Uvb and screen

[Barb]

I read all the time about the screen enclosures being the best for chams. I also read that the lights should be put on the outside of the enclosures. I belong to a tortoise forum. We also use UVB for our torts. However, it is not recommended to put any type of tightly woven screen, etc between the UVB and the animal. Doing so greatly reduces the amount of UVB actually penetrating the material and reaching the tort/reptile/Cham. Do you not worry about this? Do chams not need much? Us tort owners are always trying to give our torts as much UVB as possible. Most used is the MVB(mercury vapor bulb)gives out the most uvb outside of the sun of course. Also gives heat and light. I know the 5.0 is recommended for chams. However, using that through a screen, are they really getting enough? Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me

 

[AngieL]

Hi! Tortoises don't live in dense trees they are more cut out for living out in the open getting lots of sun where as chameleons always have cover from the trees. I don't own a tortoise but I imagine their eyes are not as sensitive either. I have no concerns having my UVB outside the screen, it lights up the enclosure fine and my Cham doesn't have mbd.

 

[nightanole]

A screen filters 33-50% of the light from uv bulb. My rule of thumb is a 5.0 in the tank or a 10.0 outside the tank. A tortoise will have about the same amount of uv radiation all over the tank other than its basking spot. However chams do not have much built in sun screen like beardies or iggies. Due to that the cham regulates its radiation by having a very tall cage so it can adjust its exposure as needed. It one of the reasons why even if you have one of those hot murcury vapor uv lights, you still need to give the cham another basking spot so it has a better choice of hot and uv, or nothing.

 

[Barb]

Thanks for the info. I was just wondering, as screen is not a thing we want for torts, and I don't use anything like screen for my Uro. I do have a 5.0 tube for uvb and a 50 watt UVA basking bulb. Is it okay to have them next to each other at the top of the enclosure? It's a free range, however, I have a plastic shower curtain around it, opened in the front to help keep in him, heat and humidity. Also, the monsoon mister, should it shower the whole tree or should I have it so the top half of the tree does not get sprayed so there is always a dry spot for him to be should he not want to get wet? Sorry for all the newbie questions. I know how it can be. We get a lot of newbies on the tortoise forum. But, it's all for the best for the animal, right

 

[carol5208]

The majority of us use 5.0 on top of the screen succesfully. It is proven it works and you can raise a healthy chameleon in doing so.

 

[nightanole]

Lets see here.yes you can keep the uv and basking close, alot of double bulb zoomed setups are light that. Whats most important is to have a hot spot and a cool spot. As for the monsoon, its a per cham personality question. Some chams will only drink when they feel the rain on them, others hide till the monsoon has ended and then come out to drink. So just check to see if the cham likes the whole tank wet, or walks to the dry section when the mister start. The top part of the tree should be misted, but you could only mist the left hand side as an example, if the cham doesnt like to get wet.

As an example. I mist the whole tank. When the misters go off my cham goes inverted with its mouth towards the floor so the water runs down the side of his face and he starts drinking. he is getting too big to get a good drink from the leaves.

 

[Barb]

Sounds great thanks. Been a lot of years before I had a Cham. Wasn't sure if most things were the same as I had done back then. You never know. Tortoises care has changed a lot in just the last 5 years or so, so wanted to make sure I'm doing right by the Cham.