i set this up for a panther cham, built from scratch with mesh for ventillation etc, having a problem with my temps that i want to get right before i get the cham. i tried a 100w bulb which only got my basking spot to 83.6 degrees (digital thermometer) so i tried a 150w bulb (both exo terra sun glo) and this got my basking spot temp up to just over 85 degrees. it seems ridiculous that this is as high as the temperature will go so can i have some advice on why this may be, and how i can get the temperature to go up and provide a better gradient through the whole viv please, and what should the maximum basking spot temp be for a panther?

the top of the viv is fly screen metal mesh like the doors on the front so could that prevent the heat getting through, or is it likely that all the ventillation is allowing a draft to get through and preventing the heat building up?

cheers for your help, pic below (will be putting a lot more climbing material in the viv just threw the plants in for it to be more realistic of the future environment!):

Looks kewl ... what is the back made out of?Is it all waterproof? But for that size of enclosure I would think your looking for a adult panther... it may be a bit big for a juvi or a baby....

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1.1 Veiled 32 hatchlings ,0.1 Ambilobe,2.0 Jacksons,1 Emma,1 Anna, 1 Nyssa,1 Spidey,1 Sunny

You will need some vines and lots of branchs for him to climb on. Do you have a uvb light? If you put a branch right under the basking light what would the temps be?

as i said i haven't finished with the inside yet i'm just trying to sort the temps first, i put the probe for the thermo right under the basking lamp and it only reached 85 degrees

and yeah theres a 24" uv tube at the top front

it's all waterproof

Howdy,
For example, a typical 60W halogen flood bulb (Home Depot) placed at about 12 inches from the basking spot will usually yield a chameleon skin temp of about 90F. Stick your hand at that position and see if it feels warm/hot. If it does then you may not have been getting a good measurement with your digital temp sensor. Trust your hand more than just the temp sensor alone to give you a good sanity check and avoid those dreaded chameleon basking burns.


Your setup may benefit from putting those nice plants on some kind of tall plant stands. Bring the plants up to about a foot or so from the top. As the plants grow, lower them.

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See Ya,

Dave Weldon
Panther & Veileds

Book Collection:
"Reptile Medicine and Surgery" 2nd ed. By Mader
"Chameleons - Their Care and Breeding" By Linda J. Davison
"Chameleons - Nature's Hidden Jewels" 2nd Ed. By Petr Necas
"The Panther Chameleon: Color Variation, Natural History, Conservation and Captive Management" By Gary W. Ferguson...
"Thoughts for Food" 3rd Ed. Edited by Ardi Abate
"Understanding Reptile Parasites" By Roger J. Klingenberg D.V.M.

enclosure looks fun. the reason for the low temps may be because the highest point of basking would be pretty far below the lamp. you mentioned that you temped right under the bulbs though, soooo i am not exactly sure. if you have another thermometer. try that too in order to insure accuracy.

also take dave's advice and lift those plants and get some vines in there so he can climb on all levels of the enclosure. chams thermoregulate which means they depend on the external temperature to regulate their internal temp, unlike humans who can maintain a temp regardless of room temp. because of this, they need to be able to move to different spots to cool off or heat up.

good luck