Being outside...how long is O.K??

[ronnie]

Because we are having some freakish weather(warm/hot) over here in N.Ireland at the moment i had Trixxi outside for no longer than 10 min today,how long is it O.K to stay outside with her??also she enjoys sitting on the window sill(inside)...(i know that no UVB can go though the window)but she likes the heat....how long is it O.K to let her sit there for??I mist her when she is inside the window and also have the dripper set up above her

 

[Lizardlover]

dude, my cham LIVES outside, now if you say that there is bad weather be specific so. how hot, if its a veild she can take the heat and i dont think ireland gets that hot.

 

[jojackson]

As long as you like outside provided ofcourse it neither gets too hot or cold.
Same for the windowsill. You will find your animal will try to retreat from the sun/heat when its too hot. If it starts gaping, its a good sign its had enough.
When outside ensure it can escape the heat and dont leave it unattended.

 

[Miss Lily]

Like jojackson said, make sure to check on her often. You can also give her a good misting while she's outside too. Bear in mind that they don't always have the sense to move into the shade when they start gaping and getting too hot. Lily would bask and bask until she started gaping and even though she had access to shade sometimes I had to physically move the cage out of the sun to cool her down!

Be careful with the window sill. The glass will make the sun hotter still (think dogs in hot cars) so probably best to keep an eye on her there too!

 

[Ares]

whenever I take Ares outside, I am always holding him because I am afraid of birds and hawks. Is this a realistic concern or is leaving them outside without protection ok????

Whenever I am outside with him I am constantly checking out the sky. That would be worse than horrible!!!

 

[jannb]

Don't let her get too hot. A female veiled will make eggs in not keep in the very low 80' and having eggs does shorten their life.

 

[jojackson]

LOl Good points Lil, cant give them too much credits for smarts sometimes, makes you wonder. I give Homer a bit of mist while hes out too. It should be noted that direct sun isnt nessesary for absorbtion of UV, a shady area is just as good since UV bounces off the ground aswell, and if you can find a spot in daylight that isnt directly covered overhead the animal will still get UV.
Overheating is probly number one killer of captive reptiles, so caution pays.

Ares, dont ever be tempted to leave it without protection, if birds can, they will. You dont have to hold it, infact the animal may not appreciate that, but arrange a shrub, some branches etc and sit close. A cage is better, but again account for heat!

 

[jannb]

whenever I take Ares outside, I am always holding him because I am afraid of birds and hawks. Is this a realistic concern or is leaving them outside without protection ok????

Whenever I am outside with him I am constantly checking out the sky. That would be worse than horrible!!!

I never leave my guys outside alone......not even for one minute. Another animal could get them or they can crawl away very quickly.

 

[ronnie]

Thanks for all the replies guys...i have a thermometer on the window sill and it has got up to 110d. when it gets that hot i move her and mist heavily(which she dislikes!)Tiff you are very right in saying that some chams don't seem to have the sense to seek out shade as i have provided this for Trixxi and she won't be drawn to it at all!The old bird cage didn't work out to well(to awkward to get her out of!)so i just hold her and would NEVER EVER leave her unattended

 

[pr3mo15]

ronnie I take my panther out for ATLEAST an hour at a time...I just make sure he can escape the sun(has alot of shady spots in his outside cage)plus i keep him under a patio cover thats not fully covered so he has extra shady spots


and make sure they have plenty of water while they are out on a hot day, i put my guys cage under our outside misters and just turn those on every 30min or so if its real hot

 

[hallenhe]

My panther gets to be outside for a couple hours at a time - we usually go in when I get bored or tired, or he gets antsy and wants to go under the car (he doesn't get to go under the car; perhaps for that very reason, he dearly wants to). His modus operandi is to sit still for at least twenty minutes, maybe turn and sun the other side, then the solar batteries are all charged and he wants to explore. Like the others say, I never leave him unsupervised, but will let him walk around the yard a bit. If it's hot outside, try a sprinkler! My guy likes it (so long as he can get in and out at will, and the water is light).

 

[panthercrazy]

I have moved all my enclosures outdoors now for the next few months. To allow for this and ensure the chams safety, I have chosen a spot on my deck which gets morning & late afternoon sun, shady throughout mid day, which temperatures are at highest usually. I have also set up an automatic misting/drip system which goes off every 2-2.5 hours depending on time of day, for 4-6 mins at a time. This ensures adequate water supply and allows some cooling down periods too.
I'd have to say my chams are sure looking the best in colors and seem to be enjoying it.

Only down side is, the next 3 days starting Saturday, we are in for a drastic drop in temps (5-8C) & steady rain, so they are moving back into the house during this time as it will be too cold for them. A little work, but the benefits to them being outside is well worth it to me

 

[chambabysitter1]

Somewhat related. I am building Chameleo and outdoor enclosure, and other than night time, plan to keep him out there for a good amount of his time.

Around what temps does it become too extreme or uncomfortable? Hot or cold.