Nocturnal Light in cold climates?

[Chellia]

I live in Upstate NY (moving to MA in a few months), and I have a question about night time heat.

I will be purchasing a 2~ month old chameleon from flchams in a month or so, and I am preparing everything for the little guy now.

I live in a pretty cold climate, and my house is NOT well insulated. It will probably be the same when I move to MA (the houses are super old), and this past winter we were LUCKY if it got above 55 in the house at night.

Do I need a light fixture for heat at night? I know it's not recommended to have a heat lamp at night, but I am worried it will be too cold in the winter to not have one.

If anyone has any suggestions, let me know!

Thank you so much!

 

[pigglett79]

If temps are too low you can use a ceramic heat emitter. That way you get heat without light.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

55 is a good night temp, they need a good drop in temp. Having cool nights helps them digest. You will need a ceramic heat emitter if it is routinely dropping into the 40's. 55 I would not worry about

 

[Lpsouth1978]

55 is a good night temp, they need a good drop in temp. Having cool nights helps them digest. You will need a ceramic heat emitter if it is routinely dropping into the 40's. 55 I would not worry about

I agree.... however, this depends on the locale of the chameleon. If you are getting a veiled or panther, which I assume you are, then 55 is not a problem, much lower, below 50, and I would get a ceramic heat emitter. You do not want anything that produces light at night.

Chameleons actually thrive when the temps drop below 60 at night. They NEED that drop in temps.

 

[xephyr17]

If temps are too low you can use a ceramic heat emitter. That way you get heat without light.

Where would I find one of those? It's summer now, but once winter hits in Oregon I'm going to be seeing below freezing temps pretty often...

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Any of the sponsors that sell supplies

 

[xephyr17]

Any of the sponsors that sell supplies

Well that should make it easy then haha thanks

 

[Lpsouth1978]

You can find them at any local pet store as well. They are quite common and easy to find.

 

[Chellia]

55 is a good night temp, they need a good drop in temp. Having cool nights helps them digest. You will need a ceramic heat emitter if it is routinely dropping into the 40's. 55 I would not worry about

Would it be suitable for a young cham? Under 6 months?


Thanks everyone!

 

[Psychobunny]

How about a space heater on a timer so it only operates when the temp drops below 60F??

What kind of cham are you getting?

For a jax or veiled cham, night temps can drop to 60 with no problem.

Panthers like it a little warmer.

The average low temps in Madagascar is only in the 70's F, but higher elevation areas of Yemen and Kenya can drop down to the 50's F at night.

So, maybe you should move to your chams native country

 

[pigglett79]

How about a space heater on a timer so it only operates when the temp drops below 60F??

What kind of cham are you getting?

For a jax or veiled cham, night temps can drop to 60 with no problem.

Panthers like it a little warmer.

The average low temps in Madagascar is only in the 70's F, but higher elevation areas of Yemen and Kenya can drop down to the 50's F at night.

So, maybe you should move to your chams native country

I use a space heater in the room as I find it easier than trying to heat each cage with a heat emitter. It only goes on when the room is too cold in the winter.

 

[Chellia]

How about a space heater on a timer so it only operates when the temp drops below 60F??

What kind of cham are you getting?

For a jax or veiled cham, night temps can drop to 60 with no problem.

Panthers like it a little warmer.

The average low temps in Madagascar is only in the 70's F, but higher elevation areas of Yemen and Kenya can drop down to the 50's F at night.

So, maybe you should move to your chams native country

That's a great idea about a space heater they make a huge difference in the winter!

It would be a veiled male chameleon