Unless your cage is extremely densely planted full of vegetation, I’d go with a Zoo Med 5.0 or Arcadia 6% uvb linear bulb. I always recommend getting the uvb fixture the length of the cage or longer (so 24”+). Make sure the uvb bulb is the same corresponding output as the fixture (both t5HO or both T8 bulbs and fixtures). Pothos and schfflera arboricola to me, are easy, sturdy, grow like weeds, and don’t need any supplemental lighting. FL Chams has a chameleon safe plant list on their website, as well. Make sure to either Physan, bleach dip (rinse off EXTREMELY well multiple times afterwards with either method), or just rinse off really well the plant, leaves, roots, etc. then replant bareroot into organic soil. With panthers, it’s not as much of a concern, but if you’re worried about him eating the soil, you can cover it with moss or large rocks too big for the adult version of him to eat. You can also go bioactive as well, let me know if you want to learn more on it! Make sure to have plenty of various branches and vines everywhere, as well. As long as your household bulb isn’t LED, you’re fine. Just play with the wattages until you get a basking temperature of 85-87*F. If you haven’t read it already, the care sheet here is great source of info! An automated mister, especially a MistKing, is fantastic! But a lot of keepers hand mist one or two times a day in addition to it. If you do that, make sure to heavily mist down the cage surfaces for plenty of drinking opportunities and to gently mist your cham so he can cleanse his eyes. Here’s a little info tidbit not every knows-chameleons are dry shedders and should never be given baths and don’t need showers or extra mistings or anything when shedding, it’ll make them retain their shed longer. Drippers are great in addition to misting! Just make sure to position it over the top of a plant or leaves so the water runs down them creating a stimulating drinking environment. For measuring basking temp, I use a digital temp gun from the hardware store along with a digital thermometer/hygrometer combo that has probes from the pet store, that measures humidity as well. I also measure humidity and ambient temp with a digital thermometer/hygrometer combo from the hardware store. The Bio Dude (online), eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, a plant nursery, etc, all carry some cham safe plants. For drainage/plumbing, there are a few ways, my favorite it to attach a bulkhead to the bottom of the cage and run tubing to a bucket below with a ball valve in the middle. Make sure to cover the bulkhead opening with a few layers of mesh so no feeders escape. I can list a ton of feeder options, if you want! Pro tip-add in some bee pollen powder each time you dust your feeders in supplement for extra nutrients! If you could fill out the ask for help form (link in my signature below), we can make sure your husbandry is spot on for your little one! If you need more detail or anything, let me know!
