Turning heat off at night?

[webghost]

Hi all,

I own a Jackson Chameleon and live in the Los Angeles area. I use a 60 watt ceramic bulb to heat the cage but was wondering if it needs to be on 24/7 including nights as well? I know they are supposed to have a drop in temperature at nights but wasn't sure if I should turn the bulb off. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Carlton]

Hi all,

I own a Jackson Chameleon and live in the Los Angeles area. I use a 60 watt ceramic bulb to heat the cage but was wondering if it needs to be on 24/7 including nights as well? I know they are supposed to have a drop in temperature at nights but wasn't sure if I should turn the bulb off. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

What temp does the room drop to at night? If it stays above 60 F you don't need any heat or any visible light. During the day, do you also have a UVB emitting fluorescent light? If not you need one ASAP. A good brand is the ReptiSun 5.0.

 

[webghost]

What temp does the room drop to at night? If it stays above 60 F you don't need any heat or any visible light. During the day, do you also have a UVB emitting fluorescent light? If not you need one ASAP. A good brand is the ReptiSun 5.0.

I own the Reptisun 5.0 and also the Zilla brand one. The room during late fall/winter which we are in is currently 60-63 in the evenings. Is there anything I can purchase which will monitor the temperature and if it goes above 59, it will automatically turn the bulb on and then once it gets to 65, it just turns it off?

 

[Chadbot]

You're looking for a temperature controller or "vivarium controller" I think.
Check the sponsors pages for suppliers, or you can sometimes find them at aquarium/vivarium supply stores as well.

However, that being said, chams do need fairly long periods of darkness to rest, so if you're using an incandescent light to do this heating you might want to reconsider the effect it will have on his moods being in the light all the time.

 

[fluxlizard]

Jacksons can go really cool. Mine did fine all the way down to the mid 40s even.

 

[webghost]

Jacksons can go really cool. Mine did fine all the way down to the mid 40s even.

Wow good to know.. I will turn off the bulb tonight then so he can cool down.. Thanks for all your help everyone!

 

[Action Jackson]

I second this. Mine have been in the high 30's low 40's a number of times already this year and are doing great.

Jacksons can go really cool. Mine did fine all the way down to the mid 40s even.

 

[Carlton]

However, that being said, chams do need fairly long periods of darkness to rest, so if you're using an incandescent light to do this heating you might want to reconsider the effect it will have on his moods being in the light all the time.

This is correct...you don't want a controller. Chams experience a fairly wide range in temps from day to night because they are arboreal (compared to terrestrial herps absorbing stored heat from the ground). They need rest from higher temps as well as light at night. If you have any sort of heat source turning off and on at night it might affect his resting metabolism. Really, doesn't sound as if you need to worry. Even if the room does get a bit cooler once in a while it won't matter as long as he can bask the next morning.