Chameleon Aquarium fan method/is this UVB light okay?

[reptileguy112]

Hi, I am a new user and this is my first thread on chameleon forums.I have been keeping animals for many years and got may cham about 5 days ago.It is a male veiled.He is about 4 inches nose to snout.I am currently using a All Living Things Compact Tropical UVB light.Is this a type that with hurt there eyes?It is about 8 inches about when cham is in basking spot.I also am working on getting a screen cage.I am currently keeping it in a 20 gallon tall tank (about 18-20 inches tall).It is an aquarium and I use a fan in it to keep optimal air flow.Is this enough?I am hoping to get him into a screen cage by next week.It has many vines (fake) and I know everyone says they don't drink still water but I keep 2 water dishes in there for humidity and I have seen him climb in there several times.I am not sure if he was drinking but he was in it.I have a real plant in there also and I feed him crickets 5-7 a day and sometimes I calcium dust them.What is a cheap but reliable uvb 18 inch tube I could get, is the fan method going to be ok for a week, and is my current light ok?

 

[sharp229]

He should be OK in the aquarium for a week, especially with fans and if you are keeping it clean. You should dust with PLAIN calcium every feeding, calcium with D3 twice a month, and multivitamin twice a month.

You need to be really careful to clean the water bowls daily if you are keeping them in there, and be sure they do not have enough water to drown him. Also make sure he is not defecating in them. What is your humidity at? As long as it stays in the range of 40-70% it should be OK.

I haven't seen any reviews of that UVB bulb so I am not sure how good it is. There were dangerous CFL's in the past but if it is a newer one it is probably OK. ZooMed ReptiSun 5.0 and Arcadia 6% are the best and most well-tested bulbs. You should be able to get the ReptiSun 5.0 at any pet store or online if you already have an appropriate fixture.

If you need a fixture, the below is about the best value for what you get:

http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/24hot5dobufi.html

A cheaper single-bulb T5 is also available:

http://www.lllreptile.com/products/22467-zoo-med-24-t5-high-output-terrarium-hood

 

[reptileguy112]

Reply to sharp229

Thank you, I will defiantly do some research on those bulbs and will purchase some calcium with D3. I don't think he needs multivitamin though. He is almost always a dark grey when he is in the cage except when he is sleeping he is lime green.I try to get him outside once a day on a tomato plant or wooden play stand for parrot I made myself from a bush I chopped down. (it doesn't have parasites and actually looks really nice like the $60 ones at the store.). ALso I already have an aqueon 18 inch fixture I can use for a tube light. 18''

 

[sharp229]

Can you post pictures of him and the cage? He may just be dark because you have only had him 5 days and he hasn't adjusted yet. It's usually best to handle as little as possible the first week or two.

Note that when he is an adult, he will need at least a 24x24x48 screen cage. You should be able to find 18" ReptiSun 5.0 bulbs at most pet stores that you can use with your existing fixture. Amazon also has them if you prefer.

 

[reptileguy112]

I cant figure out how to post pics.I saved pics but the only option is to use a URL for website?

 

[reptileguy112]

Lol, he tried to bite birds face.Just moved him to another room!

 

[reptileguy112]

 

[reptileguy112]

 

[reptileguy112]

Those are the pics I took

 

[reptileguy112]

I just got a reptiglo 5.0 that is an 18'' strip.Are they any good?

 

[sharp229]

I think Repti-Glo is the Exo-Terra UVB bulb. I haven't personally used it, but I have seen other people on the forum using them so I imagine it will be OK as long as you replace every 6 months.

 

[reptileguy112]

Ok, thanx! I will get a uvb card so I know exactly when my veiled needs a new.