Lighting position

[broderp]

Does habitat/enclosure lighting have to be from the top down?

I'm keeping my heat and UVB lamp at the top, but considering adding some T5 or flourencet lighting to the side to illuminte the terrarium.

Do chams go to the heat or light for basking? I would like to use a ceramic heater for his heat and place it near or with his UVB and sort of make a "fake sun". Knowing the UVB bulb does not provide much light, I'd like to use a T5 or florecent lamps along the sides to illuminate the terrarium. Real estate on the top of the cage is getting pretty crowded. lol.

Will this mess with my cham negatively or will be always go to the heat source for basking?

Pros and cons please.

 

[Carlton]

I'm keeping my heat and UVB lamp at the top, but considering adding some T5 or flourencet lighting to the side to illuminte the terrarium.

Do chams go to the heat or light for basking? I would like to use a ceramic heater for his heat and place it near or with his UVB and sort of make a "fake sun". Knowing the UVB bulb does not provide much light, I'd like to use a T5 or florecent lamps along the sides to illuminate the terrarium. Real estate on the top of the cage is getting pretty crowded. lol.

Will this mess with my cham negatively or will be always go to the heat source for basking?

Pros and cons please.

Most chams seem to gravitate up to the light first, knowing that light means heat. Up also tends to mean safety. They are also creatures of habit, so once they know the daily routine in their space they go up to bask. I use a single tube fluorescent to give more light in the lower part of large cages partly for the plants. This light isn't overly strong and doesn't need to be. I haven't noticed it affects the chams too much other than coaxing them to roam a bit more all over the cage. If the vertical light isn't another heat source I don't think there's an issue.