Cham hugging uvb?

[amanda509]

okay, ive had charlie a little over a week now and have a few concerns, one was posted in the food section. this one, i wasnt sure where to post, but if any replyers are unaware, charlie was a rescue diagnosed with mbd. he is currently on liquid calcium gluconate/carbonate. once he starts eating dusted bugs, i hope to wean him off the liquid. the first 3 days he was with me, he had a 4 month old repti-glo 5.0 linear light. he spent some of his time exploring his cage, and much of his time hanging upside down under this light, even though he has a basking perch 6 inches under this light as well, but thats understandable because i doubt he had proper uvb before. his new bulb came on wednesday, and i thought it would make a difference, but he still basks upside down under it. what gives?

i understand his calcium balance is a little hectic while its being corrected, but the new bulb is putting out much more uvb than the old one, why does he need to be so close? ive only had chams do this when their bulbs were reaching the 6 month period to be replaced. charlie is only 5 months old and i know nothing of his past.

 

[ReptiGeek]

My chameleons do the same when the 6-8 month mark begins approaching their UVB bulbs initial date. I've read that some people believe that chameleon can detect different light rays, maybe they can also detect UVB strength?
I would love to see someone with more knowledge on the subject to pitch in because not only will it help the thread, but also me xD

 

[amanda509]

My chameleons do the same when the 6-8 month mark begins approaching their UVB bulbs initial date. I've read that some people believe that chameleon can detect different light rays, maybe they can also detect UVB strength?
I would love to see someone with more knowledge on the subject to pitch in because not only will it help the thread, but also me xD

chameleons can most certainly detect uvb strength! they need it if theyre not getting enough, them hugging their uvb is their way of letting you know its time for a new one. the thing that puzzles me is, charlie's bulb is brand new! there is no way it's not putting out enough uvb...

 

[Seiryu]

the thing that puzzles me is, charlie's bulb is brand new! there is no way it's not putting out enough uvb...

This is where you might run into an issue, just because it's new doesn't mean it's a good bulb. Do you have a UV meter? With how many reptiles I own, I go through a lot of lights. I have a UV meter and always check new lights because some of them are bad right out of the box.

Also, is this an ExoTerra? They produce considerably less UVB than their ReptiSun counterpart.

He is a chameleon after all too. They climb all over the place .

 

[Deevo]

My guy has done this since day one and seems fine. He doesn't do it all the time but every now and then ill catch him hanging out upside down. I'd like to get a UV meter to check it out but I don't think it's anything to be worried about.

 

[amanda509]

This is where you might run into an issue, just because it's new doesn't mean it's a good bulb. Do you have a UV meter? With how many reptiles I own, I go through a lot of lights. I have a UV meter and always check new lights because some of them are bad right out of the box.

Also, is this an ExoTerra? They produce considerably less UVB than their ReptiSun counterpart.

He is a chameleon after all too. They climb all over the place .

i do not have a uv meter, where can i get one without spending a fortune? (gotta love being on limited income -.-)

and i did not know that about the two brands, it is an exo terra and its the brand ive always used, so i trust it. but if a uv meter is too much, then maybe ill get a bulb in that brand instead and see if it makes a difference. i also dont want too much uvb though because he is in a small cage. although he has mbd, im not trying to overdo anything either.

 

[Seiryu]

i do not have a uv meter, where can i get one without spending a fortune? (gotta love being on limited income -.-)

and i did not know that about the two brands, it is an exo terra and its the brand ive always used, so i trust it. but if a uv meter is too much, then maybe ill get a bulb in that brand instead and see if it makes a difference. i also dont want too much uvb though because he is in a small cage. although he has mbd, im not trying to overdo anything either.

You either want the 6.2 or 6.5 UV meter. They are not cheap, and any of the cheaper brands I can't recommend.

Too much UVB is hard to do indoors. Even the 10.0's are not too much. A lot of people in warmer climates keep their chams outside 24/7 or nearly 24/7 all year. Their chams I am sure get days where it's in the 100's of microwatts.

The idea is that they can get into the light, and then you have plants/vines etc creating shade spots for them to get out of it.

Most 10's at around 6-8" (ReptiSun) without screen give 40-60 microwatts, through screen around 20-35 microwatts. These were my newer ones (less than 2 months old). 13 is the minimum needed for them to synthesize d3. 5.0's most cases barely give enough through screen.

 

[Deevo]

How do you know what wattage to get? If im not mistaken some of the repti 10.0 bulbs also say like 30 W or 100w etc

 

[redline]

One like this might work?

 

[amanda509]

One like this might work?

Thanks! Once i get a part time job for christmas, ill be investing in one.

 

[redline]

Haha, i was asking if that model is o. k. I was reading the description. My 3 month girl seens to do the same and im on an arcadia 6% setup. Is not always but i seen her upside down on the light on a few occasions

 

[Seiryu]

Haha, i was asking if that model is o. k. I was reading the description. My 3 month girl seens to do the same and im on an arcadia 6% setup. Is not always but i seen her upside down on the light on a few occasions

That one I would never buy, there's a reason it's so cheap. The only 2 I can recommend are the Solar Meter 6.2 or 6.5

Babies climb all over and hang upside down a lot. Once they get a little older, most tend to not go upside down anymore, or not nearly as much. All of my older chams no longer do it.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

i do not have a uv meter, where can i get one without spending a fortune.

You have one, it's called a chameleon. I'm not being snide, far from it.




I have found over the years that if you really pay attention to your animals you can tell what they need to a degree.

In the case of a light sensitive chameleon there is no better reptile to use for UV testing. If you see the animal trying to hug the light you know you need more UVB. Case in point, you most likely will see a Desert species try and hug a brand new Zoo Med 5.0 but less likely to see that same animal hug a Zoo Med 10.0.... in the case of a Montane species you'll see them shy away from that 10.0 if the bulb is new.

Only a guideline mind you, it comes down to you knowing your animals but I can say from my experience that when I see a Montane start hanging upside down I go buy a new 5.0 within a week... then they stop hanging upside down for me.

 

[amanda509]

You have one, it's called a chameleon. I'm not being snide, far from it.




I have found over the years that if you really pay attention to your animals you can tell what they need to a degree.

In the case of a light sensitive chameleon there is no better reptile to use for UV testing. If you see the animal trying to hug the light you know you need more UVB. Case in point, you most likely will see a Desert species try and hug a brand new Zoo Med 5.0 but less likely to see that same animal hug a Zoo Med 10.0.... in the case of a Montane species you'll see them shy away from that 10.0 if the bulb is new.

Only a guideline mind you, it comes down to you knowing your animals but I can say from my experience that when I see a Montane start hanging upside down I go buy a new 5.0 within a week... then they stop hanging upside down for me.

he is a 5 month old panther chameleon with mbd, can i really trust his reaction like i could my 2 year old jacksons and 3 year old panther? im deff going to see about getting the other brand of 5.0 linear tube to see if it makes a difference, like noted earlier in the thread...but im really hesitating going to a 10.0 because the cage is only 2 feet high and theres not a ton of foilage because he has a hard enough time getting around sometimes...but theres enough to make him feel secure, he just doesnt like climbing on it.