How close is too close?

Hello

So I was wondering how close is to close for the UVB light? I have a Repti-glo 5.0 just curious how close to put a branch to the light so she don't get burned

thanks

people say 6 to twelve inches from the chameleon. If your using a compact with a aluminum dome it should be 12 to 20 inches somewhere around there.

This site use to be packed with info on bulbs but since company's are supposedly improving bulbs and to keep up with times seems the site is updating so ill keep myself updated on the site if u have more questions pretty soon they'll have results om sure, or at lest I hope . I got that info from here though.

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/fluorescenttubes.htm

I have the tube uvb 5.0 repti-glo and its just in a regular plastic holder got from petsmart

Jweezy said:

I have the tube uvb 5.0 repti-glo and its just in a regular plastic holder got from petsmart

Click to expand...

Is there plastic between the lamp and the animal? UVB does not transmit through plastic (even clear plastic) or glass. Screen and mesh also cut down on the amount of UVB that reaches your animal.

A Repti-Glo 5.0 placed directly on top of the cage (shining in through the screen) with the basking spot about 6-7" from the top of the cage is perfect. You should place the basking lamp near the UVB so that your chameleon can get both UVA from the heat lamp and UVB all at the same time.

Jweezy said:

I have the tube uvb 5.0 repti-glo and its just in a regular plastic holder got from petsmart

Click to expand...

Then 6 to twelve inches should be good. Id go with like 6 inches from the tallest branch, because he should have lots of places to hide just as long you have lots of places to hide I think he'd be good with 6 inches from him, to close and he might get burned and make sure he cant touch the light, that is the most important.

A 5.0 UVB lamp won't do much for the cham at 12", especially with screen helping cut down the UV rays. What I mean is... don't place the basking spot that far away, you want to be a bit closer, more like 6-8" with a 5.0 lamp.

In my photo I am using a Zoo Med 10.0. You can see on the meter that the cham, at 8" is getting 30 micro watts of UVB. This is a fair amount. Most of the time he/she will bask where the meter is... but roosts during the day a bit lower on the banch, maybe 12" from the UVB.

summoner12 said:

A Repti-Glo 5.0 placed directly on top of the cage (shining in through the screen) with the basking spot about 6-7" from the top of the cage is perfect. You should place the basking lamp near the UVB so that your chameleon can get both UVA from the heat lamp and UVB all at the same time.

Click to expand...

This is correct because your chameleon gets its heat and uvb from the sun in the wild so its attracted to the light naturally knowing it should heat up.Make sure to put the basking light close to your uvb light like summoner said.

Based from my personal measurement of UVBs, i'd do exactly what Summoner said. In fact, between 6 to 10 inches, the UVB radiation is between 20 and 40. Past 10 inches, it drops pretty low, and it's not good anymore.

However, to answer exactly to your initial question: too close would be less than 4 inches, in my opinion.

So should i not set the light directly on the screen or what.

Cuz she can crawl on the roof of the screen cage right under the uvb light

because she is only 2 months old

Jweezy said:

So should i not set the light directly on the screen or what.

Cuz she can crawl on the roof of the screen cage right under the uvb light

because she is only 2 months old

Click to expand...

The UVB light is not hot enough to burn your cham but the basking light is so set that up off the screen.

The concern about the UVB is if the exposure is too long and too frequent, like if everyday she spends two to three hours directly under her UVB light.

If it happens once every week, for 30 mins, i don't see any problem. UVB burns are only caused by extended exposure.

My babies like to get within 4-5 inches from the 5.0 bulbs. I se their basking spot lower so they don't get burned, but they can bask under UVB only on plants that are higher up in the cage. With a 10.0 I've noticed they stay more level with the basking spot instead of seeking to get closer to the bulb. I think they know what they need and do what they need to. Maybe it's like pregnant ladies who crave dirt because they need more minerals

I have never had an issue with a chameleon getting burned or going blind sitting close to a 5.0 from zoo med... I don't have exo terra so I can't say for sure, but I am about 90% sure you won't have issues with their lamp either.

Thanks everyone