What time should I put my panther chameleon to bed

[matthew1300]

Hey everyone, as I already have my panther on a 12 hr day and 12 hr night schedule, what would be the ideal time to set on my timer to turn the lights off and on? I currently have them turning off at 7:30 pm and turning back on at 7:30 am. What do you guys do? Btw my panther is just over 4 months old.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

I gear it as close as possible to my personal "dark" time.

 

[Gwendalyn.brock]

I work early so my schedule for my chameleons schedule is between 5-6am his lights come on and around 6pm his lights go off. I was told that around sunset is a good time for them to go to bed but I beleive that most people will have different schedules

 

[jannb]

I also do my lights just like the natural light outside. Right now, it the winter months I have the lights going on at 8 am and off at 5:30. In a couple months I'll change it to 8 am to 6 pm and in the summer from 8 am until 8 pm.

 

[MissLissa]

My chams lights are set to come on at 7am and go off at 7pm. The sun is up only from 9am to 3pm here right now, so I can't really use the sun to decide what my chams' sleep schedule is or else he'd have to sleep sleep for 20 hours a day!

 

[tim's owner]

I work early so my schedule for my chameleons schedule is between 5-6am his lights come on and around 6pm his lights go off. I was told that around sunset is a good time for them to go to bed but I beleive that most people will have different schedules

I work early so my schedule for my chameleons schedule is between 5-6am his lights come on and around 6pm his lights go off. I was told that around sunset is a good time for them to go to bed but I beleive that most people will have different schedules

If I went by my sleep cycle then it would be 10 am to 1 am. Hahaha
But I actually have my veiled 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

 

[Gwendalyn.brock]

If I went by my sleep cycle then it would be 10 am to 1 am. Hahaha
But I actually have my veiled 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

If I went by my wake schedule her lights would be on from 5am to 12am.... I have a timer that turns the lights on and off because I am rarely in my room.

 

[tim's owner]

If I went by my wake schedule her lights would be on from 5am to 12am.... I have a timer that turns the lights on and off because I am rarely in my room.

I as well have a timer on mine.
I would wake up earlier but at the rate I'm growing at (13) I'm always tired (maybe that's the reason my cham doesn't move much he's like me a teen and growing fast!!!)

 

[Gwendalyn.brock]

If he's not moving enough that could be an issue but if he's basking or up high and comfortable and not sleeping during the day that's normal.

I as well have a timer on mine.
I would wake up earlier but at the rate I'm growing at (13) I'm always tired (maybe that's the reason my cham doesn't move much he's like me a teen and growing fast!!!)

 

[tim's owner]

No he's not sleeping during the day or anything I was just referring to the fact that chameleons aren't a high energy reptile.

 

[DaChameleonKing]

No he's not sleeping during the day or anything I was just referring to the fact that chameleons aren't a high energy reptile.

Good! He should have 12 - 14 hours of sleep a day

 

[Gwendalyn.brock]

No he's not sleeping during the day or anything I was just referring to the fact that chameleons aren't a high energy reptile.

That's true, mine really only sits in two spots but shes real energetic about hunting. I would definitely worry if they sleep during the day. My first chameleon only slept and stayed on the floor and died like the day after I got it, i was sold a sick chameleon. But my baby now is super happy and healthy no major issues but still a little paranoid though.

 

[gotwqqd]

Just an fyi to everyone interested.
Leviton makes a timer LT112-10w
It has sunrise/sunset charts by location. So you can either use it to on/off at these times or better yet RELATIVE to sunrise/sunset.

I'll be using it to turn on lights 40 minutes after sunrise to have a more gradual light

 

[wodesorel]

All chameleon species are equatorial and used to a 12 hour cycle, no matter the time of year, right?

My critter room is pretty dark without lighting, so I used timers on everything and have them set to 9am on and 9pm off. I sleep during the day, so that gives me some time in the evening to clean and feed. I found that all of my herps - frog, toad, snake and geckos - have become more active with a normal schedule. I'm embarrassed to admit that I was horrible about running the lights at all hours of the day or night before getting Jane and needing to put her on a proper cycle. Automation is awesome.

 

[xraygirl]

I'm a full time student, and I leave for class or clinic anywhere between 6:30 - 7:00 am. I have my lights come on at 6 am, and off at 5:30 pm at the moment.

 

[Damicofam6]

my timer goes on at 7:00am and off at 7:00pm