New light

[Russ.lee]

Hi everyone
My name is Russ,
I'm new on here so please forgive me if I have not done this post correctly (still trying to find my way around)
Anyway I have just got my first chameleon setup , I'm using a Mercury vapour 3D basking lamp 100w Recommend by the reptile shop and was wondering if anyone else uses these and thought's/opinions as to performance, and wether good or bad choice my Viv is the Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Screen Cage 61 x 61 x 122 cm Thanks in advance

 

[PoseidonTheChameleon]

I haven't but everyone will tell you it gives off too much heat along with uvb I believe, your best off with a normal incandescent heat bulb and a linear uvb

 

[Fchamel]

Using a mercury bulb is not the best for chamelons. A 100W is going to be too hot, unfortunately. The temperature needs to be no more than. 85F for males and 80F for females. Like @PoseidonTheChameleon said, a normal incandecent house bulb with no LED would work just fine.

 

[nightanole]

Its fine if you have a UVB meter. But with that current setup its odds are 2-4x too much UVB, and like others stated, its a 150 watt basking bulb too.

So odds are it needs raised a foot and put in the middle of the cage instead of setup like a basking bulb.

 

[Fchamel]

Does the thermometer say the temp is at 213.58 f?

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Consensus on this forum seems to be:

• T5 5.0 or 6% linear fluorescent for UVB
• Household (old style) incandescent for basking
• T5 linear fluorescents or LEDs for plants

There are exceptions.

See: Lighting

 

[Russ.lee]

Does the thermometer say the temp is at 213.58 f?

No nowhere near that hot . At the basking spot it's at 78 f

 

[Russ.lee]

Its fine if you have a UVB meter. But with that current setup its odds are 2-4x too much UVB, and like others stated, its a 150 watt basking bulb too.

So odds are it needs raised a foot and put in the middle of the cage instead of setup like a basking bulb.

No it's 100w not 150

 

[Fchamel]

No nowhere near that hot . At the basking spot it's at 78 f

That's a great temp! All good!

 

[nightanole]

No it's 100w not 150

How do i put this, its more efficient than a halogen or standard incandescent. It puts out the same amount of light power as a 150 watt halogen. Which is even more than a 150 watt incandescent flood.

 

[Ramrod]

Using a mercury bulb is not the best for chamelons. A 100W is going to be too hot, unfortunately. The temperature needs to be no more than. 85F for males and 80F for females. Like @PoseidonTheChameleon said, a normal incandecent house bulb with no LED would work just fine.

I think the only time to use a mercury vapor is if you have an exceptionally tall enclosure and it is heavily covered with plants.
Even with that being said you still need to monitor with a solar meter.

 

[Fchamel]

I think the only time to use a mercury vapor is if you have an exceptionally tall enclosure and it is heavily covered with plants.
Even with that being said you still need to monitor with a uvb meter.

Okay, thank you for the explanation! I agree! ???

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I choose not to use mercury vapor due to... mercury vapor! (and its effects on the environment—old hippie here). I have enough problem with T5 UVB bulbs which also contain mercury (not just UVB—all fluorescents contain mercury).

More affordable UVB LEDs are on the way—won't be soon enough for me.
I've already gone all-LED for plant lights; comparable cost, last 5 times longer, and no mercury.

 

[Russ.lee]

I choose not to use mercury vapor due to... mercury vapor! (and its effects on the environment—old hippie here). I have enough problem with T5 UVB bulbs which also contain mercury (not just UVB—all fluorescents contain mercury).

More affordable UVB LEDs are on the way—won't be soon enough for me.
I've already gone all-LED for plant lights; comparable cost, last 5 times longer, and no mercury.

I'll be keeping my eyes open for them

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I'll be keeping my eyes open for them

If you find any that pan out, please post in the Enclosures And Supplies forum!