Lighting question

[andy27012]

I am planning on setting up my new cage this coming weekend and was inquisitive about my full spectrum lighting. My plan is to run my heat bulb off of a photo controlled thermostat that is placed in an outside window(only the photo sensitive part will be in the window). This will allow my animals light period to emulate and follow the day lengths for the different seasons. My question is would it be ok to run the full spectrum light for 10 hours a day 7 days a week instead of the set 12 that it is now. I am running the full spectrum light off of a timer and plan on continuing to do that. Hope all this makes sense.

 

[Psi]

I got what you're saying.
I couldn't see it being a problem.

There are a few people on here that alternate their timers for longer/shorter day lengths.

 

[Carlton]

I am planning on setting up my new cage this coming weekend and was inquisitive about my full spectrum lighting. My plan is to run my heat bulb off of a photo controlled thermostat that is placed in an outside window(only the photo sensitive part will be in the window). This will allow my animals light period to emulate and follow the day lengths for the different seasons. My question is would it be ok to run the full spectrum light for 10 hours a day 7 days a week instead of the set 12 that it is now. I am running the full spectrum light off of a timer and plan on continuing to do that. Hope all this makes sense.

My thougts FWIW:

I think I would set my heat bulb basking schedule based on desired temperature rather than outdoor daylight. If your photo-triggered thermostat only comes on when it is brighter daylight you run the risk of getting less basking on cloudy or shortened days when the cham may need it more to reach the proper metabolic rate. It is the heat they need from this bulb, not necessarily the light if you are also using a UV producing fluorescent.

Depending on where you live, our natural daylight changes quite a bit with the seasons. In most cham species' native habitats the seasonal day length doesn't vary all that much (you could check it on line if you want). I don't know if there is any advantage in shifting the UV exposure seasonally...but would doubt it. Most of us find that captive chams react more to changes in daylight perceived through house windows even if their cage is lighted for the same amount of time each day...in other words, even if the cage lights remain on for 12 hours they seem to "head for the roost" earlier if the natural daylight ends before the cage timers do.

What type of "full spectrum" bulb are we talking about? Most UV producing bulbs produce much less UV than unfiltered sunlight, so shortening the period every day might cause problems over the long term (unless they get some basking time in full sun in addition to their artificial lighting).

 

[tdotcham]

definately true. now that winter is coming where I am... my chameleon goes to bed as soon as it gets dark out, even though his lights are on an 8-8 schedule. Wakes up at like 7 am as well

 

[andy27012]

The full spectrum bulb is a 48" reptisun 5.0 that I have spanning two 24" cages, I have found with my guys that they are up as long as the lights are on and soon as lights out they go to sleep. That was why I was wanting to more closely emulate the outside environment, I understand that there may be no know benefits for doing so but wanted to make sure that the opposite is true too, that it will not be believed that it will be harmful either. If what I am hearing is correct though is that your animals are following the daylight schedule regardless of what their cage lights do? If that is the case then it seems relatively harmless to run the lighting schedule as I had planned.