Panther Cham. Bulbs (Heat/UVB)?? (Noob)

[oldskoolmodder]

PROBLEM SOLVED

Thank you to all who helped input.

I'll be checking temps and posting pictures in the picture thread ASAP.

 

[Wykd]

go with the reptisun 5.0 get a 24 fixture and set it across the enclosure from corner to corner, that way when you do upgrade to a 2x2x4 u can just center it and it will fit.

The basking bulb will vary depending on the distance from the basking spot. but if you make sure the distance is the same roughly in both sized cages you could use the same bulb np. I have just a plain 40w house bulb on my 2x2x4. I am also setting up a 18x18x36 and i will use a 40w in it also.

I put my basking spot in temporary and then use my temperature gun to check the temp at various spots until I get the temperature I am looking for.

 

[oldskoolmodder]

Didn't know they made a 2 foot fixture and repti-sun bulb, that's fantastic!

Does a regular 40 watt house bulb really get the desired temps in a 2x4 cage?
Or is it a reptile heat bulb 40 watt? My pythons use belly heat and my thermostat takes care of that so I want the bulbs to be perfect

What brand temp gun do you have? I have one that doesn't work all to great...thinking of spending the $60-$75 on one of the really good IR temp guns.

Thanks for the reply, I an always use some more knowledge.

 

[Wykd]

i bought my heat gun from harbor frieght for 20ish back a bit.

the 40w normal light bulb has a basking temp of 85-88 where i have it sitting at the moment in my 2x2x4 cage. You have to remember your just heating that spot not the whole cage with the basking lamp.

So long as you have the temperature variations in the cage within the spec's for your cham, and a hot spot where they can bask your good to go on the temperature. My temperatures with that 1 40w bulb, and the 5.0 fluorescent and 6500k light temps range from 88-72 at various spots and depending on when i misted last.

go to diycages.com for a 24 fixture @ a good price imo. I have the dual so I can put a 6500k t8 plant light in also. I picked up my reptisun 5.0 24 locally at a good price.

 

[oldskoolmodder]

I thought the temperature was a bit higher for a Panther basking spot? I may be wrong but that's sure as hell why I'm asking!

 

[maxttu]

I thought the temperature was a bit higher for a Panther basking spot? I may be wrong but that's sure as hell why I'm asking!

It depends on the age of the cham. Babies and juvies require cooler basking temps. Adults can get into the 90's and be ok. They need to moderate their temp, so a cool area is essential... I hope that helps!

 

[Wykd]

I use the following rule of thumb that Sandra posted a bit back:

You should aim for a humidity of 45-65%. It will spike during misting of course

For adult male panthers, the temperature can be up to 90F / 32C in the hottest basking spot near the top of the cage, and at the opposite, lower end of the enclosure it should be 70-80F / 21-26C during the day. A night time drop in temp is necessary (as low as 65F / 18C is good). Adult females should be kept a little cooler during the day, if youre not breeding. Her basking area should not exceed 84F/29C.
A sub-adults daytime basking spot up to 81F/27C, daytime cooler ambient range 70-75F /21 -23C, and at night to a low of 68F/20C.

 

[maxttu]

I use the following rule of thimb that Sandra posted a bit back:

You should aim for a humidity of 45-65%. It will spike during misting of course

For adult male panthers, the temperature can be up to 90F / 32C in the hottest basking spot near the top of the cage, and at the opposite, lower end of the enclosure it should be 70-80F / 21-26C during the day. A night time drop in temp is necessary (as low as 65F / 18C is good). Adult females should be kept a little cooler during the day, if youre not breeding. Her basking area should not exceed 84F/29C.
A sub-adults daytime basking spot up to 81F/27C, daytime cooler ambient range 70-75F /21 -23C, and at night to a low of 68F/20C.

^^what he said^^ I was too lazy to type that up!

 

[carol5208]

yes, you can have the basking spot be higher. I have mine around 95-96 degrees for both mine and they do not gape or anything. I use a 75 watt or so to get that temp. Depends on how far down you put you branch too. I have mine about 8 inches below. Also, I live in FLA and have my chams outside in the hot sun. They bask just fine. They can take the heat ok. They just have to be able to cool down.

 

[Wykd]

lol i didnt tpye it i copy/pasted it... i have a bunch of her post's bookmarked. She is a great codex of knowledge!

 

[oldskoolmodder]

Yeah, I'm figuring I'm just going to have to set up my cage and have the UV bulb since I know what I need there.

Unless I have any real complaints a 40 watt bulb doesn't sounds to bad, and it's not a $15-$20 reptile bulb I'll be using it and gauging the temperature with the temp gun.

I know they have the reputation for being hard to keep, but not if everything is just right. I have a good breeder, getting the right set up. I learned a LOT about gut loading from a nice lady named Sandra *I believe* here on the forums. I'm excited to get my first little panther

 

[maxttu]

lol i didnt tpye it i copy/pasted it... i have a bunch of her post's bookmarked. She is a great codex of knowledge!

Lol. True that!

 

[Wykd]

Yeah I find that this is the one question you can ask and get a differing answer on every time. And its not that there is 1 answer that's better than the others, its that each person has preferences that have proved to work for that setup.

I recently bought a female fro ma breeder and their suggested basking temp. is 90's also. Which goes against the rule of cooler temp's for females. /shrug

Point is there is no perfect answer to the basking spot temperature imo.

 

[oldskoolmodder]

LOL Thanks yet again wicked, that Sandra lady is quite the wealth of knowledge. God forbid she reads this post she sounds like an AWESOME lady.

I'll be aiming exactly for these temps, I plan to do a lot of messing with plans and vines before I throw him on in. But that's a perfect guide thank you very much!