Hi Eric, Welcome to the forum.
This is a link to the exact lighting I bought --
https://tinyurl.com/2p8t96sh -- Its a coil 5.0 UVB 13W with a 60W Daylight Blue Light (the dinky one I guess). Your chart was very helpful.. I guess I bought a bad UVB setup. Which linear T5HO fixture do you use and how close is it to the base of the basking spot? It looks like if I get the Arcadia Pro T5HO Linear 6% 24W that I may be able to set it on top of my mesh enclosure if the top of his head in the basking area is about 3in from the mesh. That way I wouldn't have to worry about figuring out how to suspend the light?
Most single linear T5 HO fixtures—regardless of brand—are made by the same company in China, so shop for price.
- Arcadia Pro T5
- Biodude T5HO
- Carolina Custom Cages T5HO
- Hydrofarm "Jumpstart"
- Sunblaster T5HO Nanotech
- Vivarium T5
- and Others
Many folks do place them directly on top of their enclosures, but this can warp or deform the mesh in some cases. I made some small blocks to support the UVB fixture on the frame—rather than on the mesh. This positions the bulb less than an inch above the mesh.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/simple-uvb-fixture-supports.177896/
I have a UV reader coming in the mail
Do you mean a UVI meter like a Solarmeter 6.5x?
Distance from mesh to basking site should be between 8-12", but if you have a meter coming, you can dial that in more precisely.
Please be aware (if you're not already) that UVBs require a burn-in period of 50-100 hours, during which time thay may put out significantly higher levels of UVB. Once the burn-in period is over, the bulbs should function within parameters for at least a year.
Then I could swap the coil Reptisun UVB 13W I was using for a white light heating bulb in the old Zoomed dual dome I already have and just have 2 heating bulbs in it. That would be the cheaper option. In my spiral of online research I also found this
https://www.arcadiareptile.com/thermalzoopro/ (strange that they dont sell their products on this website, they only advertise them) based on the info I read I would have to figure out how to suspend this thing about 12 in above the chameleons head at his basking spot. But then they threw a wrench in it when they said the mesh reduces the UV by 30% so now im not sure exactly how far to hang it.. maybe I put it 30% closer? Also the fact they mentioned
LED being a third necessary light source kinda threw me off. I thought I just needed the heat and the UVB.
I don't think you're going to need 2 basking bulbs. Colored lights aren't recommended for chameleons under any circumstances, so I'd put the blue one away and just use (in order of preference):
- Household incandescent bulb (not LED)
- Incandescent Flood (not spot)
- Halogen Flood (not spot)
The
third necessary light source you read about is a plant light. LEDs are the most efficient & economical for plant lights, and don't contain mercury like fluorescents.
Many folks here are using this one:
https://www.sansiled.com/products/70w-led-grow-light
Sansi coupons
Whichever plant light you go with, another thing to be aware of is that chameleons will try to bask under the brightest light—rather than the warmest. Because plant lights are often the brightest (and chameleons will try to bask under it) it makes sense to angle the basking light so that it shines on the basking site under the plant light.
This also helps to produce a basking temperature
gradient, where the chameleon can choose warmer or cooler temps within a range.
