I posted this in another heat related thread:
"I live in the Keys and Ive been keeping my male panther outside exclusively for the last 8 months except for when it gets into the 50s at times during the winter. I think the key to successfully keeping them outside is plenty of shade ( or in my case, total shade during the hottest parts of the day) and frequent long mistings. My guy gets misted 4 times a day for 30 minutes, sometimes more on the really hot days. I also have a dripper going all day. No problems yet ( famous last words) and I feel that it actually makes him hardier as he is exposed to the elements and other stimuli that he wouldn't experience otherwise.
That being said, the heat from the outdoors can quickly dehydrate and kill an animal, especially veileds and montane species as opposed to those from Madagascar. I agree with the theory that coastal chams may be better suited to Floridian heat. I once lost a veiled to dehydration when she was kept outdoors. I was new to the hobby, admittedly, and didnt take the neccesary precautions. She looked fine for a while, then one day she was sunken in and saggy. The following day she was dead. So if any of your chams are looking at all sunken or you feel like it's not a good situation for them to be outdoors for any reason, address the problem immediately because dehydration and other problems can arise suddenly, seelingly out of nowhere
Interestingly enough, though, I have read of some feral veiled populations in South West Florida.
Also,bear in mind that a younger or smaller animal will be more suseptible to dehydration or overheating than a larger one.
Anyway, if you can do it safely, I highly recommend keeping them outside."
Josh
