Pygmy digestion temperature?

[szpond]

So true chameleons require that basking spot in order to properly digest -- how does it work for pygmy chameleons? Is there a certain temperature that the tank needs to achieve during the day to ensure proper digestion?


I am setting up for a male R. Temporalis to come to me with the spring months come -- I have been testing out temps and humidities.

Highest I've seen - 73F
Lowest I've seen - 66F

Right now there is a light nearby and it reads 71F. I'd say I usually see my digital thermometer at 69 or 70. This is without any lighting.

Any input?

 

[Chameleonmaster]

i think that your temps are good. in the wild the canopy is so thick that little to no light gets through to the forest floor. i think that you pygmy will be fine.

 

[szpond]

i think that your temps are good. in the wild the canopy is so thick that little to no light gets through to the forest floor. i think that you pygmy will be fine.

Lovely, thank you! Once Max's 5.0 UVB is due for a replacement, I'll move it to the pygmy enclosure on a timer.

Another thing I'm worried about (maybe I'm just stuck in the "true chameleon" thinking), how do I ensure 12 hours of awake time and 12 hours of nighttime without a light? Is this something that can be achieved without a light? This enclosure is near a window, so there will be outdoor light coming in -- but it's awfully cloudy in Michigan's winter months.

 

[Chameleonmaster]

I too am from MI and I think the light from outside should be enough to wake him up. There have been no problems that I recall putting UVB bulb on the cage but you don't have to have it with pygmys from what I've heard. Like I said not much get through to the forest floor same with UVB.

 

[szpond]

I too am from MI and I think the light from outside should be enough to wake him up. There have been no problems that I recall putting UVB bulb on the cage but you don't have to have it with pygmys from what I've heard. Like I said not much get through to the forest floor same with UVB.

I'm in SE MI as well! You think it'll be okay? I suppose I should stop worrying and just continue doing what I'm doing, huh?

Well thank you all for the responses! This site allows for constant learning -- amazing.

 

[Chameleonmaster]

Glad i could help!!!
I think your fine, no need to worry!

 

[JimO]

I have a Brevi that I got from Kellyschameleons about two weeks ago. He's in a 20-long vivarium with one 26 watt daylight CFL bulb. This time of year, the temps in our house are between 68 and 74. Although the CFL bulb isn't a hot bulb, it does put off some heat close up. Every morning the little guy is at the top of the vivarium as close to the bulb as he can get. The rest of the day he's all over the enclosure. I plan to add a 2.0 UVB build to the fixture.

I don't know the answer to the OP's question specifically, but it appears (based on limited experience with pygmies) that my Brevi likes to bask, so there must be some benefit.

 

[szpond]

Thank you JimO, I will take this into account when altering my set-up and measuring the resulting temps and humidities...will keep all updated on the little dude coming to me.