Heat

[Herp Lover]

Do Pygmy Chameleons really have to have the temps below 85f? I really want to get some but I don't want to kill them with the heat at my house. I am in so-cal and can't use the AC. Most of the day it stays colder then outside but about 4pm it starts to heat up.

 

[lisa h]

Yes, 85 is way too hot for them! In addition to cool daytime temps, they need to be even lower at night. Maybe just not the right time for you to get some.

 

[hbskeet]

As i stated in an earlier post. The best temps to keep them at is in the 70's. You can allow a 5 degree difference on either end but not for more than a day. Pygmies are hardy little guys. So 65 and 85 are ok but not for an extended period of time. I live in So Cal too and at night it seems to get a little warmer sometimes. A fan works well but dont point it directly into the cage. Blow it across the top. Also you can move their home next to an open window at night but you MUST make sure you move it before the sun comes up or have something to block the sun in the morning. Making sure to move it as soon as possible.

 

[hbskeet]

If you have any questions feel free to ask me

 

[Herp Lover]

Thanks, I checked the temps in my house today and it gets up to 91f in the main part of the house and 88f in the colder parts so I guess I need to look at other reptiles for my viv.

 

[hbskeet]

Sorry to hear that. Pygmies are great little pets. Well, good luck on your search. I'd look into something like a desert pet with those temps. Maybe some Leopard Geckos??

 

[Herp Lover]

Thanks, I actuly have 6 Leopard Geckos already I put a temp reader in the viv and it says that inside the viv is 10f lower then the house temps. The house temps are at 84f right now and the viv temps are at 74f. I'm going to monitor the temps inside the viv for a week or two and see how high they go.

 

[hbskeet]

that's good to hear. I'd just keep a fan handy just in case.

 

[Shawntea]

I keep my pygs in my bedroom with a ceiling fan. When the temps outside get too warm I have a window a/c unit I turn on to help the room stay cooler. This is way cheaper than cooling my whole house, and energy efficient varieties of window a/cs are pretty affordable and some have rebates too.