Fans, Open Windows, Air Conditioners, Outdoor Breezes

Echoezra

Established Member
Ok, since i was just reading about fans and open windows in another (drainage) thread, it got me thinking again and so I'd like to get some conversation/opinions flowing on these topics, as with the cages increasing around here, positioning is getting to have less options that don't involve being near windows or air conditioners. (window air conditioners, no central air vents here)
My situation and why the concern:
I know people think Canada = Cold, but in the summer here in southern Ontario, the weather can get crazy hot and especially stuffy upstairs, it's always either window open and fan on (my choice) or a/c blasting (hubby choice) so either way, to control maxing the cham's temps, they're likely going to be exposed to various sources of breezes. The other option is outdoors, in which case for the majority of the year my yard functions as a wind tunnel. Lol. The only place to position the cages outside is in the usual line of fire, since the yard runs along a very long lengthwise building.
(Unfortunately none of the windows in the house face the direction it's usually blowing from, so a/c is often a requirement even on a breezy day in the middle of the summer.)
Anyways, the windows that the a/c's fit in are only a couple in the whole house. Unfortunately, they are both facing the two best long walls in the house on which would be good places to place 3 cages in a row (to effectively share a MistKing. The upstairs one also puts them directly in front of a window. This window has blinds that are almost always closed, effectively blocking most of direct sunlight which basically only comes in in the mornings , and only the bottom two corners have small opening screens, so if those windows were opened, it would only blow breeze onto bottom section of cage (Chams at top half of cage would not be blown on directly) - that window location doesn't really concern me much, except possibly winter drafts, which I could prevent access of by covering backs of cages with flextrays.
The problem with that location that I'm worried about, is that in the summer, the upstairs a/c is positioned in another low window across the room that when blowing straight out, would be blowing at the cages. I planned on positioning some furniture part ways across room so that it would kind of block direct access, making cold air have to go around to the right or over the top of furniture, so Chams would be in coolest area of the upstairs but not blowing directly ON them.
But if the day was not too hot, and we had a/c off, we would HAVE to utilize those bottom windows to blow through Cham cage bottoms, to aerate upstairs. And probably also have a fan going in the room (could position to not oscillate to blow on them if necessary)
The other option is also putting them in the same positioning to an a/c, but not against a window. But more people traffic, and closer to a tv that might be on late at night (never a problem for my boys, but don't know if it would bother the new girlie)
Also that a/c is up higher, so harder to block direct blowing with furniture.
While I want to avoid drafts, I also want to avoid overheating that might occur in the other two bedrooms i could put them in if separated and extra mistking bought. I saw ambient room temps rising really high some days last year, when they were in my bedroom, to the point where even with the lowest wattage bulbs i often had to turn basking lights completley off for days at a time to keep temps down, and the probable placement in these other two rooms are putting them in even more of a 'stagnant corner' so to speak, as far as how well a/c would reach them on a really hot day. I figure that if low window drafts and ocscillating fans would be ok on non-a/c days, being close to but not directly in blast of the a/c unit would be ok as the lower area of their cages would be pretty cold like winter night temp cold, probably, but with higher wattage bulbs in basking spot the upper levels would stay in a reasonable range and i wouldn't have to worry so much about them not having any options to cool down.
I know it seems crazy to be from canada not arizona and be more worried about summer heat than winter cold, lol, but that's my situation here right now.

Your thoughts?
Opinions about the true dangers involved in being exposed to breezes? (I picture island breezes in Madagascar)
Advice for how I can deal with the varying temperature conditions in the house (basking bulb needs varying on a/c vs windows open days, for ex.)?
Any discussion involving this subject and my situation in particular is really welcomed and encouraged. Just please include explanations for your reasoning behind your opinions or suggestions, ie don't just say "windows bad" or "fans bad", please explain the specific risks so that maybe I can figure out an appropriate adjustment with say a partial covering or thermostat or something to still make that location positioning work.
Thanks everybody. Really appreciate the input.
 
When I have really hot days here the cham room also gets extra hot, thanks to the basking bulbs and such. So if it's breezy enough to have a window open I will have it open and use a small desk fan to draw the air in. And then during the hottest parts of the day I have the timer shut off the lights, all of them, for a couple hours. So maybe from 12-2/3 the lights are off, and that does a great deal to keep the room cooler. Mine get UV from outside time so I don't worry about them not getting enough UV, but if I don't the room can get up to 90*F very quickly without the AC blasting. But the rest of the house keeps cool, so it's not worth blasting the AC when the problem room is the cham room.

I've never really understood what the problem was with the occasional draft. Chams live with wind in the wild (hell, I have everyone outside right now and it's pretty windy) as long as it's not cold wind, I suppose. In my opinion, having the windows open, using a fan, or keeping them outside won't hurt them. At the very least, I don't know how it could. Maybe someone else can enlighten us lol
 
Thanks for your input Olympia.
When you have the fan blowing air into room, is it oscillating and blowing at the cages as well, or do you keep it exclusively blowing away from them?
 
It doesn't move, so I have it pointed staight at the wall opposite the window, and the cages are on the left and right of that, so it doesn't point at them but they get the "bounce" back of the wind on that back wall. I see their plants sway a little in the breeze so I know that they're getting some air flow.

And by cold I would say cold lol Like where you feel the windchill and you'd like a sweater. I can see that perhaps cooling them off too much, especially when wet, and maybe leading to something. They can stand 50*F weather, but I wouldn't want them wet or living in that kind of cold without being able to warm up. If the wind is making the air too cold, I probably wouldn't have them out. For me cold is anything below 70*F, probably, with more wiggle room at night. I'm a lot more lenient with how hot it is, because I can always keep them cooler with misting.

For the most part I use my best judgement, I couldn't give you a set of rules. lol I don't know if I make sense.
 
First I want to day thank-you for giving us a detailed question that leaves is with almost nothing to ask.



Ok, as long as the cages are acoss from the AC, they will be fine. The cages can also be next to the AC, but not in front.

Montains, will love you. Panthers and Veilds will stay near the basking light more often. But they will be fine.

I have my AC set at energy saver so it goes on and off To give them a breeze but still some relef from the cold air.


Just keep cages away from the AC. We all use AC. Your pets will be fine and they do need it like you do.
 
The wind blows in nature. So I dont worry about natural air movement. I have an osillating fan in my cham room on the hottest summer days. Its not a strong fan constantly blowing directly into a cage, just stirring the air in the room.

AC or furnace heat vents are not breezes as in nature. A breeze in nature or a fan in a room isnt going to be many degrees hotter or colder than the ambient temp. A blast of unexpected hot or cold air, likely also far less humid than the ambient, is not the same as a natural breeze. For an animal that thermoregulates, drastic sudden changes in temp might be a bit of a shock to their system.

Not having subjected my chameleons to this, I have no experience as to whether this is a problem or a non-issue. I look forward to hearing the results of your situation, and hope you find there is no issue. It sounds like you're doing what you can to mitigate any risk. And its likely better to have air blowing on them than having them overheating.
 
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Thanks for your responses guys.
So if I can put some shelf or something between the cages and the a/c to deal with avoiding the a/c not blowing directly on them, and i can probably position the fan in front of the cages so it's not oscillating at them.
But do you think the open windows at the bottom level of their cages would be ok? It usually doesn't get too breezy from that direction, but occasionally it will change direction and we'll get a pretty good flow in.
Honestly, I almost never see them hanging around the bottom two thirds of their cages, so I really don't think it would ever even be blowing right on them. Probably would help dry out the dampness on the bottom of their cage nice and fast though. :)
 
well you have seen my montane room
for those that have not, i use an ac unit in that room, otherwise id be looking at over 95 in the summer.
it is positioned for the air to deflect off a board and then to a wall ( opposite the chams ) and just flows around from there.
often to the bain of my GF i will also open the window for fresh air.
i never point anything right at the chams but would think a reg fan would be fine as in the wild wind is a reality
in the winter for extra heat i use an oil filled radient heater
 
I keep a ceiling fan on low all the time in the cham room as well as a window AC unit blowing on auto all the time. This keeps the room fresh and some air movement.
 
Thanks for your responses guys.
So if I can put some shelf or something between the cages and the a/c to deal with avoiding the a/c not blowing directly on them, and i can probably position the fan in front of the cages so it's not oscillating at them.
But do you think the open windows at the bottom level of their cages would be ok? It usually doesn't get too breezy from that direction, but occasionally it will change direction and we'll get a pretty good flow in.
Honestly, I almost never see them hanging around the bottom two thirds of their cages, so I really don't think it would ever even be blowing right on them. Probably would help dry out the dampness on the bottom of their cage nice and fast though. :)


I think it will be fine
 
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