Question about my veiled

[Olimpia]

have you every heard of the right tool for the job? sometimes a standard wrench fits a metric nut but that don't mean you should use it. Why risk the health of your cham listening to this guy do things right and get a legit bulb.

What right tool for the job? The bulb that matters is the UVB light, which he has. This produces a special spectrum of light and so on, and that matters. But the heat bulb doesn't have to produce anything but heat... we really could just use a ceramic heater to produce heat and no light. Just because there's a reptile on the box doesn't mean it does anything special. There's nothing more "legit" about it.

Seriously, don't get fooled into spending a few more dollars because there's a lizard on the box. Breeders and experts use household bulbs for a reason, they know not to waste the money where it doesn't matter.

 

[hinoco1225]

What right tool for the job? The bulb that matters is the UVB light, which he has. This produces a special spectrum of light and so on, and that matters. But the heat bulb doesn't have to produce anything but heat... we really could just use a ceramic heater to produce heat and no light. Just because there's a reptile on the box doesn't mean it does anything special. There's nothing more "legit" about it.

Seriously, don't get fooled into spending a few more dollars because there's a lizard on the box. Breeders and experts use household bulbs for a reason, they know not to waste the money where it doesn't matter.

Actually, heat bulbs do give something other than heat that is essential for chams - UVA. Regular house bulbs do provide this, however, provided they produce WHITE light. The important thing is not whether you use a specific "basking bulb" or a regular incandescent bulb - the important thing is that it is white - not red, blue, or whatever else.

Here is a very basic overview of why UVA is important: http://www.all-about-reptiles.com/uva-rays.html. The main point is that UVA provides a brighter, happier world for your chameleon. UVA isn't necessary for calcium absorption and food digestion like UVB, but without UVA, reptiles will live a less fulfilling and potentially shorter life.

 

[Olimpia]

Actually, heat bulbs do give something other than heat that is essential for chams - UVA. Regular house bulbs do provide this, however, provided they produce WHITE light. The important thing is not whether you use a specific "basking bulb" or a regular incandescent bulb - the important thing is that it is white - not red, blue, or whatever else.

Here is a very basic overview of why UVA is important: http://www.all-about-reptiles.com/uva-rays.html. The main point is that UVA provides a brighter, happier world for your chameleon. UVA isn't necessary for calcium absorption and food digestion like UVB, but without UVA, reptiles will live a less fulfilling and potentially shorter life.

I agree, which is why a household bulb is good. I don't know anyone that uses red bulbs for their house lamps! lol I use a household bulb for heat and then several fluorescent 5000k lights for the remaining light spectrum so that my chameleons can experience colors like they're supposed to. But as far as heat bulbs go, there's no need to get fancy with a reptile brand one. Save the extra bucks.

 

[Banders675]

save the extra bucks

Save the extra bucks and buy 3 extra lights. Does anyone else think ^ sounds kinda stupid there telling me don't be fooled by a box but then says how they have different color lights. I doubt a house bulb puts off as much heat as a heat bulb the house bulbs are ment to save energy these days and put off less heat. If you really want to test it buy both and watch the temps. But don't use a couple lights use one heat light and one uvb. I use 3 lights total a heat, a uvb, and then a night heat light. Mr. House bulb how many lights do you use total?

 

[brandonrx7]

So I talked to the people where I got the cham from and they told me again, just like the day we ordered everything for him. Don't spend the extra money for a heat lamp just go out and get a cheap $2.00 house hold bulb and make sure its not the curly compact kind. I don't have a tube style uvb light I only have the compact kind. And come to think of it your right about the age thing. We ordered him from lllreptiles.com. We ordered a new born so he might have been 1 month from what they told us. So he would be 5 months old. As for the feeding thing my wife gave him more crickets when she got back home yesterday and when I got up this am they were all still there. He eats until he is full, so if he is just eating 5 I'm not gonna force him to eat more lol.

 

[brandonrx7]

Save the extra bucks and buy 3 extra lights. Does anyone else think ^ sounds kinda stupid there telling me don't be fooled by a box but then says how they have different color lights. I doubt a house bulb puts off as much heat as a heat bulb the house bulbs are ment to save energy these days and put off less heat. If you really want to test it buy both and watch the temps. But don't use a couple lights use one heat light and one uvb. I use 3 lights total a heat, a uvb, and then a night heat light. Mr. House bulb how many lights do you use total?

My household light temps are 95 f at the basking spot. From what I have been told that is hot enough. So I am going to do what lllreptiles and flchams told me to do and not waste my money on a $26.00 heat bulb when I can buy 4 house hold bulbs that put off the same amount of heat for $2.00. If you buy the curly florescent bulbs those don't put out any heat you have to get the regular bulb style.

 

[Banders675]

yeah

just give him what he can finish other wise the crickets will chew on your cham while he is asleep. As far as the light opinions are like a-holes everyones got one. but i did just put a hose bulb in my set up to see if it puts off the same amount of heat. you should test it out yourself also try a house bulb one day and a heat bulb the next. I have seen pet stores that dont use a heat light at all so they are not always right.

 

[Olimpia]

Save the extra bucks and buy 3 extra lights. Does anyone else think ^ sounds kinda stupid there telling me don't be fooled by a box but then says how they have different color lights. I doubt a house bulb puts off as much heat as a heat bulb the house bulbs are ment to save energy these days and put off less heat. If you really want to test it buy both and watch the temps. But don't use a couple lights use one heat light and one uvb. I use 3 lights total a heat, a uvb, and then a night heat light. Mr. House bulb how many lights do you use total?

Miss. Ok, let's do the math here. After a quick online search I found a 60w (which is what I need) reptile heat bulb on LLLReptile for about $5, about $6-7 if you need a 100w. Now, I can get a pack of 4 Phillips 60w reveal (bright white spectrum) lights for $6, putting each one at $1.50. Or you can get any cheaper brand at Walmart and the price per bulb goes down a bit.

So, I can replace my heat spot light four times for the price it took you to buy just one light. So if we're talking about a regular 2x2x4 sized cage or smaller, I have the same two bulbs as you (heat and UVB), and my chameleon still gets all the light and heat he needs. My basking spots are at a toasty 88*F.

Now, because I have a cage that is 3x4x5, one little light spot isn't enough to spread light across such a wide area or keep my plants alive like in a 2x2x4, so I have a 4' fluorescent 5000k bulb ($5) which adds the healthy light spectrum we're talking about and keeps my plants happy as well. So that's why I have that extra one for my largest cage, although not for my more regularly sized cage.

So I have just as many bulbs as you and probably paid less for all three of them. Do what you will, but I rather spend the extra bucks buying hornworms or a new plant. Same with the UVB, get it online from Amazon and you'll pay half of what you would at a pet store for the same brand of light. This is an expensive hobby, it's useful to learn where to sink your dollars wisely!

Edit - Does your night one give off light? Because it shouldn't, if it does definitely get a light-less heat emitter so your cham can sleep well at night.

 

[Banders675]

tried

Miss. Ok, let's do the math here. After a quick online search I found a 60w (which is what I need) reptile heat bulb on LLLReptile for about $5, about $6-7 if you need a 100w. Now, I can get a pack of 4 Phillips 60w reveal (bright white spectrum) lights for $6, putting each one at $1.50. Or you can get any cheaper brand at Walmart and the price per bulb goes down a bit.

So, I can replace my heat spot light four times for the price it took you to buy just one light. So if we're talking about a regular 2x2x4 sized cage or smaller, I have the same two bulbs as you (heat and UVB), and my chameleon still gets all the light and heat he needs. My basking spots are at a toasty 88*F.

Now, because I have a cage that is 3x4x5, one little light spot isn't enough to spread light across such a wide area or keep my plants alive like in a 2x2x4, so I have a 4' fluorescent 5000k bulb ($5) which adds the healthy light spectrum we're talking about and keeps my plants happy as well. So that's why I have that extra one for my largest cage, although not for my more regularly sized cage.

So I have just as many bulbs as you and probably paid less for all three of them. Do what you will, but I rather spend the extra bucks buying hornworms or a new plant. Same with the UVB, get it online from Amazon and you'll pay half of what you would at a pet store for the same brand of light. This is an expensive hobby, it's useful to learn where to sink your dollars wisely!

Edit - Does your night one give off light? Because it shouldn't, if it does definitely get a light-less heat emitter so your cham can sleep well at night.

oh sorry miss bulb lol. I put a house bulb in there and the temps in the 70's with my zoo meds bulb it is in the 80's so for me the house bulb is not working. but if I were going to worry about the cost i would own gold fish not cams. I am on my 6th cham (first panther) I have adopted a poor looking cham and made him nice and healthy (then he hated me for it) (side not my baby boy is moving directly under the light and turning dark something he never did with the zoo-meds light so I don't think the house bulb is cutting it)
my cage is way smaller then yours so I can see why your using many lights.

 

[Elizadolots]

I put a house bulb in there and the temps in the 70's with my zoo meds bulb it is in the 80's

Then you needed a household bulb with higher wattage, not necessarily an expensive "heat" bulb.

 

[Banders675]

no

Then you needed a household bulb with higher wattage, not necessarily an expensive "heat" bulb.

no girlfriend said to the pet store we go. funny how my zoo-meds light burned out this am. karma I guess lol

 

[hinoco1225]

Save the extra bucks and buy 3 extra lights. Does anyone else think ^ sounds kinda stupid there telling me don't be fooled by a box but then says how they have different color lights. I doubt a house bulb puts off as much heat as a heat bulb the house bulbs are ment to save energy these days and put off less heat. If you really want to test it buy both and watch the temps. But don't use a couple lights use one heat light and one uvb. I use 3 lights total a heat, a uvb, and then a night heat light. Mr. House bulb how many lights do you use total?

House bulbs and reptile basking bulbs of the same wattage put off the same amount of heat. The difference is that basking bulbs are "spot bulbs" that focus the heat to one specific spot, whereas the house bulb emits a wider radius of heat. So yeah, a basking bulb may provide a basking spot that is a couple of degrees hotter than a house bulb of the same wattage, but it just depends on your personal preference as to whether that's important.

As far as energy-saving florescent bulbs, most people know these can't be used for heat. That's why if someone uses a house bulb, it has to be incandescent.

Edit: I also think that the night heat bulb isn't necessary. Most chams I've encountered seem bothered by any light at night, and a drop in night temps is good for them anyway.

 

[hinoco1225]

My household light temps are 95 f at the basking spot. From what I have been told that is hot enough. So I am going to do what lllreptiles and flchams told me to do and not waste my money on a $26.00 heat bulb when I can buy 4 house hold bulbs that put off the same amount of heat for $2.00. If you buy the curly florescent bulbs those don't put out any heat you have to get the regular bulb style.

95 actually might be a little too hot. He probably will feel fine with it, but it just makes him more likely to get burned. I would raise the light an inch or two to help prevent burns, and a temp of 90-92ish should be plenty to keep him warm.

 

[hinoco1225]

no girlfriend said to the pet store we go. funny how my zoo-meds light burned out this am. karma I guess lol

Wow, that is ironic. I bought a reptile basking bulb once, and it burned out after a few days. It could have just been a dud, but I've used regular house bulbs ever since.