Basking help

[poolex5]

I am setting up my enclosure for a baby (3-4 month old) Panther chameleon I will be getting in the next couple of weeks. The cage is a reptibreeze 2x2x4. I have been buying bulbs left and right trying to get the temp right. I have 3 branches under the basking light at 7.5 - 10 inches below the light. I can't seem to get above 84 degrees 7.5" directly under the light. I have tried different clear and white incandescent 60 watt bulbs. I just tried a 70 watt bulb, and nothing changed. I know it's hard to find the right kind of incandescent and I'm not sure if the problem is the ones I'm finding are energy savers or not. I don't want to move the branches closer to the light. Should I try and go with a zoo med basking bulb instead of a house bulb. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Oh yeah, the temp in my house is 72.

 

[summoner12]

I like to use Halogen PAR20 flood lamps that are 50 watt. You can buy these at Home Depot or Lowe's. They won't break if you get them wet by mistake and they create a lot of heat for the amount of watts they use. If you place this lamp about 8-10" from the basking branch, at an angle, you'll get good results.

It's best to use a laser temp gun to measure the heat of the chameleon as it basks. You'll get an idea if the temp is too cold if the cham sits there all day. If it's too hot don't trust them to move, sometimes they don't get out of the heat in time.

 

[melble68]

Baby/juvenile (<9 months): ambient 72-80F (22-26C), basking 82F (28C)
Adult males: ambient 75-80F (23-26C), basking 85-90F (29-32C)
Adult females: ambient 75-80F (23-26C), basking 80-85F (26-29C)

You don't want to cook your little one. I think 84 is pretty good for what you are expecting. This info is directly from the care sheets posted here on the forum for panthers.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/panther/

And yep get a laser temp gun for sure.

 

[xraygirl]

I have a male panther roughly a year old, and I think I've bought 4 different types of bulbs and could not get that basking temp above 73.. I ended up having to buy a 'reptile basking bulb' for $10... But it got the temperature where I need it... finally!

 

[poolex5]

Thanks for the ideas. I can't believe it is this tough to get the temp right!

 

[summoner12]

What you need to keep in mind is that the animal will absorb the heat differently than a temp probe.

Also keep in mind little Chams the age you have like to climb on the top of the cage upside down. They can burn easily. So don't place the lamp right on the screen. Angle it at like 30-45* and have it a couple of inches above the screen.

 

[poolex5]

What you need to keep in mind is that the animal will absorb the heat differently than a temp probe.

Also keep in mind little Chams the age you have like to climb on the top of the cage upside down. They can burn easily. So don't place the lamp right on the screen. Angle it at like 30-45* and have it a couple of inches above the screen.

Wow. I didn't know that. All the pictures I've seen of people's setups look like the basking light is sitting right on top pointing down. Thanks for the info.

 

[poolex5]

Can you recommend a good infrared temp gun? I bought a craftsman and tried it yesterday and got a wide variety of temperatures at the same spot. My wired probe thermometer said 90 and the temp gun showed everything from 78-85.

I like to use Halogen PAR20 flood lamps that are 50 watt. You can buy these at Home Depot or Lowe's. They won't break if you get them wet by mistake and they create a lot of heat for the amount of watts they use. If you place this lamp about 8-10" from the basking branch, at an angle, you'll get good results.

It's best to use a laser temp gun to measure the heat of the chameleon as it basks. You'll get an idea if the temp is too cold if the cham sits there all day. If it's too hot don't trust them to move, sometimes they don't get out of the heat in time.

 

[summoner12]

Can you recommend a good infrared temp gun? I bought a craftsman and tried it yesterday and got a wide variety of temperatures at the same spot. My wired probe thermometer said 90 and the temp gun showed everything from 78-85.

The lower cost temp guns have a wider 'viewing' ratio. Most lower end models are 1 to 1. That means the metering area is 1" wide when the meter is 1" away. The higher end models are more accurate. It should say on the meter it's ratio. Are you reading the temp on your chameleon? There will be a range of temps seen and finding a good average is best. I don't trust the temp probes. I've used them on my reef tanks and always find them to be 2-3 degrees off (testing against my laser temp gun).

With the PAR20 Flood, you'll get a good area of heat.