Question on Florida sunlight...

[Surfrat]

I have my chameleon cages setup outside on a screened in back porch. They don't get any direct sunlight in the morning, but it does start beeming into the cages between 2pm to 230pm and continues to light the cages until about 5pm.

They still have areas of shade because the cages are heavily planted, so im not worried about that, I am just curious if ya'll think 2 to 3 hours of real sunlight is enough for Panthers, as compared to all day under a uvb bulb?

 

[Surfrat]

Here are some photos of the cages in afternoon sun. These were taken at 420pm so its towards the end of the major direct sun they get.

 

[eisentrauti]

Nice looking cage ! Good work !

 

[jannb]

I have a UVB meter and the sun puts out absolutely no UVB in the mornings. Your chams never need direct sunlight. I take mine out in the evenings and in the shade only and they get more UV in the shade that a UVB bulb ever puts out. Be careful not to let them get to hot. Panthers can not take the heat. I was reading Gesang's post the other day to not allow a panther to get over 85 basking and in the 70's lower cage. I'll see if I can find her post....she's a well respected breeder and member here on the forums. I have a screened back porch and in the mornings it's in the shade and I check the temp. with my temp. gun and it got up to 108 out there yesterday so be careful. It's so sad to see these little animals cook.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/odd-color-change-sunken-29402/ (post #12)

 

[Surfrat]

I have a UVB meter and the sun puts out absolutely no UVB in the mornings. Your chams never need direct sunlight. I take mine out in the evenings and in the shade only and they get more UV in the shade that a UVB bulb ever puts out. Be careful not to let them get to hot. Panthers can not take the heat. I was reading Gesang's post the other day to not allow a panther to get over 85 basking and in the 70's lower cage. I'll see if I can find her post....she's a well respected breeder and member here on the forums. I have a screened back porch and in the mornings it's in the shade and I check the temp. with my temp. gun and it got up to 108 out there yesterday so be careful. It's so sad to see these little animals cook.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/odd-color-change-sunken-29402/ (post #12)

Well again the only sun they get is from around 230 to 5. The entire rest of the day they are completely in the shade. I took a temp reading of the back porch just now and it is currently 81degrees. There is a nice breeze today though. I have seen my back porch get to about 93 so far in the shade, but never any higher.

But for what I am asking, and since I have no uvb meter, 2 to 3 hours of sun like you see in the photos should be sufficient uvb? I do have reptisuns, just havn't used them outdoors for this setup cause I havn't felt they were needed.

 

[Surfrat]

Nice looking cage ! Good work !

Thank you, they were much more work then I anticipated, and I am far from a master woodworker, but they seem to do the job!

 

[jannb]

Well again the only sun they get is from around 230 to 5. The entire rest of the day they are completely in the shade. I took a temp reading of the back porch just now and it is currently 81degrees. There is a nice breeze today though. I have seen my back porch get to about 93 so far in the shade, but never any hire.

But for what I am asking, and since I have no uvb meter, 2 to 3 hours of sun like you see in the photos should be sufficient uvb? I do have reptisuns, just havn't used them outdoors for this setup cause I havn't felt they were needed.

Even though mine get UVB outside daily, I still use UVB bulbs over their trees in the house. My guys free range.

 

[Danicuteeyes]

Well again the only sun they get is from around 230 to 5. The entire rest of the day they are completely in the shade. I took a temp reading of the back porch just now and it is currently 81degrees. There is a nice breeze today though. I have seen my back porch get to about 93 so far in the shade, but never any hire.

But for what I am asking, and since I have no uvb meter, 2 to 3 hours of sun like you see in the photos should be sufficient uvb? I do have reptisuns, just havn't used them outdoors for this setup cause I havn't felt they were needed.

i was going to ask the same thing...i live in miami, kendall area

is it better to leave them outside under the sun...or under the shade?
or half inside, half outside?

 

[Surfrat]

i was going to ask the same thing...i live in miami, kendall area

is it better to leave them outside under the sun...or under the shade?
or half inside, half outside?

I would def leave them in the shade. Direct sun all day would be way to hot. Even mine in the direct sun for the couple hours they still have more then half of the cage they can find shade in.

 

[beeze]

There was a post on here the other day about this. Natural sun or UVB. You might be able to use the search button at the top to find it. I believe it said to be on the safe side to do both. BTW Nice cages!

 

[Surfrat]

There was a post on here the other day about this. Natural sun or UVB. You might be able to use the search button at the top to find it. I believe it said to be on the safe side to do both. BTW Nice cages!

I saw that post, I guess I was trying to find out if anyone had a definitive answer on how much was enough. I am sure they are getting uvb even when they are in the shade outside, but I just don't have a uvb meter to find out. Was hoping someone in Florida with one had a better answer.

 

[beeze]

I have a UVB meter and they do get more uvb even in the shade outside than inside under the bulb but they are suppose to get 12 hours a day of lights on and with no morning uv outside they might not be getting enough.

 

[graydon]

I have my ambilobe panther outside in the Tampa bay area and he is in the shade 11 hours a day. Direct sunlight for to long would fry the little guys. You dont need uvb if they are outside. Even in the shade they will get uv rays. Make sure you keep the watering up too