Temperature Issues

[hi106]

During the day my basking spot is only 79-80 and at night it drops to 65-70. I took my chameleon to the vet because she was acting weird and not eating and he said that I need to raise my temperatures. Any suggestions on getting the temp up?
Cage is 2x3x4, screened on all sides.
Lights, 3x 60w incandescent bulb, 5.0 reptiglow uvb. I don't know what to do other than cover up a few sides with plastic, any suggestions?

 

[Hoj]

u can like u said cover up a few sides with plastic or raise the wattage of one or more of your bulbs to 100w,
what type of cham is it

 

[hi106]

It is a 1 year old female jackson

 

[suzi]

I buy the 100 watt reptile basking bulbs from zoo med and then use a dome with a dimmer so that I can adjust it accordingly. You don't need a heat source at night with the temps at 60

 

[coldbloodedAL]

79-80 is perfect for a jackson, you really only want it in one corner of the cage

 

[Elizadolots]

Maybe you should look for a vet with more chameleon experience?

You might also want to start a thread in the Health Forum and see if some of the experienced people here can help you figure out why your chameleon is acting weird.

 

[summoner12]

"3x 60w"? you ahve 3 60 watt heat lamps? what kind of light bulb?

I really like to use 50w PAR20 Flood lamps from Home Depot. If you angle the heat lamp and aim it toward the basking spot this seems to work great. In my experience with jacksons though, they don't need much heat.... but they do like it. If you angle the light right and don't let the lamp get too close, you can work a nice wide basking area on a branch.

See the angle here.... try to do that on top of your cage...

 

[hi106]

just three normal 60 watt bulbs. It's a big cage and they cover about the top right fourth of it. This is the only vet with chameleon experience anywhere near me. He knows what he is talking about he is an ex-zoo vet. He seemed knowledgeable. And have read good reviews about him.

 

[summoner12]

just three normal 60 watt bulbs. It's a big cage and they cover about the top right fourth of it. This is the only vet with chameleon experience anywhere near me. He knows what he is talking about he is an ex-zoo vet. He seemed knowledgeable. And have read good reviews about him.

He has kept chameleons before, or he has treated them before?

 

[hi106]

He has done both.

 

[carol5208]

It is a 1 year old female jackson

that looks like a mellers chameleon from the picture. I believe what you say and I cannot see the face but the markings look like that of a mellers. haha never mind....that IS a mellers! Someone elses pic! Dah!!!!

 

[Elizadolots]

Well, at most I'd think you'd want the basking temp to be 82-84 degrees, nothing higher than that. You could try upping the temps just a bit and see if that straightens her out.

What is she doing, exactly, that's causing you to think she's "acting weird"?

 

[hi106]

She has started to eat less, she sways when she walks unless she is going for food then she is as quick as ever. Very lethargic. I added a new light to the enclosure a couple days ago and its raised the temp a little bit and she has been more active. But still not as active as when I first got her, or if she is out of her enclosure.