Sun = UVB light hours?

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered many times before, but I was curious as to how many minutes/hours in the sun does the same amount of Vitamin D3 as UVB lights minutes/hours?

I have a window by the cage I can open when the sun is directly at his basking spot, wondering if I can open it up and turn off the uvb/basking light for him to enjoy some real sun, and if I should change supplements due to Vitamin D3 intake from the sun.

Even if I don't use the window I'm already working on his outdoor perch, so I don't want to D3 overload or calcium overload.

Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[ataraxia]

If you can give your kid sunlight, give him as much as he wants and you can offer. He cant overdose on uvb.

 

[summoner12]

If your cham can get 15-20 minutes of direct late morning sun, you won't need to do D3 supplementing.... but I would still do it at least twice a month just in case, but be light about the dusting.

This must be direct light.... and later morning, like 10-11am. It'll be best if you have no screen between the cham and the sunlight. Obviously you'll have the cage. but the more screen the more light is blocked. You can't have glass or plastic between the cham and the sun either. UVB does not transmit through those materials.

I'd leave the UVB and backing lamp on. Just make the heat lamp point at a location other than where you cham might sit if basking in the sun.

I'd just stick to the fake lighting... and by hand bask your cham outside, on your hand. This will give you more control and if you do it daily for 10 minutes you'll be helping him out a lot.

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Thank you both for your responses Now I feel safe with giving him more real sun time.

 

[Olimpia]

Yea, real sun is way better than any dinky artificial light anyone recommends. Think of it this way, a typical Reptisun 5.0 outputs a Solarmeter value of about, what, 15-25 about. The sun, at about noon over Florida during the winter solstice is doing about 240, according to one chart I've seen. 20 minutes of natural sunshine, even if it's shade, win out over the artificial light even through screen.

When possible, take your chameleons outside and they will thank you for it! Mine don't leave the sun when I put them in outdoor cages.

 

[patrickfraser]

I get mine out whenever I can. I have them out a couple hours a week, at least. Do they still need the same D3 dosing (every other Sunday), or can you skip it once or all together? I use a reptiglow 5.0 for their enclosures.