Red Heat Lamp

lgd1998

New Member
Hello,
This is my first time posting on the forum. I've had my cham for about 2 months. When I first got him and was buying all of the supplies at the pet store, the employee recommended a red heat lamp with 75 watts. (I don't remember the exact type of lamp it is as I bought it two months ago, sorry) The person told me to leave the white UVB light on for 12 hours a day and the red heat light on for 24 hours. So for two months I've had him sleeping with a night light. I've recently noticed in the past few days his sleeping schedule is a little off and he would go to sleep around 6 pm but then wake up again around 12:30 am. I read some forums as to why his sleeping schedule would be off and I discovered I was NOT supposed to be leaving the light on at night. I was just doing what I was told! But last night I turned his heat light off for the first time, and was also informed that chameleons will always sleep in the dark no matter what, but I still heard him ruffling around a bit even though the entire room was completely dark because I was going to sleep. When I woke up in the morning and turned his UVB and heat lights on he got PISSED at me and made a very loud noise that he's never made before. He's never reacted like that before when I would turn the UVB light on in the morning. Is he going to be okay if I start leaving the lamp off at night? Why did he get so mad when I turned it back on?

Let me know if you need more information on him/his environment as well.
 
He will adjust to the proper schedule if a few days or less. Keep him on 12 Hrs of light and 12 hrs fully dark and he will do much better in the long run. He's a bit sleep deprived right now.
Thank you:) I'm upset he's been living like that for so long, but better I caught this issue sooner rather than later. He just had his first vet visit last week and he's pretty healthy otherwise.
 
If you want to fill out the how to ask for help form we can see if you were misinformed on any other aspects of husbandry.

Chameleon Info:
  • Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
  • Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
  • History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
  • Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
  • Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
 
If you want to fill out the how to ask for help form we can see if you were misinformed on any other aspects of husbandry.

Chameleon Info:
  • Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
  • Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
  • History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
  • Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
  • Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
Cham info:
Species: Veiled Sex: Male Age: Not 100% sure but I believe somewhere between 8 and 9 months
He's been in my care for 2 months
Handling: I do not hold him. I held him a few times the first week I got him but that's it
Feeding: I feed him crickets and super worms. Going to expand his diet as recommended by the vet
I feed him about 12 a day
I gut load them with kale and carrots
I dust with repti-calcium once a week.
Watering: I mist a few times a day as well as having the little dripper dripping constantly. Yes I do see him drink sometimes but I'm not watching him constantly
Fecal Description: Seems normal. Dark feces and white urine. No, it has not been tested for parasites yet but I am supposed to bring in a sample to the vet this week.

Cage info:
Currently have him in a 24 gallon glass tank with a mesh top but switching to screen as soon as I have the money to do so.
Lighting: I'm sorry but I really do not know the exact info on what lamps I use right now. The vet recommended a T5 Ho UVB bulb with parabolic reflector because I did not know what I was using. I also use a red heat lamp with 75 watts but that's all I know
Temperature: 75-80 but basking spot is around 85-90 (degrees Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Would LOVE anyone's opinion on this. When I bought him I was told to NEVER let the humidity drop below 60% so I would typically keep it from 60-75% but the vet told me around 40% is good. I should trust the vet but that seems somewhat low to me. I don't know though. He did just go to the vet and definitely does not have a respiratory infection but I would still like to avoid him getting one in the future.
Plants: only fake.
Placement: he currently resides on the top of my dresser. My dresser is about 3 1/2 feet tall and the top of his tank is 5 feet above the floor (ish) He is not near any vents but I keep my ceiling fan on because it's hot in my room. His tank isn't directly under the fan though.
Location: I live in South Carolina
 
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Cham info:
Species: Veiled Sex: Male Age: Not 100% sure but I believe somewhere between 8 and 9 months
He's been in my care for 2 months
Handling: I do not hold him. I held him a few times the first week I got him but that's it
Feeding: I feed him crickets and super worms. Going to expand his diet as recommended by the vet
I feed him about 12 a day
I gut load them with kale and carrots
take out the kale it can bind calcium witch isn’t good

I dust with repti-calcium once a week.
you want to use calcium without d3 every feeding and with 3 d3 twice a month. You also need to add a multivitamin
Watering: I mist a few times a day as well as having the little dripper dripping constantly. Yes I do see him drink sometimes but I'm not watching him constantly
Fecal Description: Seems normal. Dark feces and white urine. No, it has not been tested for parasites yet but I am supposed to bring in a sample to the vet this week.

Cage info:
Currently have him in a 24 gallon glass tank with a mesh top but switching to screen as soon as I have the money to do so.
you will need a 24x24x48 cage when you switch and plz do it sooner then later
Lighting: I'm sorry but I really do not know the exact info on what lamps I use right now. The vet recommended a T5 Ho UVB bulb with parabolic reflector because I did not know what I was using. I also use a red heat lamp with 75 watts but that's all I know
Temperature: 75-80 but basking spot is around 85-90 (degrees Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Would LOVE anyone's opinion on this. When I bought him I was told to NEVER let the humidity drop below 60% so I would typically keep it from 60-75% but the vet told me around 40% is good. I should trust the vet but that seems somewhat low to me. I don't know though. He did just go to the vet and definitely does not have a respiratory infection but I would still like to avoid him getting one in the future.
when you get him out of that glass tank this should fix your humidity levels
Plants: only fake.
you want to add live plants. Veileds like to eat the fake plants witch can be bad
Placement: he currently resides on the top of my dresser. My dresser is about 3 1/2 feet tall and the top of his tank is 5 feet above the floor (ish) He is not near any vents but I keep my ceiling fan on because it's hot in my room. His tank isn't directly under the fan though.
Location: I live in South Carolina

like I said you need to change the cage ASAP. I will attach graphs to help you and links to websites. Dragon strand is good but expensive diycages are also good.

https://www.diycages.com/collection...umbo-vertical-screen-cage?variant=35995105933




4ABE0579-A8B0-409D-9830-CFCD3B0CE8FF.jpeg
8757640B-CBB5-4D35-B6A4-5BDBFC190681.jpeg
339757E4-1B65-4465-9703-63DDE6588156.jpeg
2EFE10B9-CB45-4381-B501-DC87B9D6E768.jpeg
6772B24B-6F4D-420D-B45F-A54C49EBB996.jpeg
CD83D9CB-FCB4-4DAB-83CC-EBA179FB16A9.png
3610248E-004C-4605-8A3A-53F9C158ED69.png
401649B3-3838-49BD-B20F-F950756CF4D1.png
 
Expanding on what was already given to you. @JoXie411 gave you comments that are showing underlined in bold and mine are in red. Please follow these and any other feedback that you receive.
Cham info:
Species: Veiled Sex: Male Age: Not 100% sure but I believe somewhere between 8 and 9 months
He's been in my care for 2 months
Handling: I do not hold him. I held him a few times the first week I got him but that's it
Feeding: I feed him crickets and super worms. Going to expand his diet as recommended by the vet
I feed him about 12 a day... You will want to start curbing down his feeders in the next few months to 5-7 large feeders every other day.
I gut load them with kale and carrots
take out the kale it can bind calcium witch isn’t good Your guload needs to be expanded on. see image provided.

I dust with repti-calcium once a week.
you want to use calcium without d3 every feeding and with 3 d3 twice a month. You also need to add a multivitamin is given 2 times a month. Rotate your calcium with D3 and the multivitamin each week pick a day of the week and be consistent.
Watering: I mist a few times a day as well as having the little dripper dripping constantly. Yes I do see him drink sometimes but I'm not watching him constantly
Fecal Description: Seems normal. Dark feces and white urine. No, it has not been tested for parasites yet but I am supposed to bring in a sample to the vet this week. I would take in the sample. It is important to rule out any potential parasite issues.

Cage info:
Currently have him in a 24 gallon glass tank with a mesh top but switching to screen as soon as I have the money to do so.
you will need a 24x24x48 cage when you switch and plz do it sooner then later MUST BE UPGRADED NOW. You can purchase a 2x2x4 reptibreeze off amazon for about $100. His health depends on having the correct enclosure. Where they have temperature and humidity gradients. The height allows them to move in and out of the heat as needed.
Lighting: I'm sorry but I really do not know the exact info on what lamps I use right now. The vet recommended a T5 Ho UVB bulb with parabolic reflector because I did not know what I was using. I also use a red heat lamp with 75 watts but that's all I know Are you using the T5HO now? Or are you using a screw in UVB bulb in a dome fixture? Must be upgraded to a T5 HO fixture with at 10.0 zoomed uvb bulb or at 12% arcadia uvb Bulb. You risk him developing MBD without the proper lighting along with other health issues. As stated red light has to go. replace with a standard household incandescent bulb. 12 hours lights are on 12 hours total darkness.
Temperature: 75-80 but basking spot is around 85-90 (degrees Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Would LOVE anyone's opinion on this. When I bought him I was told to NEVER let the humidity drop below 60% so I would typically keep it from 60-75% but the vet told me around 40% is good. I should trust the vet but that seems somewhat low to me. I don't know though. He did just go to the vet and definitely does not have a respiratory infection but I would still like to avoid him getting one in the future.
when you get him out of that glass tank this should fix your humidity levels So you want it to be 30-50% max during the day at night it can be much higher. Heat from lights+moisture= potential for a respiratory infection. not good at all in chams. Your guy is at a much higher risk being in a glass tank.
Plants: only fake.
you want to add live plants. Veileds like to eat the fake plants witch can be bad Live plants are very important for chams. Try pothos or dwarf umbrella for him.
Placement: he currently resides on the top of my dresser. My dresser is about 3 1/2 feet tall and the top of his tank is 5 feet above the floor (ish) He is not near any vents but I keep my ceiling fan on because it's hot in my room. His tank isn't directly under the fan though.
Location: I live in South Carolina


You need the larger cage and the correct lighting asap. These are two extremely important pieces of providing the correct husbandry for them. Without these you will see a health decline that can lead to death.

Utilize the images that were provided to you.
This is an awesome podcast full of great info as well www.Chameleonbreeder.com Highly recommend giving this one in particular a listen https://www.chameleonbreeder.com/podcast/ep-89-naturalistic-hydration-for-chameleons/
 
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