red heat lights

[chequepoint]

So for the holiday, I have to go to my parents for the week, and since its the holiday I really can't get anyone to feed the cams, so I've gotten some reptariums and they're coming with me. Not a huge deal.

However, they live in an old farm house that gets cold at night, probably around 50 or so.

Will one of those red bulbs at night keep the cham up? I can't find a ceramic heat emitter that seems to be low enough wattage, and they're expensive.

 

[kenya]

You know, I would actually suggest getting a little space heater and heating the whole room you are in at night. How long will you be gone?

 

[chequepoint]

About a week.
The trick is that its hard to just heat a space. The house is from 1821. Temps are fine during the day because the wood furnace is burning, but at night it ramps down

 

[Dsignrguy]

what kind of chams?

 

[Sang]

as kenya said, a medium sized space heater, placed in the proper fashion should be able to heat a generalized area enough to keep a so so good temperature, it will take some time playing with it though to figure out what is perfect.

 

[chequepoint]

Panther Chams. I'm going in with a few ideas, a space heater is certainly an option to try, we may be able to keep the furnace stoked, etc. I guess what I was really asking is if it doesn't work, are the red lights a viable option at all, or will they keep the cham up?

 

[kenya]

Panther Chams. I'm going in with a few ideas, a space heater is certainly an option to try, we may be able to keep the furnace stoked, etc. I guess what I was really asking is if it doesn't work, are the red lights a viable option at all, or will they keep the cham up?

I personally don't like red lights and I think they would disturb your chams a bit since they are not used to them AND would be in an entirely new environment. You will want to get them used to the reptariums about a week before you go, btw.

They will be fine dropping down to about 60 I think. Lower and I would get a little space heater and just keep it running through night. You would be surprised how well they work. You can also insulate your cages with towels before the lights shut off- it will keep some heat in for a few hours.

 

[Sang]

I used the red heat lamps back when i kept my cockatiels out in there aviary year round. the red light made them easier to wake, but also kept them alive when it got down to sub 30F which was rare.

Human eyelid membrane is far thicker and the red light will not penetrate. BUT i don't know about small reptiles, it didn't seem to bother my birds much ... but who knows. it may keep them up.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I have red lights in the overhead fixture of the bedroom that is devoted to chameleons. It is usually off. But if I have to go into the cham room after 'lights out" I flick on the overhead red light. If I am in there for more than two or three minutes, my sleeping chameleons open their eyes. They dont change position, they dont uncurl their tails, but they are obviously woken up. So, I would suggest NOT using a red bulb for heat at night if you dont have to. Ceramic heat bulbs are only $25. But a space heater would be better. Or maybe you could stoke the fire furnace in shifts? Someone does it late at night, someone wake up early early and stokes it again?

 

[chequepoint]

I just wish someone made a 25 watt ceramic or so. I don't understand why all the heat products are so crazy high powered.

 

[summoner12]

I have red lights in the overhead fixture of the bedroom that is devoted to chameleons. It is usually off. But if I have to go into the cham room after 'lights out" I flick on the overhead red light. If I am in there for more than two or three minutes, my sleeping chameleons open their eyes. They dont change position, they dont uncurl their tails, but they are obviously woken up. So, I would suggest NOT using a red bulb for heat at night if you dont have to. Ceramic heat bulbs are only $25. But a space heater would be better. Or maybe you could stoke the fire furnace in shifts? Someone does it late at night, someone wake up early early and stokes it again?

Heat coils.... a good idea!

 

[jukeboxpunk]

Idea

I use a red heat light because I am in a similar situation as you. My apartment building was built in the 1800s and we still have those led weighted windows. They are extremely drafty. It took my cham about three nights to get used to having it. After that he is fine. He falls asleep on a normal schedule and is primarily fine. I also keep the heat light on throughout the morning in addition to the heat lamp, only to add some more heat. Before I leave for work I turn the red light off.

Here is a question for all of you?

What wattage heat lamp do you use for the size enclosure you have? I currently only use one 150w for a four foot enclosure. Should I add an additional heat bulb and fixture?

 

[dodolah]

I use a red heat light because I am in a similar situation as you. My apartment building was built in the 1800s and we still have those led weighted windows. They are extremely drafty. It took my cham about three nights to get used to having it. After that he is fine. He falls asleep on a normal schedule and is primarily fine. I also keep the heat light on throughout the morning in addition to the heat lamp, only to add some more heat. Before I leave for work I turn the red light off.

Here is a question for all of you?

What wattage heat lamp do you use for the size enclosure you have? I currently only use one 150w for a four foot enclosure. Should I add an additional heat bulb and fixture?

add or substract the heat bulbs or the wattage used to maintain the optimal temp range for your chameleon to thrive.
That is the importance of having a thermometer and hygrometer in your chameleon enclosure.

What necessarily worked for 1 person might not worked for everybody else.
For example: Since i live in California, I only need to use one 50 watt house bulb for babies per cage and one 75 watt heat lamp for my adult chameleon to reach the optimal basking temp for them.

hope that helps

 

[summoner12]

I use a red heat light because I am in a similar situation as you. My apartment building was built in the 1800s and we still have those led weighted windows. They are extremely drafty. It took my cham about three nights to get used to having it. After that he is fine. He falls asleep on a normal schedule and is primarily fine. I also keep the heat light on throughout the morning in addition to the heat lamp, only to add some more heat. Before I leave for work I turn the red light off.

Here is a question for all of you?

What wattage heat lamp do you use for the size enclosure you have? I currently only use one 150w for a four foot enclosure. Should I add an additional heat bulb and fixture?

This would all depend on the temp of the room the cage is in. I use 50w lamps because i keep the room around 78-83 ambient.

And about your red heat lamp. You shouldn't use it. Chameleons need a night time cycle. with no lights on.