My veiled went to bed early.....

[rachelk]

So my male veiled chameleon almost 7 months old, he went to bed early tonight, which is so weird. It got me a little worried, he probably went to sleep about 40 minutes before his lights go out. His lights are on 12 hours and off 12 hours. Should I be worried. Also, he is shedding a little, which he just got done shedding about 4 weeks ago..i felt this was pretty soon to be shedding again.. Let me know what you guys think please!!

 

[Julirs]

His Dad does that every once in awhile-guess he gets bored or sleepy!

 

[summoner12]

So my male veiled chameleon almost 7 months old, he went to bed early tonight, which is so weird. It got me a little worried, he probably went to sleep about 40 minutes before his lights go out. His lights are on 12 hours and off 12 hours. Should I be worried. Also, he is shedding a little, which he just got done shedding about 4 weeks ago..i felt this was pretty soon to be shedding again.. Let me know what you guys think please!!

This time of year I turn my lights to 11 hours on and 13 off.

I also stagger my lights.... UVB lamps come on and then 15 minutes later the heat lamps come on.

Its kinda funny because on a cool morning everyone moves to their basking spot and waits for the heat lamp to com on.

 

[SYeretzian]

my panther used to go to his sleeping spot in the ficus before lights out, I saw him do it more than once.

 

[Vince]

I guess in the winter months it is common for this to happen. My guy has done the same thing.

 

[summoner12]

Just a followup... if you see him asleep in the day..... check into your lighting... But if Juli sold you this cham she prolly drilled you on good husbandry, as any good cham selling person should do! hehehehe

(Juli rocks )

 

[rachelk]

thanks that really helps me out! ..now I won't be so worried i guess... and no i have not seen him sleep during the day, i would definately be more concerned, maybe i will try having the lights go on only 11 hours since it is winter...?

 

[summoner12]

maybe i will try having the lights go on only 11 hours since it is winter...?

That's the idea.... Chameleons sleep when the lights go out... but still have a clue that the day should become shorter at some point in the year. You could even go to 10 hours..... I had thought about putting all my lights on a light sensor like they sell at home depot so the lights follow the sun..... But I like to see my animals awake sometimes.... and I don't like to come home to dark cages...... Maybe I will give it a try..... i could do a delay so the heat lamps come on after the UVBs.... hmmm got me thinking

 

[BocaJan]

My chams all live in front of my patio windows. The male goes to his sleeping spot about 5:00 and just hangs out until lights out whereas one of my females just hates to go to sleep and I will find her hanging out with her eyes open until about 8:00. Lights on/off are from 7-7 but since they are in front of a window they tend to do a sun up sun down sleep pattern.

 

[summoner12]

My chams all live in front of my patio windows. The male goes to his sleeping spot about 5:00 and just hangs out until lights out whereas one of my females just hates to go to sleep and I will find her hanging out with her eyes open until about 8:00. Lights on/off are from 7-7 but since they are in front of a window they tend to do a sun up sun down sleep pattern.

Since they see outside sunlight why don't you just mimic the sun? Could save on electric bill.

 

[BocaJan]

First one up turns the lights on which is about 7 am. The sun comes up earlier than that. We turn the lights off about 7 pm when it is supper time or in the case of winter when the sun goes down. Usually the lights go on and off when it is light. I have to have the UVs on since the light is filtered through glass and they need to warm up with the incandescents. I have been turning those off in the afternoon because it gets warm by the windows. UV is always 12 on.

 

[summoner12]

First one up turns the lights on which is about 7 am. The sun comes up earlier than that. We turn the lights off about 7 pm when it is supper time or in the case of winter when the sun goes down. Usually the lights go on and off when it is light. I have to have the UVs on since the light is filtered through glass and they need to warm up with the incandescents. I have been turning those off in the afternoon because it gets warm by the windows. UV is always 12 on.

Then you aren't really mimicking the sun.... because I don't think you get 12 hours of sun year round.

 

[BocaJan]

Nope. However, since they are by the window they get up and go to sleep with the sun. My lighting is whenever we get up and finish supper.

 

[summoner12]

Nope. However, since they are by the window they get up and go to sleep with the sun. My lighting is whenever we get up and finish supper.

Do you sleep with the lights on?

Since they follow the sun, I would make the lighting do the same. Timers aren't very costly and you can even buy ones that self adjust based on your location and will turn on and off with the sun.

 

[chaMELeon012409]

I bought my timer from Wal-Mart for $6 or $7. It has only one socket, but a small extension with multiple plugs (or a power strip/surge protector) will fix any covered plug problems.

 

[sallyb]

Gizzy does the same thing - each evening at about 4.30 - 5pm she toddles off into her fiscus, snuggles up and waits for lights out. Sometimes she dozes a little bit prior to me turning the lights off. Our weather doesn`t help much either as the dull cloudy days seem to confuse her a bit.

 

[BocaJan]

Do you sleep with the lights on?

Since they follow the sun, I would make the lighting do the same. Timers aren't very costly and you can even buy ones that self adjust based on your location and will turn on and off with the sun.

As stated above (at least I tried) my chams follow the sun for sleeping. I turn the lights on in my morning when I get up (it is already light) and turn them off in the late afternoon (it is still a little light out). I live in Florida so we have 12 hours of daylight. I have a timer and am trying to figure out how to use it, however I have basking lights in one powerstrip and UV linear lights on another power strip. I turn off the basking lights when the room gets very warm in the afternoon which it does. It is usually 85 in the afternoon by sunshine alone in my rep room.

I don't sleep with my lights on in the bedroom and neither do my chams who are in a very sunny and warm Florida room.

I hope that clears it up for you.

 

[Gaerei]

I run my lights 630-630pm. My panther def winds down for the day about 1/2 hr-45 min prior to lights out. Granted hes just a young fellow at 5 months today! He spends his days exploring more than basking. Here's his schedule; wake up and takes his time (not a morning cham)> drink> hunt> bask for 15> explore> hunt more> bask for 15> explore> look for more food but its gone> drink> explore> tuck himself into bed 1/2 hr early> sleep. Wow, tuff life.

 

[summoner12]

As stated above (at least I tried) my chams follow the sun for sleeping. I turn the lights on in my morning when I get up (it is already light) and turn them off in the late afternoon (it is still a little light out). I live in Florida so we have 12 hours of daylight. I have a timer and am trying to figure out how to use it, however I have basking lights in one powerstrip and UV linear lights on another power strip. I turn off the basking lights when the room gets very warm in the afternoon which it does. It is usually 85 in the afternoon by sunshine alone in my rep room.

I don't sleep with my lights on in the bedroom and neither do my chams who are in a very sunny and warm Florida room.

I hope that clears it up for you.

Currently you have 11 hours of light in your part of FL. Sunrise was at 7:05 this morning and will set tonight at 6:03. I am not trying to make you operate with the sun.. but you implied you do... and if your operating the lights for 12 hours a day, everyday, you are not following the sun. So I am a bit confused

"We turn the lights off about 7 pm when it is supper time or in the case of winter when the sun goes down."

Do you eat earlier each day to follow the change of daylight?

 

[rachelk]

thanks guys! this all really helps, I was a little worried to find my man hitting the sack early but he is right by a large window and he can definately see the sun come up and go down, my lights go on at 9 and off at 8, but after reading this i might make it more like the sun time, if you know what i mean...