Whats the best type of heating for a chameleon setup???

[martindean32]

Hiya all Ive been trying to think which is the best type of heating for a chameleon viv and cannot seem to figure it out!!!!! You need sommat that can handle the frequent misting without getting bust!!!
The person who I got my Oustalets from gave me them in vivs which had spotlights in them but the problem with spotlights in a cham viv is

1) The viv is made out of mesh at the top so the chameleon can climb directly beneath the bulb and fry itself.

2) Bulbs can break really easily if they get a slightest drop of water on them from the misting!!!

So Im wondering what is the best type of heating to get and is there any way to waterproof it???? I was thinking of getting a repitle radiator and sticking it on top of the viv on the outside of the mesh but still how do I go about waterproofing it or is there no way?????? Please help!!!

 

[Warrix642]

Just use a regular 40-60w incandescent house bulb and hang it 4-8 inches away from the top. I have mine right on the top and they don't try to get directly under it at all. The bulbs take a little water without exploding.

Dustin

 

[martindean32]

I still think a reptile radaitor would be better as if you put a dimmer or pulse stat directly underneath it you can control the basking temprature easier!!!
But then the 2nd question still exists how do I make it waterproof??? could I cover it with aqwuarium sealant or wouldnt that work????

 

[summoner12]

Try to set your lamps up like this.

I use PAR20 flood lamps. These are meant for outdoor use... so if they get a splash of water they should be OK, and not break. Be sure to set the basking spot distance so that the cham's basking temp is correct. If your chams climb on the top of the cage you might have a cage size issue.... how big is he cage, and how old is the animal? younger chameleons will explore the sides and tops of cages... care should be taken not to cook your cham if it climbs on the top, but you might also have another issue that is causing the animal to climb the top of the cage.

 

[martindean32]

It doesnt climb on the top but im just worried if it ever did!!! Whats wrong with having a reptile radiator as the basking source as it would be a lot easier to control the heat??? Especially with my dimmer thermostat probe directly underneath it to turn it off or educe its power when it gets to 90F????

 

[martindean32]

Anyone as Ive already ordered these ultratherm reptile radiators from my pet shop and am wondering if I should pick them up as I need to know ASAP!!!

 

[draetish]

Anyone as Ive already ordered these ultratherm reptile radiators from my pet shop and am wondering if I should pick them up as I need to know ASAP!!!

No, follow Warrix642 advice and use a regular clear light bulb and put it inside a dome fixture from a hardware store. They need the light as much as the heat. The way to adjust the temp is to change the wattage of the bulb or raise it. Set it up the way Summoner's diagram shows and you'll be okay. Just monitor the temps and have different levels of basking branches and the cham will be just fine.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Ive never had a bulb break from misted water. And its not like I am careful about my misting. You're spraying into the cage, not up into the light fixture. I wouldnt be concerned about using a tungsten incandesent bulb

 

[martindean32]

ld be getting the light from my UV bulb and the heatpad would be to provide a basking source if you get me? Isnt that the same as using a baking bulb as the heatpad is creating the heat whilst the UV bulb would be creating the light?

 

[draetish]

ld be getting the light from my UV bulb and the heatpad would be to provide a basking source if you get me? Isnt that the same as using a baking bulb as the heatpad is creating the heat whilst the UV bulb would be creating the light?

Does it sit on top of the enclosure? I guess I'm lost and don't know exactly what it is. Can you post the website?

 

[martindean32]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone????? AS I really need to know if my idea would work or would it be ok to use the UV as a light source and the heatpad as the heat source????
Its the way the person gave it to me as they aint reptile light bulbs just normal spotlight bulbs!!!!! And there are two in the pointed diagonally from each side!!!!
So I dunno what to do??? Do I use my way and can have complete control of the heat or use them two normal spotbulbs????

 

[sandrachameleon]

An under cage heater is totally inappropriate. The heat must come from the over head light source. Chameleons are not ground lizards that warm themselves on warm surfaces. They are tree dwellers, getting heat from sun beams. THis is what you are replicating with the UVB and light bulb. Use a normal tungsten incandesent bulb or a halogen or similar, set up as was diagramed for you above, and in such a way as to create the correct basking temperature, and allow for a heat gradient where the lower reaches of the cage is many degress cooler.

This blog entry will link you to much more information about the correct ways to light and heat your cage:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/68-lighting-links.html

Use quality temperature guages to ensure you are getting the right temps. If you are really worried, you can get a thermostate to connect to the heat lamp.

 

[jamncristian]

this heat bulb is water-proof
http://www.bigappleherp.com/Zoo-Med-Turtle-Tuff-Halogen-Lamp-Splashproof?sc=2&category=18

 

[martindean32]

Its not an undercage heater as the petshop owner uses it on the op of his cage and the heat points downwards!!!! This shows it how it works:

http://www.eurorep.net/habistat/reptileradiator.pdf

So the heat comes from above the cage as they are used for arbboreal species like the Green Tree Python!!!!!

So what do you suggest????

And them splash proof builbs can you get them in the uk????

 

[summoner12]

your cham basks in day light for heat.... so using a light bulb for heat makes sense, right? it will see and feel the light... where as a heat emitter won't be visible to the cham.... so maybe it gets lucky and sits in front of the heater... but will it remember to go back there?

Just use a light bulb like everyone is telling you. I have tried heat emitters and they don't work out.

 

[martindean32]

Its not that, the person who sold me the viv and the equipment made it so the light bulb holders (what power the light bulbs) are only diagonally pointed are bayonet type so the light bulb only just fits in the space between the top of the lid and the outside of the mesh (It actually touches the mesh) So I was thinking about the Turtle tuff bulbs but Id need a light bulb holder which is screw fitting to fit to the top of the wooden lid that faces the bulb diagonally to fit the bulb in you see!!! Do any exist?????


I can put on a piccy of both the vivs you see if that would make things easier????

 

[sandrachameleon]

Change the cage design if it is not currently appropriate for lighting/heating the chameleon, rather than trying to force your idea to work.

 

[draetish]

This might help everyone, here is a pic of his enclosure and as you can see it's a solid wood piece on top. Your best bet is to saw out the top and put in some 1/4" wire mesh and set your lights on top. You don't want your lights inside the viv at all.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-do-you-tell-if-chameleon-hydrated-enougth-43536/#post405391

 

[martindean32]

Piccy as shown below (If you look close the space where I put the light starts where the top black bar is and ends at the top of the wooden piece)

1 st viv:

2nd viv:

As you can see there isnt any space for the bulb to fit straight down so they have to be pointed diagonally so I need a bulb holder that is screw in type and that will point the bulb diagonally!!!

Do any exist????

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Yes do as Draetish/Donna has suggested cut out the approp sized holes for your lighting needs. The vast majority of keepers and breeders on this site use one flourescent 5.0 reptisun uvb bulb and one incandescent basking bulb in a dome fixture. You could also cut out a hole for a dripper also. Or remove the whole solid top and just screen it all. That would probably be the easiest solution.