Is it a bad idea to set the timer for lights from 12 pm (noon) - 12am (midnight)

[aimhigher38]

I sleep late so i want my chameleon to be active while im awake. I currently have my timer on my lights to turn on at 12 noon but he is usually awake when i enter the room already at 9am... i try to have the blinds closed so he wont see the sunlight but i guess he sees it anyways. Im a night owl and usually go to bed around 2-3 am so i usually keep the light on until 12am midnight..... do u guys see this as a problem? Im not quite sure what time he wakes up so i dunno how many hours of sleep he gets. He usually goes to sleep within 5-10 mins after his cage lights goes off even if my room light is still on cuz im working on my computer.

 

[Solid Snake]

You will need to black out the room he is in, or have his lights set with the sun(roughly).

They need just about total darkness to sleep most of the time.

Them sleeping, and being on a schedule is important.

It regulates their hormones, and they seem to like a schedule, and will plan their day around it.

You dont have to use an exact 12/12 cycle, but something close to it should be your goal.

 

[DanSB]

Is there a particular reason why a chameleon cage couldn't be covered by a black cloth during sleep time? I've bee considering this myself as lights on and off after sleep time seem to bug my little green friend. This is what I have done with birds and it works great.

 

[Solid Snake]

Is there a particular reason why a chameleon cage couldn't be covered by a black cloth during sleep time? I've bee considering this myself as lights on and off after sleep time seem to bug my little green friend. This is what I have done with birds and it works great.

Very good point

I have done this as well.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I think you may find the chameleons are aware of the rising and setting of the sun. I've previously kept chams in a basement room with no windows, and they were still in-tune with natural day/night cycle, regardless of my light timers. I think such a drastic change in light timing from normal day/night hours is not an ideal idea

 

[DanSB]

I think you may find the chameleons are aware of the rising and setting of the sun. I've previously kept chams in a basement room with no windows, and they were still in-tune with natural day/night cycle, regardless of my light timers. I think such a drastic change in light timing from normal day/night hours is not an ideal idea

I suspected as much.

Can you think of a particular negative to covering the enclosure after "Lights Out" to block out the ambient light that is almost unavoidable in a suburban setting?

 

[reptilover]

I suspected as much.

Can you think of a particular negative to covering the enclosure after "Lights Out" to block out the ambient light that is almost unavoidable in a suburban setting?

Maybe poor ventilation.. other than that should be fine. I'm not sure If covering him at night would allow time for air to become bad and have any ill effects.

 

[kokom05lb]

Here the lights get turned on at 7am, lights out at 8pm. I dont have a timer on the lights so I have to leave the alarm set up on my phone for both times 7 days a week. Usually my chams are curled up and ready for bed at 7:30pm (the time the sun goes down). In the morning my chams are usually up and moving around before 7. I leave the blinds pulled up a little bit so the can see outside during the day and sometimes forget to pull them down. So when I go in there in the morning both are in position to be fed

But yes a schedule for just about everything, imo, is recurred.

I use to have birds and only needed to cover one with a sheet. I've also been in the same boat that my birds would sometimes go into a panic attack if they were covered. IDK about the chameleons being covered though.

 

[Elizadolots]

I wrap each of my cages on 3 sides with loose cloth. The 4th side is blocked by the black plastic divider that separates the two cages. I leave the top clear as it is higher than any lights in the room.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I suspected as much.

Can you think of a particular negative to covering the enclosure after "Lights Out" to block out the ambient light that is almost unavoidable in a suburban setting?

Covering is Probably not going to be a problem - certainly less of a problem than having the lights on them when they need to be sleeping. Its not like you are going to "seal" the cages, just lightly cover, right? If you can, Leave a little space at the bottom on one or more sides, plus a little space open near one top corner or perhaps at the back.

 

[Robyrango]

They always "tune" to the natural cycle of light during the day.
I would set it trying to follow as much as possible to that.