can you use a normal house hold bulb for a basking spot?

[dreamforthedead]

Would it be ok to use a 40watt house bulb for my female chameleon? I have exo terror 50watts and 75watts but they are both keeping her temp in the high 80's or early 90's. The 50watts was fine but now the weather is warmer its to hot.

 

[renzo0684]

Ya lower the wattage and and keep the temps around 80 if they get to hot she may become gravid..

 

[ijmccollum]

"seems" too hot? You really should get a precise reading at the bask site. House-hold bulbs are fine to use, incl 40W if the temps coincide with their needs. As the weather warms, everyone will probably/should be looking at what is happening in their friends habitat.

 

[xanthoman]

incandescent bulbs

yes normal incandescents are probably the safest basking bulb . use the lowest wattage that will achieve the temps you are looking for, but do not guess at temps, and have the bulb suspended above the cage some, in case your cham decides to cage crawl on the cage ceiling right under the light. in many cases a 25 watt will do just fine.