Heating, lighting & UVB options - advise needed

[broderp]

I needing some advise on how to set up my lighting for a new build up terrarium. This will be in an Exo-Terra 18"D x 24"W x 36"T glass terrarium. Because it's winter, and my homes temps fluctuate during the day when no one is home (furnace off or set real low), I need to use a controller to maintain the proper basking temps. With this comes some challenges in selecting a decent combo that works well and fits.

I'm looking at the below 3 options, and am soliciting for other options or ideas as well.


OPTION 1

• Ceramic Heat Emitter
• LED lighting
• UVB Bulb

In this option, the heat will be controlled by a dimmer as well as by my controller. The redundancy allows for very minor tweaks to the temperature as well as an added layer of safety. The lighting would be LED (2835 High output White 6000K) in a custom arrangement that wrapped the top of the terrarium (18x 24"). I would have to get a small fixture for the UVB, so I may need to get a dual dome lamp setup.


OPTION 2

• Incandescent bulb
• T5 Lamp fixture w/ 4 22" lamps.
• UVB will be installed in one of the T5 sockets

This option uses the standard incandescent light bulb for heat. I have used a hood with three T5 lamps and a single UVB bulb. Heat would be maintained by the controller, but this would cycle the power on and off there would be a visible light going off and on loss every time it did this.

OPTION 3

• Basking/ UVB bulb
• LED lighting

This option will combine both basking and UVB in one dome light, The cost of these lamps is not the greatest, but as with Option 2, the bulb will cycle on and off thru out the day.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

You are going to need a thermostat and having basking bulbs go on and off multiple times per day will shorten their life. Ceramic heat emitters are not useful for basking unless you couple it with a basking light source, at the same time, since chameleons don't seek heat, they seek light first, to bask to the appropriate temperature. I suggest you save yourself a headache and focus either using a small heat source to keep the one room warmer or not having your furnace below 68F during the day and using a dimmer that would allow you to adjust the basking bulb intensity, possibly coupled with a thermostat, with temps between 68-74 ambient.

 

[JohnnyLawrence]

Most important thing I believe you left out: what type of reptile/amphibian/plants are going INSIDE your terrarium?

 

[broderp]

You are going to need a thermostat and having basking bulbs go on and off multiple times per day will shorten their life. Ceramic heat emitters are not useful for basking unless you couple it with a basking light source, at the same time, since chameleons don't seek heat, they seek light first, to bask to the appropriate temperature. I suggest you save yourself a headache and focus either using a small heat source to keep the one room warmer or not having your furnace below 68F during the day and using a dimmer that would allow you to adjust the basking bulb intensity, possibly coupled with a thermostat, with temps between 68-74 ambient.

I have a thermostat, or what I call a controller. It monitors the temperature via a wired sensor. This is why I know it will go on and off as it maintains the temp. I did not know that the on and off cycle will shorten a basking bulbs life. I've used said ceramic heaters for over a year and my old Cham (rip) religiously went to it , flattened out under it to warm up every single day. But to your point, I had the T5 hood up there as well. He may have gravitated to the light and come into the heat. This being said, I will have a light source of some type at the top of the enclosure. My goal is to be sure the proper temp heat source is located at the highest point he can access to prevent him from burning himself.

Keeping one room warmer is not an option unfortunately. Leaving space heater on is a big no-no in my home. All I can say is that we woke one evening to the house filled with smoke. We almost lost the house that night (and more) had I not woke up and found the flames. Using a dimmer would also lower the light output. I can't be home during the day to adjust a dimmer either.

I hear what your saying, so thank you for the comments. I really appreciate the info on the bub life with the on/off cycles.

 

[Virgil1972]

I would just use a light bulb for basking. That with the UVB light should give the cage enough light. If it don't I would add some LEDs then.

 

[broderp]

Most important thing I believe you left out: what type of reptile/amphibian/plants are going INSIDE your terrarium?

Well this IS a chameleon forum.... so that answer should be obvious. (Well, ok, maybe not lol)

As far as plants, I have 3 Golden Pothos, one Dracena and a Bromliad. Here is my terrarium as it is at this moment.
View media item 44545
You can see the T5 lamp and a small LED light I made for a smaller terrarium.

 

[JohnnyLawrence]

First, it's never obvious because some people may ask about different reptiles with similar requirements. Second, different chameleon species require different care. Regarding your picture, it looks like you spent a lot of money and care with your setup, but I hate to be the one to tell you this - terrariums will not work well for Juvenile or adult chameleons. If you don't want to completely redo your setup, I recommend you at least get a small USB computer fan and put at the top (blowing inside your terrarium). Regarding lighting, what species???

 

[JohnnyLawrence]

For more general info, I recommend you go here: https://chamouflage.com/pages/care

 

[Decadancin]

For more general info, I recommend you go here: https://chamouflage.com/pages/care

I don't see how there is any added value with this link that isn't in the caresheets on this site. There are some generalities that are not necessarily accurate, and seem to only point to the panthers on the site.

There are quite a few people who keep chameleons in terrariums and are quite successful.

 

[Decadancin]

I recommend you at least get a small USB computer fan and put at the top (blowing inside your terrarium).

I would not want a fan blowing in, but if needed, possibly blowing out. This would provide airflow without a constant breeze in the top section of the enclosure.

 

[JohnnyLawrence]

I would not want a fan blowing in, but if needed, possibly blowing out. This would provide airflow without a constant breeze in the top section of the enclosure.

I don't see how there is any added value with this link that isn't in the caresheets on this site. There are some generalities that are not necessarily accurate, and seem to only point to the panthers on the site.

There are quite a few people who keep chameleons in terrariums and are quite successful.

Thanks for saying the exact same thing I said before the link "general". If you have a better source, then post it - as opposed to just whining! Also, your dangerous advice to give beginners the impression that using a terrarium for a Veiled is a good option just shows you have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[JohnnyLawrence]

I would not want a fan blowing in, but if needed, possibly blowing out. This would provide airflow without a constant breeze in the top section of the enclosure.

This "Staff Member" has no idea what he/she is talking about. A Fan blowing IN is the absolute BEST option for a Veiled that's forced to live in a Terrarium (I'm assuming you're setting this up for a Veiled because you never gave specifics and your picture is of one). You are going to have potentially too much moisture/humidity/stagnant air and a fan blowing up will not increase airflow, but will rather recirculate air at the top. Just make sure your fan isn't on it's basking spot.

 

[Virgil1972]

Thanks for saying the exact same thing I said before the link "general". If you have a better source, then post it - as opposed to just whining! Also, your dangerous advice to give beginners the impression that using a terrarium for a Veiled is a good option just shows you have no idea what you're talking about.

Read this thread.

 

[JohnnyLawrence]

Read this thread.

Please read before you perpetuate bad advice. Which is exactly what's wrong with this entire forum. Specifically, "Anyway, these terrariums aren't for every species but for smaller montane species, I'm very pleased with them. I'm now trying to find a terrarium large enough to house C. parsonii." If you get a VERY large terrarium with proper air flow and proper set up, you can "GET AWAY" with it. But to offer it as a better option or even an equal option for most chameleon species is just simply WRONG; especially VEILEDS...which was the species I was discussing.

 

[Virgil1972]

Please read before you perpetuate bad advice. Which is exactly what's wrong with this entire forum. Specifically, "Anyway, these terrariums aren't for every species but for smaller montane species, I'm very pleased with them. I'm now trying to find a terrarium large enough to house C. parsonii." If you get a VERY large terrarium with proper air flow and proper set up, you can "GET AWAY" with it. But to offer it as a better option or even an equal option for most chameleon species is just simply WRONG; especially VEILEDS...which was the species I was discussing.

You seem to know a lot. What are your credentials?

 

[Decadancin]

If you have a better source, then post it - as opposed to just whining!

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/
Already available here for people to utilize.
It isn't a perfect source, but is definitely a great place for people to start. As I always say, there are no absolute answers. The information in the link you provided states "The cage for your Chameleon, granted it's older than 4 months, must be screened." This simply isn't true. Also, a fan blowing out at the top will pull fresh air in at the bottom. That would be much more desirable for MY glass enclosure that has proper ventilation. I would not want to be doing something that would cause cold air to be forced into the top of the enclosure where the hotter air would be, allowing for the chameleon to self regulate as it needs. Having a more uniform temp throughout would be far less beneficial, in my humble opinion.
@JohnnyLawrence , If you would like to continue to have conversations here on the forums, yes even ones you don't agree with, you may want to be a bit more civil. Don't assume that you know anything about me or anyone else here. This isn't a moderator talking, but someone who may know more than you think.

 

[JohnnyLawrence]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/
Already available here for people to utilize.
It isn't a perfect source, but is definitely a great place for people to start. As I always say, there are no absolute answers. The information in the link you provided states "The cage for your Chameleon, granted it's older than 4 months, must be screened." This simply isn't true. Also, a fan blowing out at the top will pull fresh air in at the bottom. That would be much more desirable for MY glass enclosure that has proper ventilation. I would not want to be doing something that would cause cold air to be forced into the top of the enclosure where the hotter air would be, allowing for the chameleon to self regulate as it needs. Having a more uniform temp throughout would be far less beneficial, in my humble opinion.
@JohnnyLawrence , If you would like to continue to have conversations here on the forums, yes even ones you don't agree with, you may want to be a bit more civil. Don't assume that you know anything about me or anyone else here. This isn't a moderator talking, but someone who may know more than you think.

A small computer fan is not nearly powerful enough to pull air through small vents at the bottom of a commercially-sold terrarium. Placing the fan downwards in the corner of the terrarium (day only) is the best option for air-exchange and will NOT affect the basking site. Also, you're giving even more bad advice by saying that purchasing a terrarium for a growing Chameleon at 4 months is acceptable, even though most larger species grow very fast and will need to replaced soon after. What a complete waste of money for someone actually listening to you. It's also funny that a so-called "Staff Member/Moderator" of an online forum, who trolls specific users with negative remarks, is telling users to be more "civil".

 

[Decadancin]

Also, you're giving even more bad advice by saying that purchasing a terrarium for a growing Chameleon at 4 months is acceptable, even though most larger species grow very fast and will need to replaced soon after.

Uh, this quote is from the link that you are providing to people here, that is why it is in quotes. Again, I am not giving advise about this.

 

[Virgil1972]

A small computer fan is not nearly powerful enough to pull air through small vents at the bottom of a commercially-sold terrarium. Placing the fan downwards in the corner of the terrarium (day only) is the best option for air-exchange and will NOT affect the basking site. Also, you're giving even more bad advice by saying that purchasing a terrarium for a growing Chameleon at 4 months is acceptable, even though most larger species grow very fast and will need to replaced soon after. What a complete waste of money for someone actually listening to you. It's also funny that a so-called "Staff Member/Moderator" of an online forum, who trolls specific users with negative remarks, is telling users to be more "civil".

Is your way the only way?

 

[JohnnyLawrence]

Is your way the only way?

Absolutely not. There are plenty of avid breeders (myself included) and very experienced Chameleon keepers on here that might be able to give better, or just different, ways to keep a happy and healthy Chameleon. I would just like to eliminate some of the bad advice that is all-too-common in online blogs/forums.