Is it okay to have a dim bathroom light on during "lights out" for your chameleon?

[Erick_AmourBadr]

I just got my chameleon today and I've noticed the first time I cut his lights off, he wanted to climb all over the cage. Is this natural? It's probably just him looking for his basking light, right?

 

[jamest0o0]

He needs time to adjust to his surroundings, light schedule, etc. Did you get him shipped? And what do you mean bathroom light... is he in the bathroom? Leave him be. Try to minimize contact with him for the first two weeks. And to answer the main question, turn all lights off.

 

[Erick_AmourBadr]

He's currently residing in my bedroom directly across from my bathroom. Follow up question. Is the tv a negative as well?

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

For your chameleons health they need at least 12 hours of total darkness!

 

[Erick_AmourBadr]

Got it! Thanks so much!

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

He/she will take a few days to get used to his cage being home!

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

In nature the sun sets slowly, nearly takes a hour! That is optimal for chameleons, gives them a chanse to settle in for the night!

 

[jamest0o0]

@Matt Vanilla Gorilla do you use a sunrise/sunset system for your lights?

And yeah total darkness is optimal, if it's a problem, put a breathable cover over the cage partially, to keep It dark at night

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

My timers goes of a hour before sunset. My chameleon room is on the west side of my house and most of the wall on that side is window. So, I have the real thing!

 

[Graves923]

Same, my light goes off about an hour before sunset. My cham is usually already perched in his bedtime spot 15 or so minutes before the lights click off.

To the OP, you cham will get into a routine with the light schedule. Total darkness is ideal but if you cant avoid having a light on atleast toss a dark colored towel over the cage to minimize light exposure.