What length of UVB bulb/fixture for a 48" wide tank?

[Lynn57]

So my tank is 48" long and I've been told that I should put a 24" UVB on the one side and then the basking bulb on the other side. Is this correct or should I be adding a longer length bulb?
thanks!

 

[Maximus_Cham]

I am using 2x 24" UVB fixtures on my enclosure. I like redunancy just in case 1 goes out.

 

[Beman]

48 wide cage needs a 48 wide fixture with a 46 inch bulb. You want your UVB to run the entire width of your enclosure. I recommend a Prot5 with a 6% bulb. Then you would have your branches sit 8-9 inches from the screen where the fixture sits on top. When you say Tank I am hoping you are not referring to an actual aquarium tank?
Heat is typically better in a back corner. Gives them privacy while creating a warmer gradient in that area.

 

[Lynn57]

48 wide cage needs a 48 wide fixture with a 46 inch bulb. You want your UVB to run the entire width of your enclosure. I recommend a Prot5 with a 6% bulb. Then you would have your branches sit 8-9 inches from the screen where the fixture sits on top. When you say Tank I am hoping you are not referring to an actual aquarium tank?
Heat is typically better in a back corner. Gives them privacy while creating a warmer gradient in that area.

Okay that I shall do! ( I’m trusting you over the reptile place I’m getting him from) . So when he wants to bask he will also be under the UVB bulb as well? Or very close to it. Correct ?
No this is a tank for reptiles. Has 2 sliding front doors and a 6” bottom for water or plants etc and a screen top for ventilation.

 

[Beman]

Okay that I shall do! ( I’m trusting you over the reptile place I’m getting him from) . So when he wants to bask he will also be under the UVB bulb as well? Or very close to it. Correct ?
No this is a tank for reptiles. Has 2 sliding front doors and a 6” bottom for water or plants etc and a screen top for ventilation.

lol well I promise you I know my stuff when it comes to chameleons. Run the UVB fixture in the middle of the cage from one side to the other. Place branches below that 8-9 inches down with a 5.0 or 6% bulb in a single bulb T5HO fixture sitting directly on the top screen. This will give the cham a 3 UVI to bask in which is what is recommended. I found all my chams will move in and out of the UVB to the heat and back. Positioning the heat in a back corner makes it so the rest of the cage stays cooler and warmest area is in the back.

With the enclosure make sure there is ventilation on the bottom. Without this it will not pull air up and out and the air will get very stagnant and not circulate properly.

If there is not proper circulation then respiratory issues can happen.

 

[Lynn57]

lol well I promise you I know my stuff when it comes to chameleons. Run the UVB fixture in the middle of the cage from one side to the other. Place branches below that 8-9 inches down with a 5.0 or 6% bulb in a single bulb T5HO fixture sitting directly on the top screen. This will give the cham a 3 UVI to bask in which is what is recommended. I found all my chams will move in and out of the UVB to the heat and back. Positioning the heat in a back corner makes it so the rest of the cage stays cooler and warmest area is in the back.

With the enclosure make sure there is ventilation on the bottom. Without this it will not pull air up and out and the air will get very stagnant and not circulate properly.

If there is not proper circulation then respiratory issues can happen.

Okay! Thanks again so much!! I will do exactly that!!

It does have a ventilation bar that runs the 48” along the bottom front of the tank.

What dimensions should the perches be? I was going to vary them somewhat. But is there a certain size that they prefer that I could make sure to have in there.

 

[ehdee6]

Okay that I shall do! ( I’m trusting you over the reptile place I’m getting him from) .

I would put my full trust in @Beman over the pet store... The pet store is out to sell you products... Beman's here to help you, and your cham live the best life, for free. You're in good hands.

 

[Beman]

Okay! Thanks again so much!! I will do exactly that!!

It does have a ventilation bar that runs the 48” along the bottom front of the tank.

What dimensions should the perches be? I was going to vary them somewhat. But is there a certain size that they prefer that I could make sure to have in there.

How old is the baby and what species?

Tell me with the sides of the cage are they all glass? I just want to make sure baby can't climb to the top screen and hang off of it. This makes a difference in your placement depending on age.

Size you want is all different. But nothing larger than a half inch for main horizontal branches. Even a full grown male veiled or Panther would be good with that size. They need to be able to work their feet so different sizes for different grip holds and how much they utilize their feet.

 

[Lynn57]

How old is the baby and what species?

My daughter and I went back to the reptile store to purchase the 3 mth old veiled male…but I fortunately someone beat me to him just prior to us getting there . The owner showed us a 4 mth old ambilobe panther male. Price tag on him was $750. And I didn’t want to spend that amount. Long story short my daughter bought home for me!!! So I am now the proud owner of a panther!!! He stays there till I get may tank ready for him. She said he is eating about 50 feed items a day right now.

Tell me with the sides of the cage are they all glass? I just want to make sure baby can't climb to the top screen and hang off of it. This makes a difference in your placement depending on age.

Yes glass sides.

Size you want is all different. But nothing larger than a half inch for main horizontal branches. Even a full grown male veiled or Panther would be good with that size. They need to be able to work their feet so different sizes for different grip holds and how much they utilize their feet.

Ya that makes total sense okay!

Thanks and thanks again!!!

 

[ehdee6]

You have an amazing daughter.

I'm also in Canada; and have spent a lot of time in the North/South Yukon, and everywhere in BC. I understand the various weather conditions.

Hearing that you have other exotic pets is fantastic too, that you know all their special needs goes a long way!! I hope you share pictures and your experience with them!

We're here to help you in your various adventures of keeping a chameleon. Please share lots of pictures of your ambilobe panther... That's not a bad price for a panther in West Canada.

 

[nightanole]

What dimensions should the perches be? I was going to vary them somewhat. But is there a certain size that they prefer that I could make sure to have in there.

You want a wide variety of stick diameters. You can have logs(or cork bark flats) all the way to sticks so small they cant support the full weight of the cham (potho vines etc).

You dont want "mostly the same size" or they can end up with "bird foot" where the feet adapt to only one diameter.

 

[Beman]

My daughter and I went back to the reptile store to purchase the 3 mth old veiled male…but I fortunately someone beat me to him just prior to us getting there . The owner showed us a 4 mth old ambilobe panther male. Price tag on him was $750. And I didn’t want to spend that amount. Long story short my daughter bought home for me!!! So I am now the proud owner of a panther!!! He stays there till I get may tank ready for him. She said he is eating about 50 feed items a day right now.

Yes glass sides.

Ya that makes total sense okay!

Thanks and thanks again!!!

Congrats! Ok so all the same husbandry applies. Only difference is in your humidity. Panthers sit a little higher liking a daytime range of 40-50%.

All glass sides.. so this means you can put the fixture on the top screen of the cage. BUT you do not want anything to sit closer than 8-9 inches from that top screen. you do not want baby screen climbing the top or you have to lift fixtures up off the top 4 inches to keep them in a safe UVI level. And then with heat you have to really watch temps. Babies this young should not have temps over 80 at basking. As an adult you want to keep him in a 80-85max range for temps.

 

[Lynn57]

Congrats! Ok so all the same husbandry applies. Only difference is in your humidity. Panthers sit a little higher liking a daytime range of 40-50%.

All glass sides.. so this means you can put the fixture on the top screen of the cage. BUT you do not want anything to sit closer than 8-9 inches from that top screen. you do not want baby screen climbing the top or you have to lift fixtures up off the top 4 inches to keep them in a safe UVI level. And then with heat you have to really watch temps. Babies this young should not have temps over 80 at basking. As an adult you want to keep him in a 80-85max range for temps.

Absolutely! I’m wondering now if I should do two separate lights up top as the screen top has two sections. Each side lifts off separately… the mid support is a solid frame and covers a 4” wide strip. So a 48” UVB would be interrupted mid stream by this bar. What are your thoughts on that?

The bamboo branch holder I’m making for the sides to hold the horizontal branches will not extend past 38” high.
So that will prevent him for getting up on the screen.

 

[Beman]

Absolutely! I’m wondering now if I should do two separate lights up top as the screen top has two sections. Each side lifts off separately… the mid support is a solid frame and covers a 4” wide strip. So a 48” UVB would be interrupted mid stream by this bar. What are your thoughts on that?

The bamboo branch holder I’m making for the sides to hold the horizontal branches will not extend past 38” high.
So that will prevent him for getting up on the screen.

You can run two 24 inch fixtures. Then slightly angle them to fit within the screen sections. But this will be more expensive when it comes to the fixture prices and the bulbs that you will need to replace.

The cage does have a front door panel right? As long as this is the case you really do not need to ever go through the top panel.

Honestly you can do it which ever way you think will be best for your cage. As long as the UVB extends across the entire width of the enclosure you are good.

 

[Lynn57]

You have an amazing daughter.

I'm also in Canada; and have spent a lot of time in the North/South Yukon, and everywhere in BC. I understand the various weather conditions.

Hearing that you have other exotic pets is fantastic too, that you know all their special needs goes a long way!! I hope you share pictures and your experience with them!

We're here to help you in your various adventures of keeping a chameleon. Please share lots of pictures of your ambilobe panther... That's not a bad price for a panther in West Canada.

Thanks so much! Even though I have watched countless videos and podcasts from Bill Strand ..it’s still nice to have you guys have my back!!
Is there a way I can look up members and see they’re Chams on here?

 

[ehdee6]

Most of us have posted our chamily in the general photography part of the forum.

I keep an updated post of how mine grow each month here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/littlefoot-mr-jack-photo-dumps.194948/