How long can the lights be on?

Can you run them for 14hrs? Or should you be on the 12 on , 12 off schedule.

Thanks

Do not keep them on more than 14 hours, 12 on 12 off is ideal as it provides them with ample time to rest, which is when their immune systems ramp up and lets them heal and grow.

12 on 12 off will also cause your plants to start flowering assuming you have lights in the fall colored spectrum of light 3,000k-6,000k. Assuming of coarse that you have plants capable of flowering. Basking lamps (incandescent bulbs) are sufficient for providing this spectrum

Yes you can run them for 14 hours and probably should in the summer months when it is light out for that long. No need to have the cage all dark when there is still daylight outside. I go with the sun up, sun down rule, just as in nature.

carol5208 said:

Yes you can run them for 14 hours and probably should in the summer months when it is light out for that long. No need to have the cage all dark when there is still daylight outside. I go with the sun up, sun down rule, just as in nature.

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I however do not. My lights come on at 6 when i wake up and shut off at 7. I leave the house at 645 and dont return till 5. In the summer, its light from 545 ish to almost 10. In the winter its not light untill 8 and gets dark at 5. If i were to follow the daylight hours, i wouldn't be able to feed.

Bring me to my point, it kind of depends on your schedule as well. I'm assuming Carol is home during the right time of day so she can feed and everything which makes it possible to follow daylight hours. I however can not do that.

14 hours should be fine I've never had a problem

Sticktongue said:

I however do not. My lights come on at 6 when i wake up and shut off at 7. I leave the house at 645 and dont return till 5. In the summer, its light from 545 ish to almost 10. In the winter its not light untill 8 and gets dark at 5. If i were to follow the daylight hours, i wouldn't be able to feed.

Bring me to my point, it kind of depends on your schedule as well. I'm assuming Carol is home during the right time of day so she can feed and everything which makes it possible to follow daylight hours. I however can not do that.

14 hours should be fine I've never had a problem

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I know what you are saying and people have schedules and such to coincide with the lights. I was just saying that 14 hours was ok. When I leave my chameleons outside on my patio to sleep they are out there until it is dark and then go to sleep. I just hate when they are inside and both cages can see out a big window and it is light out, that there cages would be dark. I know that this would not hurt them either, it is just my preference.

Thanks everyone

carol5208 said:

I know what you are saying and people have schedules and such to coincide with the lights. I was just saying that 14 hours was ok. When I leave my chameleons outside on my patio to sleep they are out there until it is dark and then go to sleep. I just hate when they are inside and both cages can see out a big window and it is light out, that there cages would be dark. I know that this would not hurt them either, it is just my preference.

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That reminds me of being a little kid and having to go to bed when it was still light outside I also follow the theory of following the sun in terms of my lighting schedule, but I'm lucky that my husband can feed when I have to go in early, and vice versa.

buy a timer..mine is on 10-12 a day.

Ya I have mine go on at 12 pm till 12 am because of my schedule and plus the cage is in my room. I was wondering if that was bad or not but its dark in my room all morning