proper lightning ?

[unknown91]

i would start by saying that i'm sorry for my numerous threads, but i wanna be 100% sure i'm providing the best care for my little one.
this time i have a problem with the lightning/heat.
when she was smaller, i decided not to cover the top of the enclosure, thinking that it was more airflow and nothing to block the waves of the bulbs, but now, she grew up and i saw her yesterday exploring and he almost climbed on top by standing on her 2 back feet and tail so i decided i would put a piece of material on top.
my questions are :
1. is it normal at this age (4-5 months) to try and escape or it's something bad in her enclosure ?
2. the material that i wanna put (i think it's a plastic mesh) on top will block the UVB light or the heat light ?
http://postimg.org/image/bt0109hyf/
http://postimg.org/image/hv7nqr6ef/
3. before, when i had no top, and the lights were basically inside, i had a 29-30C on basking spot, and 25-26 on the bottom, but the humidity was low because of the heat, now that i moved it oudside, the humidity raised up to 55 (being dry inside), so it's a good thing.
http://postimg.org/image/bt0109hyf/
4. also, it's an optimal distance between the lights and her ? i wanna put another stick closer to the top, it's ok ?
http://postimg.org/image/xe53nvep3/
5. now she's more active, climbing and moving around, before she would just sit under the basking light (she never sits under the UVB light, why?).
it's fine if she sits so much under the basking light ?

the cage is : 100cm (height) x 60cm (length) x 40cm (width)

PS : i removed the second plant and some branches for cleaning, it's not the complete setup.
http://postimg.org/image/3q1uoxxd3/

 

[unknown91]

nobody ? i really want to finish the enclosure today.
at least tell me if the mesh blocks some of the waves, like the glass does ... and if the normal light bulb could melt the plastic material over night ...

 

[carol5208]

Yes plastic blocks waves also so I would not use it. You can definitely put a branch closer. With the basking light make sure that she cannot get too close or it could cause a burn. I do not know why she is not sitting under the uvb. What brand is it? 5.0, 10.0? I like using the tube style uvb's as they brighten up the cage and cover way more area. Also, the basking light could be put in a dome fixture so it will spread out more too. You should not have any lights on at night. If you are using them, turn them off. And yes, I am sure the light would melt the plastic over time, especially it if is sitting too close to it.. Search the enclousure threads to see how most of us set up our lighting.

 

[unknown91]

i know the basics, it's not about the threads. i couldn't find these problems.
i don't know why plastic would block and mesh wouldn't, but ok ...
the UVB it's 5.0 ... it's enough light in the cage, that's not the problem and i'm not keeping the light on at night, lol ?! where did you get that from ?
and yes, i'm searching for a dome, you're right on that.
it's ok if it melts over time, i could change it, it's not ok if it melts over night, but i don't think so.
anyway, i return to the first question/problem on this post.
if plastic blocks and melts, i should put metallic mesh ?

 

[carol5208]

nobody ? i really want to finish the enclosure today.
at least tell me if the mesh blocks some of the waves, like the glass does ... and if the normal light bulb could melt the plastic material over night ...

This is where I got it from!!! Over night??? Plastic does block, but I was referring to solid plastic like in the fish tank bulbs. We had people use those fixtures, did not know enough to remove the plastic and their chameleons ended up getting MBD from it. I should have clarified and I know you are using plastic mesh which may block some, but not all.

 

[carol5208]

i know the basics, it's not about the threads. i couldn't find these problems.
i don't know why plastic would block and mesh wouldn't, but ok ...
the UVB it's 5.0 ... it's enough light in the cage, that's not the problem and i'm not keeping the light on at night, lol ?! where did you get that from ?
and yes, i'm searching for a dome, you're right on that.
it's ok if it melts over time, i could change it, it's not ok if it melts over night, but i don't think so.
anyway, i return to the first question/problem on this post.
if plastic blocks and melts, i should put metallic mesh ?

Mesh does to, to a degree. Not enough that it will harm your chameleon though. Most of use screen tops with uvb resting on top and have great success. And the right mesh doesn't melt, so why not just use that?

 

[unknown91]

well that's i'm going to use.
and when i was saying 'over night' was more like an expression for "fast".
should've been more clear.
and i don't really know the differences between mesh - screen - plastic mesh and all this s**t, english is not my first language so i should do a little research on that.
so screen is different from the metallic mesh ?

 

[carol5208]

well that's i'm going to use.
and when i was saying 'over night' was more like an expression for "fast".
should've been more clear.
and i don't really know the differences between mesh - screen - plastic mesh and all this s**t, english is not my first language so i should do a little research on that.
so screen is different from the metallic mesh ?

Ah, what we have here is a failure to communicate! lol Over night, in english means just that...over night. No biggie, bottom line is you are not keeping your light on at night and that is all that matters! As far as I know, screen and metallic mesh(as you are calling it) are one in the same. There are different grades/types of screen that are available to us in the U.S. I do not know about Romania.

 

[unknown91]

ok, got it.
so i'll go buy some mesh, do i need to look for something specific ? like the holes size or something ?

 

[carol5208]

Not really. Just if you are going to have feeders roaming around in the cage, you do not want them to be able to escape, so if the holes are too big, they will. My cages are made out of window screening, with the tiny little holes.

 

[unknown91]

ok, thank you for your time and your answers!

 

[carol5208]

You are welcome and good luck with putting everything together!