UV light makes her eyes swell?

[elvergon]

UV light damages her eyes? (or allergic reaction)?

Hello!

I'm new to the forum and here is my first post!

I've had my chances reading about chameleons and so, and since 5 months I have a small veiled (her) named biscuit.

My problem is the following:

My babe is free in my room, she has no enclosure. She has a big plastic tree (70 cms) and 2 small plants (I don't know the type, but a chameleon expert gave em to me). Those are near the window, where she always like to stay and move.

In summer we didn't had a problem with her. Sun would come through the windows and hit her. We would also open the windows for her to take a nice sun bath.

Our first mistake was, not knowing that german windows do not permit the UV light go through. I got to know that in winter, when she didn't change colors anymore, she refused to eat, and we talked with the expert.

So I bought the 160W bulb, with full UV spectrum light. And I used it for 2 weeks, some hours. It was located around 40 cms away from my baby. However after 2 weeks, she developed an impresive eye inflamation. I stopped using it for 4 days and it went away. Then I tried it again, same results. Then I tried the 15W spiral one, thinking that it was too much power for her, and I got the same results. Swollen eyes after 2 hours of use.

I know she was used to sunlight, but now I can't open the window in winter, and I need to know... should I still use them even thought she gets very swollen eyes? When theyre like that they seem they will explode....

I don't know what to do...

Thanks for the help

 

[bradley]

She needs a linear (tube) uv bulb and a seperate heat source. It sounds like the chameleon is sitting under the basking spot to get her heat but if recieving too mmuch uv for her liking.

 

[elvergon]

I got 2 temperature sensors in 2 different places where she always is. It's always between 25 and 29 degrees daily and I lower to 20 in the night. Do you think she needs more than that?

Her windows are just above the heater (German water type) , I can very easily vary the temperature.

Does it makes a difference if that's a linear tube, normal light, or spiral light?

I've read spiral lights don't work that well.. but it has a smaller wattage, so I thought I would give it a go... the other one was the Arcadia D3 160W specially for reptiles

 

[Venutus1]

Hello!

I'm new to the forum and here is my first post!

I've had my chances reading about chameleons and so, and since 5 months I have a small veiled (her) named biscuit.

My problem is the following:

My babe is free in my room, she has no enclosure. She has a big plastic tree (70 cms) and 2 small plants (I don't know the type, but a chameleon expert gave em to me). Those are near the window, where she always like to stay and move.

In summer we didn't had a problem with her. Sun would come through the windows and hit her. We would also open the windows for her to take a nice sun bath.

Our first mistake was, not knowing that german windows do not permit the UV light go through. I got to know that in winter, when she didn't change colors anymore, she refused to eat, and we talked with the expert.

So I bought the 160W bulb, with full UV spectrum light. And I used it for 2 weeks, some hours. It was located around 40 cms away from my baby. However after 2 weeks, she developed an impresive eye inflamation. I stopped using it for 4 days and it went away. Then I tried it again, same results. Then I tried the 15W spiral one, thinking that it was too much power for her, and I got the same results. Swollen eyes after 2 hours of use.

I know she was used to sunlight, but now I can't open the window in winter, and I need to know... should I still use them even thought she gets very swollen eyes? When theyre like that they seem they will explode....

I don't know what to do...

Thanks for the help

Ahhh...
Sorry to hear about Buscuit.
It sounds like you are using a too high wattage mercury vapor bulb too close to a young cham.

I agree with what has been said already, you are better off on smaller cham set-ups to stick w/ a linear flo. UV bulb as a rule.
Even though it sounds like Buscuit is a "free range" animal, the animal still sounds stuck on a relitivly small plastic tree.......
and dependant on THIS ONE Merc Vapor bulb as its only option to stay warm.

Mercury vapor Bulbs can be tricky and should be used in accordance with the TWO BASKING SPOT METHOD.
Also, a 160w MV bulb is pretty potent as far as UV out-put..
Since you must remember you are using them on a "forest" animal such as a cham and not a desert animal.

The "Two Basking Spot Method" means you have the merc vapor bulb on one end and a regular incandescent (or plain halogen) bulb at the other end of the set up.
That way the animal can *choose* to bask and soak up UV rays with the heat... or .. bask and stay warm WITHOUT being force to Sunburn themselves.

The other thing is:
What Brand bulb is IT??
This is CRITIAL!
why?
Because some unscrupulous marketers are importing and selling un-tested Chinese bulbs that also emitt UV C (sterilizing) rays.
They are improperly manufactured and leak out these UV C rays along with the UV A and UV B rays.
UV C rays are all luckly filtered out by the Earths Ozone layer before they hit us...
but in these unsatisfactory UV Bulbs, the glass may not be properly formulated and it allows the UV C rays produced inside the lamp to still be emitted and can cause serious eye and skin problems with our animals.
Only buy name brand mercury vapor bulbs that have been tested.
I do not know if that is the specific issue here...
but I throw it out because it is so important.

Now, what to do.
Stop using that BULB!
Get a halogen or regular incandescent spot bulb of the appropriate wattage to use for heat to start with.
And then get a flo. light fixture and use a linear flo. lamp.
In Germany, you can get Arcadia Bulbs, Zoo Med bulbs or there is a German brand, Lucky Reptile that I hear has a good reputation for their flo. tubes.
And set that up over Buscuit at a distance of about 30 - 40 cm and good luck.

Thank you for posting!! ----
This is an important topic to discuss,
and you did the right thing be coming to Chameleon Forums!
I hope little Biscuit will get over this and recouperate 100% and continue to do well for you for many years going forward.
My best wishes.

 

[anttu]

I understood that most of the Coil lights give out too much intensive UV to chameleons.

I use an Arcadia D3 tube, and a separate lamp to give basking heat (crystal clear sun, or something like that)

If I were you, I would set up at least an 18-inch tube lamp, so it will not need to sit in just one place to get an even dose of UV, and also a separate lamp for heat.

 

[elvergon]

Hello all:

Thanks a lot for the help guys, especially for your nice post Venutus

The 160 W bulb was a Arcadia D3 in fact. It has a high wattage because it also provides some heat. However, it doesn't matter anymore cause I broke it...

What I've started trying is using the small 15 W coil bulb that I have. I put it a little bit further up... Now its working really good. Her eyes are back to normal size. She is eating normally by herself and she's behaving normally, thanks god!

Some weeks later, I'll add another 15W bulb, or buy this tube light that you guys said...

I'll post a pic of my baby and her place now...


Thanks for the help, I'll take a look on the two basking spot method!