ashutt19]

Your best bet is to read the care sheet. If you click on the Care Resources under the navigation you will find the care sheets there. They contain majority of the info you need to know. And yes you will need a basking bulb, especially in MN. It might take a few bulbs to get the right temp. Make sure you have something to read the temps in your cage.

 

[CarlC]

The wattage you will need depends on a couple of things. Room temperature and how far the branch's are from the basking spot will determine what you need. Get yourself a good thermometer and take some readings. Screw in incandescent bulbs are cheap.

Carl

 

[fluxlizard]

A good starting point would perhaps be a 60 watt bulb to get your first temperature measurements. Then follow Carl's advice from there...

 

[ragingreefer]

alright thanks

 

[NitroRoo]

My enclosure is 18x18x36, and a 50 watt bulb sitting right on top is barely getting me 80 degrees in the basking area, and about 70 degrees at the floor. I have a female veiled who is about 6 months old, and should have a basking area closer to 85 degrees. I spent about $10 on a basking bulb at the pet store but now I see that a regular incandescent can get the job done...

 

[melble68]

I have a 40 watter and a 60 watt that I use accordingly to get the right basking temp. With our freagin heat wave right now the 40 is doing the trick. Here in a couple of weeks when we get a cold spell and it dips below 60f I'll probably switch back to the 60. My suggestion is to test and try different bulbs until you find the right combo.

 

[Boogiedog]

I use a 40 w ceramic heating bulb (on 24/7) and during the day add a 60 household bulb - since adding the light (in addition to the UVB 5.0) both my veiled and panthers seem much happier - good color, activity, etc.

 

[Chameleon Company]

The wattage you will need depends on a couple of things. Room temperature and how far the branch's are from the basking spot will determine what you need. Get yourself a good thermometer and take some readings. Screw in incandescent bulbs are cheap.

Carl

A good starting point would perhaps be a 60 watt bulb to get your first temperature measurements. Then follow Carl's advice from there...

Agreed to both. The basking bulb need only be a simple incandescent bulb in a dome. I would start at nothing less than 60W, up to 100W. Get yourself an inexpensive outdoor stem thermometer, and tape it face-up on your main basking spot. Then let your dome sit over it, adjusting distance, such that the thermometer holds in the low 90's. Obviously, a higher wattage will be further away than a lower wattage. Once you have the proper distance for that wattage, remove the thermometer, and your chameleon is set to take its place !

 

[ridgebax1]

I have a 40 watter and a 60 watt that I use accordingly to get the right basking temp. With our freagin heat wave right now the 40 is doing the trick. Here in a couple of weeks when we get a cold spell and it dips below 60f I'll probably switch back to the 60. My suggestion is to test and try different bulbs until you find the right combo.

Send some of that heat up north! We are in the deep freeze! I have had the best results using a halogen bulb that looks just like a regular incandescent bulb. It is 72 watts. I get a steady 82F for Clouseau. Omar has a 150 watt plain old incandescent and his temps are 85-90F. Clouseau is in a smaller cage too.