New cham setup!

[Jag85]

This will be my first time taking care of a chameleon, and I would like to know if my setup will do for a Senegal Cham.

I have a 18” x 18” x 24” Exo Terra - glass sided with mesh top (I know it is better to have all mesh, but for the safety of the animal from my other animal, who cant control her feline anger issues, I have to go glass sides lol)

A 26W 5.0 UVB - http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/compact_fluorescent_bulbs.php

A 100W Daylight (it is the A21/PT2112 down near the bottom) - http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/daytime_heat_lamp.php

These two lights came with it at my local ma and pa shop here in Ohio a while back. They were selling the terrarium for dirt so I did not pass it up.

I have a 100W Infrared that is still good from another set up, the inhabitant of that set up was sold to a family member. So that is available for night time, though I usually always have 70 to 73 degrees inside my apartment at all times, even night.

I am wondering if the size of my tank is too small for those watts, though I figure the 5.0 is perfect. My experience level is only that of beardies, who are very easy to care for, so hardy. I will invest in a larger enclosure once he/she grows, but for now this is what I have for a young Senegal.

 

[lindstedt56]

You do not need a night light.

 

[Trin]

70-73 degrees is more than warm enough for a cham to sleep... mid sixties is better if you can get it there, and if you ever see lower than 60, get a ceramic heater... they can't have red lights at night, it keeps 'em awake/bugs their eyes.

If your cat, like mine were, is prone to jumping on the tank, you'll want to invest in some strong metal mesh (they sell at home depot and such) that looks like chicken wire to attach to the frame of the screen top, that's what we did to protect my beardie from the 11 and 13 pound cats that popped his screen...

Make sure you have tons of coverage for your cham, including live plants such as pothos, scheffleura arbicola, and/or dracenas (all but lucky bamboo). These guys do require a LOT more water than beardies, so be wary about the drainage in your tank... because you will be misting for your kid to drink and possibly using a dripper as well (which you can set up to land in a plant).

 

[Trin]

oops, where's my manners.. welcome to the forums and congrats on your first post!

 

[Jag85]

Is that size setup okay with the 100W daylight and the 5.0 UVB I know is okay after just researching what chams exactly need. Should I keep the 100W or invest in a 2.0 UVB to run along with the 5.0 - with the 100 and the 5.0 I always have like 50% humidity and it stays at 81 degrees all the time.

 

[UrbanChameleon]

Welcome to the forum! Go with the one 5.0 UVB light and a 25 Watt light for heat. You could go up to 40 watts, but that would be pushing it with a baby. I use the Exo Terra cages with my young Chameleons, so I've had some experience in this particular area. I'm surprised my first Cham wasn't fried after a week of a 75 watt. You kind of have to experiment, luckily all of the Exo Terra's are about the same. My house is usually around 72 degrees, so you should have the same results. Much luck to you!

 

[Jag85]

Okay so I will move the 100W out and grab a 25 , but do you think that is enough to keep it at 81 like it has been during the day?

 

[UrbanChameleon]

Okay so I will move the 100W out and grab a 25 , but do you think that is enough to keep it at 81 like it has been during the day?

Yes. Mine stays around 82.. sometimes higher if I have my heater on. Do you have the thermometer and hydrometer that it came with? If so, immediately go to the Pet Store and get the digital ones. I had a 75 watt bulb at first and the therm didn't go above 81. Then when I got the digital it said it was 110 degrees in there! Those crappy $5 ones are faulty so don't trust it. Everyone's bulbs and setups are different. The temp may differ slightly but you have the exact same cage I do. I know for a fact that baby will burn up with anything higher than 50 watts. Unless of course you have the lights lifted away from the cage. If you are using the canopy top or, have your lights right on the top, I would go with 25 watt.

By the way.. The canopy top will only hold up to 25 watts. So if you have a bulb higher than that, buy the dome lamps. It will melt the Exo Terra canopy top and possibly harm your animal.

 

[Jag85]

Okay, thank you! Well with the 25 watts, what type of light then, standard bulb? Cause 25 isnt common in chain pet stores, which are my closest

 

[UrbanChameleon]

You're very welcome.

 

[Jag85]

Okay so the best I could do for now is a 60watt, I will have to order a 25 watt, I don't think anyone in my area has them - but it is now sticking around 80 degrees and the humidity at 50% constantly so maybe going 25 will be to little, the cham I am getting is about 4 months old.

 

[Midnighthwk]

60w should be fine.
i use a 65 most of the year and 75 in the winter cuz my windows suck.
but my cage is also a lil bigger than the one u have

 

[Jag85]

So I got my Cham today, he is still adjusting to surroundings, but at the same time I put up a fake vine that uses a suction cup to stay on the glass, it is relatively low because I have a drip system over it to fall on it and funnel through it to a water basin/dish. I hope this will keep my humidty to 60% all the time, because I noticed today that it dipped to 40%. I maybe should get a real plant like a ficus in there, but any other suggestions on humidity for my set up?