How is the lighting for this 6 foot homemade cage?

[MollyGreen]

Should I keep the side clamp light?

There are 2X 24 inch (8.0- reptisun/10.0-reptisun) and one 18 inch (5.0 reptisun) on the top of the enclosure. The humidity remains 50% because of the 3 ficus, spider plant, hibiscus and 2 other pothos plants. The temperature reads 70-73 at the top. What should I do?

P.S.
Molly will be living in a 4ft (tall) cage instead of this 6 ft (tall) beast.

Any suggestions overall are greatly appreciated!!!!!

 

[MollyGreen]

Should I keep the side clamp light?

There are 2X 24 inch (8.0- reptisun/10.0-reptisun) and one 18 inch (5.0 reptisun) on the top of the enclosure. The humidity remains 50% because of the 3 ficus, spider plant, hibiscus and 2 other pothos plants. The temperature reads 70-73 at the top. What should I do?

P.S.
Molly will be living in a 4ft (tall) cage instead of this 6 ft (tall) beast.

Any suggestions overall are greatly appreciated!!!!!

ALSO!!!

pictures from left to right:
1.top of enclosure without side clamp basking light
2.
3.both pictures of front of entire enclosure(4 ft wide) with side clamp light
4. MY BABY GIRL MOLLY!!! (about 4-5 months)

 

[grubbsgrub]

Molly probably isn't spending to much time at the bottom so shes probably not using the clamped light very much. You could probably remove it if you want to, but its probably giving some of your plants light at the bottom of the cage.

 

[Justin Carl]

wow you have 3 UVB lights! may i ask why? even if it is a large cage. it shouldnt be needed at all. you should keep your UVB light and basking light in the same area that way she tends to go to the warm area where the UVB is. wow

 

[Jordan]

Have seen some owners that use lower side lights. If you want to I would suggest putting more vegatation around it. This way if you where say in the room doing something she could still bask and hide. Some keepers like putting the basking bulb further away from the UVb lighting. So they can bask without being exposed to UVb. Not a bad thing to give them options.

 

[MollyGreen]

well....considering she needs to be within 12 inches of the light to get the rays, it was also suggested by the owner of a store that specializes in rare chameleons that she'll need at least 2 side by side UVB's in a cage that is 6 ft. He said that there is no way she was getting enough with just the one UVB. I guess thats why i asked other people for help. It is a work in progress to find the perfect about of UVB, UVA, heat, and shade.

 

[MollyGreen]

This is tricky also because the size of the cage. Remember it is 6 feet tall, and 4 feet wide and 3 feet from front to back. By that i mean, one 18 inch bulb and 1 basking light in the same area covers 1.5 of 4 feet. That is a little under 1/3 of the cage. The temperature of the cage with all of the bulbs in at once is 73* F.

 

[Jordan]

The amount of UVb that those lights are producing is nothing in comparison to the sun. You do not have to do anything different with your set-up if you don't want to. While you have multiple UVb lights it will still only penetrate so far down. The vegatation will absorb the UVb so once she gets under some leaves she is out of the UVb. Another reason it may not be a bad option to leave the side basking light.

 

[MollyGreen]

Thank you for the reasoning. I appreciate the help. I removed the smaller UVB and left the other 2 big ones . I also turned on the side clamp light. She didnt wake up during all of the comotion and shes also sleeping upsidedown LOL! i dont know how or why she got into that sleeping position. Its kind of cute though.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I think it's awesome!!!!!
BUT...
I am laughing so hard.
3 UVB lights... multiple basking lights .... 6'x4'x3' enclosure ....
and a liiiiiitle teeny chameleon!
You are definitely an over-achiever! Good job!

-Brad

 

[Justin Carl]

yea i wasnt being rude i just thought that was something that should be in MTV chameleon cribs. its huge, that is bigger than a parsons cages.