Sort of urgent..Need opinion.

[heartben]

Alright so now its the real deal. New cham is in my care and I don't want to kill him!

So - My main question is about my light bulb for heat, most of the time you guys say dont go over 60 watts but i had a feeling it wouldnt be enough. Normally its pretty hot in my room but today its oddly cool (which will happen a LOT during winter so i need to figure this out.. still plenty of time of course)

in the basking spot (which i dont think he has been to yet but im about to check) its 77 and the rest of the enclosure is like 73 (using a cheaper walmart digital thermo with an extra probe)

so what do i do for colder days? whats even weirder is its pretty cold yet he is hiding in the umbrella plant (which i love, i think its cute).. is it going to be a major issue if he doesnt go warm up soon or is this just kind of what they do for a few days? he has been all over but hes just chilling in the umbrella plant (which is at the bottom btw.) now.

so yeah.. up the wattage? get an actual heat bulb? im prepared to take whatever actions need to be done so i hope no one blames me. just a few days ago i tested this and my whole room was like 80 so its going to change from day to day but for cooler days what do i do?

thanks everyone, youre all wonderful!
-Ben

 

[AESara]

A healthy cham will go to bask when it feels it needs to do so. Yours may still be stressed by being moved and put in a new environment.

I apologize if you've already done it, but since it is odd for a cham to go that long without basking you could fill out the help form: https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

I would try one of the direct beam basking bulbs, it seems to me that they put off more heat, possibly because it's focused in one direction. Try a higher wattage house bulb and test the basking spot temp., try a 50w basking bulb and a 75w basking bulb, and use the one that keeps the basking spot in the correct range. I've been using a 50w basking bulb myself and have had good results.

 

[mbondy]

I would up the wattage, I have one of those double dome fixtures. Depending on how warm or cold my room is I switch from the 40 watt to the 60 watt. You'd definitely like a higher basking spot for your guy too.

Congrats!

 

[AESara]

Depending on how warm or cold my room is I switch from the 40 watt to the 60 watt.

Very good idea

 

[Thompson]

what you can do is get a higher wattage bulb, about 70 watts and if it's cold lower the bulb or if it gets to hot then raise the bulb up a little bit so that the basking temp doesn't go any higher than 80-86. I also saw in your other thread that your little guy needs a few basking branches and highways through out his cage.

 

[heartben]

oh he was basking earlier but i had him in a tote while i fumbled around in his enclosure. he was soaking it in for a good while.

he has been in the enclosure for about an hour and i dont think he has basked yet but then again its not very hot so maybe he doesnt even know its there. i kind of assumed hiding would be normal for at least a day or 2 if not 3.

i just got him today so my responses to most of those questions wont help. he is under stress, things have been tough for the guy the past 24 ish hours.

just for reassurance - for a 3.5ish month old ambilobe he should bask at around 85 -right?

ill pick up a 100 watt house bulb in a bit and see if thats any better - if not a heat bulb will be in order in the next day or so.

also - if my room is say.. 80 degrees (its in the basement, it honestly doesnt get a whole lot cooler in my house) whats the plan for that? no basking light pretty much? cooler water for mistings?

thanks guys. really appreciate it! im going to be a pro in no time i just gotta learn the ropes first. these little hiccups are bound to happen.

 

[mbondy]

I bought that double dome fixture that you can put both the basking and UVB light in each fixture, instead I thought hmmm...I could put two basking lights in there and work with the temps without changing bulbs. Now you know my evil plan!

 

[heartben]

i have a 75 watt in now and its not doing a whole lot. it is the incandescent type so i thought it would be warmer

and about the branches, i absolutely agree and its at the top of the list. i had a couple branches waiting for him that were perfect but someone thought they were garbage and broke them up and threw them out!

but yes. i appreciate the heads up with that too, its good to know i have the right idea going. ill search for branches tomorrow or if i find some tonight ill snag those.

you know. there is room for another dome type clip light and i have an extra old one or two.. it might be really benificial for me to just have 1 with a higher and one with lower wattage ready to go... good idea guys. practical, i like it.

 

[mbondy]

The double dome fixture is nice when you're lazy like me

And just mess around with different wattages of house bulbs...at least that'll be cheaper. And 85 should be the highest you have your basking temp at.

And when your room is in the 80s, don't even bother putting a basking light on or it'll get too hot. Aren't temps fun??

 

[AESara]

For my branches I've been using the natural wood bird perches like this (some straight, some wavy, some branched): http://www.mdvaden.com/bird_perches.shtml

That way I only make a small hole big enough for the screw each time. I wrap vines around the live plant and the branches to give them some stability.

I'm not saying that's the only way it works, but I thought I'd give you an idea since that's something you're working on.