Basking?

How often would you expect a Yemen to bask? When we went to collect him yesterday from his previous owner he went under the basking light a couple of times whilst we were chatting. The room wasn't.

He spent about 1hr 30mins in the car yesterday in a poly box with the car heaters on and basked when we put him in his new enclosure. Since then I've not seen him bask. The basking light has been on for about 1hr 30mins so far this morning and although he's been very active he has yet to do any basking - having said that he's just gone near it now but not as close to it as he was yesterday when he basked.

The room he's in isn't overly warm, I can comfortably sit in a t-shirt. The bottom of the enclosure is 72F. Unfortunately the middle thermometer and the one under the basking light have fallen off over night so I don't know what they are right now. He's 20 months old if that makes a difference.

Edit: Looks like he is now basking properly.

Good to hear, just sounded like he needed time to get used to the new environment

My guys were basking a lot today because the temp was low all day (rained most of the day so no sunshine to warm up the place). So a cool day in the cham room for me is about 72ish. My veileds bask first thing in the morning for a while. They then just move about looking for food. They don't have a schedule other than the morning warm up... but during the day basking is all based on ambient temps and food intake. Basking helps process food.

What kind of lighting do you use? what brand and type of UVB are you using? What wattage heat lamp and how close can your cham get?

Lighting is a 4ft Reptisun 10 which I inherited from the previous owner. I understand they only require a 5 but this tube is 9 months old (apparently this type lasts 12 months) so I guess the levels will be closer to a 5 now. I will be buying a new 5 next week though.

Heat is via a 100watt household reflecter bulb. He is able to get right up to it but is choosing to bask 12" below it.

He is self regulating his temps. 100 w is a pretty hot bulb. I would change it to a 60. He only needs basking temps of about 85. My thought is he is warm enough where he is. You can also raise the lamp up higher if you don't happen to have a 60 laying around. See if that helps. Basking is basking. I wouldn't worry about where he chooses to sit as long as it isn't the bottom of the cage.

ViolentJ said:

Lighting is a 4ft Reptisun 10 which I inherited from the previous owner. I understand they only require a 5 but this tube is 9 months old (apparently this type lasts 12 months) so I guess the levels will be closer to a 5 now. I will be buying a new 5 next week though.

Heat is via a 100watt household reflecter bulb. He is able to get right up to it but is choosing to bask 12" below it.

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Yeah, what Jan said is right... its too hot for him. if your temps are around 72 a 60W lamp will work well. Place the lamp on the top of the cage and place a basking vine within 6-8" of the two lamps (they should be side by side) and he'll get his heat, UVA and UVB at the same time.

According to the kitty blog 95F is ok for basking? I've just checked the basking area and it's looking like 92F using the 100watt. I'm trying to find a way to fix my digital thermometer there to get a more accurate reading. Both the basking and the UV lamp are already at the top side by side.

I would raise my bulb. If your cham is sitting with his mouth open and moving down in his cage it is too hot at the top regardless of what kitty says.

I didn't say he was sitting with mouth open and moving to the bottom though....?

ViolentJ said:

I didn't say he was sitting with mouth open and moving to the bottom though....?

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No you didn't say he was gaping... but you did say he was moving to a lower basking spot.

If you can buy one of those lazer heat temp guns it'd work well in this situation. If hes basking low and you get a skin temp of 100 or more... its too hot. If hes right under the lamp and has a basking skin temp of 100+ then he is prolly just fine. I know 100 is too hot...... My veiled was basking a LOT under his 50W so I thought 'eh ill go to 75W and maybe he won't have to bask so much, thinking my veiled was too cold. He got a nasty burn from that 25W change within a couple of days.

Yes a Veiled can handle the 95* basking spot.... Will he sit there all day? no, does he need to? no. Like your seeing he will move around to get his body temp where he wants it.

I'll pop out and buy a 60watt first thing in the morning but I'm still confused. The lower wattage will mean his basking spot is a lower temperature so he's either going to sit there longer or try and get closer, so I'm not sure why swapping to a lower wattage will be better?

ViolentJ said:

I'll pop out and buy a 60watt first thing in the morning but I'm still confused. The lower wattage will mean his basking spot is a lower temperature so he's either going to sit there longer or try and get closer, so I'm not sure why swapping to a lower wattage will be better?

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becuase if you cham won't get within 6-8" of his heat lamp how will he get the proper UVB from the UV lamp? You have them side by side? a new 10.0 will project 12" if there isn't anything obstructing its rays. The screen will cut down a lot of the UV rays.

Now I understand, thank you

Swapped the 100 watt for a 60 watt. I've placed a sensor 8" away and the temperature is reading 80.4F.

Does the positioning look ok?

I would just suggest putting something horizontal. Vertical branches don't allow them to adjust their temps as effectively and sometimes they will burn their nose trying to get their body warm.

-chris

where did you get your light unit from i need a better basking light unit i live in tamwoth just up the road from you

CleanLineChameleons said:

I would just suggest putting something horizontal. Vertical branches don't allow them to adjust their temps as effectively and sometimes they will burn their nose trying to get their body warm.

-chris

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Ok, no problem and thank you.

johnandlyn said:

where did you get your light unit from i need a better basking light unit i live in tamwoth just up the road from you

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Got that one from ebay, it's was sold as a poultry one. Where abouts in Tamworth are you?

Is this better? I've attached a thermometer probe to the middle of that vine and it's reading 89F. I can easily lift the lamp higher if that's too hot?

ViolentJ said:

Ok, no problem and thank you.



Got that one from ebay, it's was sold as a poultry one. Where abouts in Tamworth are you?

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hi ill take a look on there then thanks i live in polesworth where did you get your plants from i want one for the centre of my cage

We bought our plants from the Hollybush, it's just down the road from us ( http://www.hollybush-garden.com/ ). We got one of the staff from the reptile section to show us which plants could be used as not all of them were labelled.