What's your heat bulb wattage ??

[TiffanyMariexo]

Zoo med 75 or 100 w ??? I've always used a 100 w yet I've got into a few arguments saying that's too hot ??? I used it in my 24x18x24 enclosure or his baby cage I think that's the measurements, and now he has the extra large screen reptibreeze ... Any input ??

 

[Seiryu]

Your wattage will totally depend on your own setup and ambient temps.

As an example (totally made up numbers). If you had a 2x2x4 ft screen enclosure and to get your basking spot to 85 F you needed a 75 watt. I also have a 2x2x4 screen enclosure, but because my ambient temperature is 5 warmer, I only need a 40 Watt.

You need to figure out the wattage by checking the temperatures with either a Temperature gun (most accurate) or digital thermometer. If using a digital thermometer it needs to stay in that spot for 15-20 minutes before giving a close to accurate reading.

What kind of chameleon do you have?

 

[deerharvester]

Temp gun helps a lot for this, but definitely need to check basking temps perodically. one wattage bulb won't work all year round. I have to change mine sometimes several times a year.

 

[LLLReptile]

We commonly switch out bulbs based on season. We have a winter set, and a summer set - summer is often half the wattage of winter, as the ambient temps are higher.

For larger or taller cages and chameleons that like high temps, I rarely go below 100 watts. For smaller cages, or chams that like cooler temps, I'll stick with a 50 watt or a different shaped bulb (60 watt round bulb like this is going to make a cooler basking area than a spotlight style bulb like this).

-Jen

 

[sandrachameleon]

Your wattage will totally depend on your own setup and ambient temps.

agreed.

I use 25 watt tungsten incandesent standard household bulbs right now, as we've got warm summer temps so the house is warm (and I dont like to run AC)
40watts typically in the spring. 60-100 watts in Fall/winter, depending on how much I choose to heat my house / the cham room.

 

[Saldarya]

As others mentioned, totally depends on set up. Also depends on species. My panthers right now only get a 60W in a 4' cage. My Montane species, 25w in 3' cages.