What is too high a UVB exposure/solar meter
- Thread starter opihiman
- Start date
Dave Weldon
Avid Member
Howdy Opi,
When it comes to natural sunlight exposure, as long as they have adequate access to full shade, whatever level of natural UVB (along with the rest of the spectrum) reaches your chameleon, it will be ok. A chameleon's internal regulation mechanisms are geared towards the spectral content of natural sunlight, compared with artificial UVB. The bigger concern usually revolves around temperature and humidity. Being in Hawaii and keeping a Jackson's, you don't have the temperature and humidity issues compared to someone who is trying to do the same thing in Phoenix, AZ for example
.
I regularly measure 250-300uW/cm2 for natural sunlight. I supply somewhere around 20-50uW/cm2 of UVB from a Reptisun 5.0 linear tube at 6"-12" as measured by a Solarmeter 6.2 UVB meter.
As an example of temperature concerns, it is likely that on a clear, sunny day with an outdoor air temp of 70F, your chameleon's skin temp could measure between 90F-100F or more if not allowed access to shade. Now imagine what his body temp could get to if it was 90F air temp and not able to find full shade.
When it comes to natural sunlight exposure, as long as they have adequate access to full shade, whatever level of natural UVB (along with the rest of the spectrum) reaches your chameleon, it will be ok. A chameleon's internal regulation mechanisms are geared towards the spectral content of natural sunlight, compared with artificial UVB. The bigger concern usually revolves around temperature and humidity. Being in Hawaii and keeping a Jackson's, you don't have the temperature and humidity issues compared to someone who is trying to do the same thing in Phoenix, AZ for example
. I regularly measure 250-300uW/cm2 for natural sunlight. I supply somewhere around 20-50uW/cm2 of UVB from a Reptisun 5.0 linear tube at 6"-12" as measured by a Solarmeter 6.2 UVB meter.
As an example of temperature concerns, it is likely that on a clear, sunny day with an outdoor air temp of 70F, your chameleon's skin temp could measure between 90F-100F or more if not allowed access to shade. Now imagine what his body temp could get to if it was 90F air temp and not able to find full shade
.
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