Chams body temp.

[astroprojector]

Hi All,

I bought the laser thermometer and according to the measurement, mine Jackson chameleon body temp is between 75 - 78 degrees. The basking spot is is around 73 degrees. I used 40w light bulb for heat.

Several questions:

1. Are laser thermometers reliable?
2. What should be chameleon body temperature?
3. Should I increase the bulb wattage?

Thanks

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy,

All measurement devices have some accuracy spec. I'd guess that you might get maybe within 2F of the true value. That 's pretty good by the way . Those sound like reasonable temps for a Jackson's air and body temp. Let's see what some of the long-term Jackson's keepers think.

 

[Chris Anderson]

Chameleons are heliothermic (ectotherms that gain heat from the sun). As such, they prefer ambient temps that are lower then their preferred body temperature. Trioceros jacksonii actually has an average body temperature of about 84F in the wild with a preferred body temperature of 89.7F as measured in the lab. This is a similar average body temperature and preferred body temperature to species such as Ch. dilepis which are typically thought to inhabit warmer areas. The thing is that T. jacksonii prefers to bask to raise their body temps from cooler ambient temps and thus do best with cooler temperatures and the ability to bask to artificially raise their body temp. In fact, most chameleons prefer to live in cool areas with the ability to elevate their body temperature heliothermically.

Chris

 

[kinyonga]

This one includes Jackson's....
http://compphys.bio.uci.edu/bennett/pubs/155.pdf

And another...
http://www.jstor.org/pss/30163690

Not concerning Jackson's but you might find it interesting anyhow...
http://www.naturalsciences.be/institute/associations/rbzs_website/pdf/abstracts_130_s1/130_s1_14.pdf

Another one you might find interesting...
http://www.reptileuvinfo.com/docs/chameleons-regulate-endogenous-vitamin-D3.pdf

 

[astroprojector]

According to the articles the body temp should be around 85 degrees. Even if you account for a 2 degree error, my cham is below the norm. However, I do find him clinging upside down underneath the heat light most of the morning until about noon.

So, what should I do? Do I need to increase the heat or not? I am asking because I want to make sure that he has enough heat to digest the food.

 

[xanthoman]

being cold blooded, body temps are bound to fluctuate not only with the air temp, but also according to time of day and recent activities [like eating or basking, mood (ie, a dark cham of same sex and body weight may have different temps than a light green one in the same situation)also individual metabolism plays a role] lazer therms are fairly accurate and reliable for a non contact device, however they do have their limitations and are mostly good for measuring the tempurature of physical objects (like branches or the cham itself ) less useful for measuring things like ambient air temp. i would measure the basking temp with an actual thermometer or thermocouple (remote sender) rather than rely on lazer readings alone. i think if you do that you may get substantialy different readings than from you lazer therm. i usually recomend basking temps to a max of about 84*. this can usually be accomplished with 25-40 w. depending on distance, type of bulb and reflector used (and other factors as well). in a captive enviroment it is reasonable to assume that lower average body temp might be more appropriate due to slower metabolism (less activity) less circulted air and other factors. because there is no agreed specific body temp to aim for, i would think you would be better off trying to maintaining conditions and let the body temp fall where it may. xanths are quite comfortable in temps below 80* but should still have basking available . xanths also like a substantial night drop in temp of 12-15* if you are able to achieve it . jmo

 

[kinyonga]

"All observations suggest that, given access to solar radiation, these chameleons are competent behavioral thermoreglators and not thermal maximizers" so I would think giving it a basking area where it could warm its body up to the proper temperature and then move away from it when desired gives it the opportunity to thermoregulate just like they would in the wild, no??