Sunlight vs uvb?

[jamest0o0]

How much time in the sun would be enough to not need uvb for the day? Was wondering if it would be okay to let him run around on his free range (w/o uvb) inside as long as i got him outside for a little. I'm setting up a uvb light too either today or tomorrow above his free range so it won't be for an extended period.

 

[brehnan]

Well your Chameleon should be under a UVB bulb for around 12 hours a day. Whether he's basking under it or at the bottom of his cage, the bulb is on. I think he would have to be in the sun from sun up to sun down to maintain healthy. UVB is crucial to your Chameleons health so if he doesn't have one I would get on it.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

A lot depends on the species and your supplementation schedule. Some
Species can do ok without any UVB for 6 months out of year, when housed outdoors during warm weather.
Vitamin D is fat soluble, which means that D3 is made upon exposure to sunlight or UVB and stored in the organs and tissues for use. This means they don't require daily exposure for hours and hours and 20 mins outdoors, 3x a week would be a good start.
I will caution you that if this is a cost saving measure, chameleons are not a hobby to cut corners are and I would have a UVB bulb ready for times when your schedule is less predictable and the weather is not suitable. Chameleons appreciate and are adapted to receiving varying amounts of UVB throughout the day, so why not do your best to replicate this in captivity by supplying a healthy amount at all times?

 

[jamest0o0]

Well your Chameleon should be under a UVB bulb for around 12 hours a day. Whether he's basking under it or at the bottom of his cage, the bulb is on. I think he would have to be in the sun from sun up to sun down to maintain healthy. UVB is crucial to your Chameleons health so if he doesn't have one I would get on it.

Not much uvb would make it to the bottom of the cage and 12 hours in full sun would be overkill for most. I have a uvb in his cage and a uvb meter. Sunlight provides much more than a bulb could so i was just wondering how much sun time would be sufficient to not need the lights for the day

@Extensionofgreen definitely not a cost saving measure, no worries there. I just have a nice free range set up in his cham room and haven't gotten his uvb light fixture hung up yet. He seems to prefer not to be in the cage so i let him stay on the free range all day and was hoping letting him out for an 30-1hr would be enough until i put his new lighting up which will be maybe tonight or tomorrow. So from what you say it seems like he should be fine.

Appreciate responses as always!

 

[jamest0o0]

Basically i meant, is 2 days without a bulb okay as long as each day i'm giving him an hour give or take of sunlight.

 

[nightanole]

Basically i meant, is 2 days without a bulb okay as long as each day i'm giving him an hour give or take of sunlight.

As long as you give them a basking bulb for digesting you should be fine. 1 hour of natty light a day is plenty. With a d3 supplement you could easily get away with only a few hours of sunlight a week.

 

[Andee]

I give Ryker 1 hour of natural light a day (at least) when I know it's going to rain he has extra reserves. Since he has an outdoor cage where I can just walk away and do stuff after spending outdoors with him and drinking my coffee, he often gets 2-3 hours a day. He doesn't use UVB at all, (most people know why) and I keep him out mostly during peak sun hours. Today it's raining insanely, has been the last two days, the few days before it rained he was outside for a cumulative around 8+ hours or so XD. So I am not yet worried about providing UVB and am hoping I won't need to by the next bought of no rain. I will use cloudy days, but not rainy days.

 

[kelly_girl199]

I put a compact UV 10.0 bulb right next to the basking spot on my free range.Also have a mini humidifier on a shelf by it too.

 

[jamest0o0]

Thank you all! Put my mind at ease, i was definitely just paranoid about it i see lol.