Grow Lights

[Pure]

So chams eyes are sensitive to light. I'd like to set my next cham up in my bed room. The room only has 1 north facing window that is under a very large porch. I get very little to no natural sunlight in this room..

My question is would the use of some grow lights.. Kinda like what's used to grow illegal substances (high pressure Sodiums), would it be harmful to the chams eyes? If so what else can I use? I really hate the idea of swapping out plants every other week!

 

[Dunnigan]

What plants are you using? I have dracena, pathos, sheffelra, and palms in my enclosures and use only 5.0 or 2.0 UV lights and have no problems what so ever. The pathos is actually taking over the enclosure...

The only plant i have had a problem with is hibiscus and using a grow light would help it. The sell grow lights at walmart with a fixture for under $10,

 

[Pure]

Ficcus and Pothos to start. I'm not worried about the pothos as it just doesn't grow when it doesn't get light. Usually the ambient light coming in from a window is enough for Pothos to live. I'm more worried about the ficcus and any other plant I might try. Ficcus eventually drops it's leaves even if it's put in direct sunlight from a window. At least IME.

 

[Dunnigan]

If you are worried about it, Get a double bulb fixture for you cage and put a 5.0 UV bulb and a Grow light in. I am fairly confident that it will not damage your chams eyes, as long as you are using Tube lights vs. CFL's

 

[Vince]

I think you are suppose to keep the grow light up a little higher compared to the 5.0 UVB. Correct me if im wrong.
But i would be more worried about thermal burns on my cham if i were putting different lights in.

 

[luevelvet]

Ficus' grow leaves according to the amount of light available at the time. If you move them to somewhere that has a different light schedule and intensity, they often drop all leaves to grow new ones to accommodate the new lighting. HPS is overkill IMO for any chameleon or the plants you've listed. Ficus will most likely drop leaves in your cage with it or not. I would stick with schefflera and pothos to compliment the ficus while it's getting acclimated to the new lighting.

Luis

 

[sandrachameleon]

HPS is overkill IMO

I agree. Just add another flroescent tube, in the appropriate k range.

 

[Pure]

We use lamps in the 6500 K range for planted tanks..dunno why I thought it wouldn't work. Guess I figured house plants need more light..Hence mentioning the sodiums.

Honestly I've never grown plants inside a house that wasn't in a tank.

 

[pba110]

I'm really interested in doing this. I actually think a higher intensity lighting would be beneficial. It's recommended in some keeper's manuals I've read; Chameleon's in Captivity by C. Dorval to be specific.
Anyway, I would love to get some flowering plants in free range setup up I'm trying to think up (illegal or whatever...). Just kidding... but seriously those HID lights are rich in the blue spectrum. Do you have to buy UVB Hg vapor specific bulbs or do all mercury vapor lights put out uvb?
Anyway, I am in planning mode for a mother of a free-range enclosure and I'm seriously considering this. I really want the display to be nice.

 

[chequepoint]

Any kind of Halide, Sodium, or other HID light seems like a bad idea to me. The heat output is tremendous. In addition the wavelengths put out aren't of an overly natural balance.. but I think the worst thing for the chams is having such a large bright focal point so close. HID lighting will blind humans if they look right at it... chameleons eyes are more sensitive.

You're also talking about a major spike to the electric bill.

 

[luevelvet]

I understand where you're coming from, but I still think any sort of HID lighting is too much for non aquatic animals. One thing to keep in mind is that water acts like a filter, impeding certain spectrums of light the deeper you go. I have a 120 gal reef tank with two 400W Iwasaki's (6500k) and the animals 24" down aren't quite as light tolerant as the animals much higher in the tank. IMHO, it's not worth the risk. Others have tried it, with great to no success, but the successful ones have managed a way to limit the animals exposure to the bulb. Lot's of shade and hiding spots as well as placing the bulb farther away will help, but again, is it really worth the risk?

Luis

 

[Pure]

HID lighting will blind humans if they look right at it

Damn! I did not know that. So yeah that would be a definite no to useing them over Chams then.

I understand where you're coming from, but I still think any sort of HID lighting is too much for non aquatic animals.

When I said to use 6500K bulbs I was talking about just regular T12 or T8 Floro bulbs. I shoulda been more specific.