The right lighting for veilds? Question

[swedenchameleon]

Hello Everybody

I am thinking of buying my first Veiled chameleon and I wondered what is the best brand of UV-B and heating lamps for chameleons?

Should I use a mercury bulb or a linear tube?

Thanks for your help

Richard

Sweden

 

[nightanole]

For a baby get a linear tube, and no basking light till at least 4 months if not 6 months. Just keep the top of the cage around 25-30c and the bottom of the cage 15c-20c. If you have lots of leaves in the cage you can get a reptisun 10.0 or a reptiglo 8.0 or an arcadia 6%.

 

[carol5208]

No basking til 6 months? Do you even know the op's ambients temps? I don't know Swedens temmps, but Some people live up north and keep their chams in cold basements. I cannot imagine not having a basking bulb for a situation like that.
I am just not agreeing with this. I live in Florida and I could see in my situation during the summer or the hotter months not having a basking bulb if my cage were outside but not so sure if that fits everyone elses scenerio.

 

[swedenchameleon]

Carol its about 73F indoor temperature here in winter

In Summer its hotter of course

 

[Olimpia]

I prefer the linear fluorescent tubes because you can place them across the entire top of the cage, so your chameleon can choose to be under the basking spot and get heat and UVB or move sideways away from the heat and still get UVB.

The most common brands are Reptisun 5.0 or 10.0, the Reptiglo 5.0 or 10.0, or the Arcadia 6% or 12%. Obviously the higher number or percentage means the bulb is outputting more UVB.

I would still use a basking spot, 73F is not very warm even for a newly hatched baby. For a veiled, you want the basking spot to be between 80-85F and then you can raise it to 90F when they get a little older. But 85F tends to be a good temperature for most veileds. And for this you can use any normal incandescent bulb from a local store, it doesn't have to be a reptile brand bulb.

 

[swedenchameleon]

Ok Olimpia thanks

What should the night time temperature be for veilds?

And how long each day should the basking spot lamp and U VB lamp be on?

 

[slinko9]

Heres a fantastic care sheet,,,tells you everything you need to know!!!
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
in there they say temps should be kept between 70 - 80ish throughout the enclosure until around 6 months,,,at which time basking bulbs should be used and kept at around 80-85!!!
I cycle my lights on a 12 hour cycle,,,and night time temps shouldnt go below 60ish,,,although i have read mid 50s isnt critical!!!

 

[carol5208]

Yes, I agree with Olimpia, 73 is fine for ambient, but they need to warm up with a basking light.

 

[swedenchameleon]

What wattage do you guys use for your basking lamp?

 

[carol5208]

It depends on your variables. My house temp is about 74 degrees. I use a 75 watt to get my basking about 90 plus for my panthers. Most of us just use regular white housebulbs.

 

[Olimpia]

Ok Olimpia thanks

What should the night time temperature be for veilds?

And how long each day should the basking spot lamp and U VB lamp be on?

You're very welcome!

It can drop down to 65F now while he's little and when he's full grown he will be fine down to 50F as long as he can warm back up during the morning.

You want to have the lights on about 10-12 hours a day. I turn them off earlier in the winter and later in the summer, like the sun, but I understand that in Sweden it may get dark by 3pm on some bad days so just leave it on for about 10-12 hours.

In my basking spot I usually use either 40 or 60w bulbs to get the temperature I want. You can always raise the bulb off the top of the cage a little if it's too hot. Or just buy a value pack of different light bulbs and see which one works best for your cage and home.