When to shorten light schedule?

[sterling archer]

Hey guys just wondering about when to shorten my light schedule for my little guy? I know im supposed to reduce it to ten hours during the winter, but when lol...
Right now its fall and only just starting to go below zero at night...
Also what is the lowest the cage can drop at night? I have a panther , and another baby panther coming next weekend, so i want to get some advice on this

 

[carol5208]

I go by sun up, sun down pretty much. When it is dark outside, I turn off the cage lights. My chameleons sleep outside on my patio alot so as soon as it is dark outside it is bed time and when the sun comes up they are awake. So I try and do the same when they sleep indoors in their cages.

 

[Hoj]

I do the same thing,^^^ being you are in Toronto prob about time to start cutting lighting back Ill be cutting down a bit each week for the next little while
I try not to let things get much below 65 at night.

 

[Decadancin]

Ido almost the same. I have the lights come on a little after sunrise, with the basking lights about an hour after that (simulates the sunrise). I have the lights go out in the reverse order. Basking first and the main lighting a little after sundown. There is still enough light from us watching TV, etc. so he can settle in for the evening.

 

[sterling archer]

Thanks alot guys, ill definatly use some of those tips, one more question... Is it completly neccesary to simulate sunrise? I understand the value in simulating a natural habitat but will it be take a negetive toll if i dont simulate sunrise?

 

[pigglett79]

Is it important to change the lighting schedule? I do 12 hours a day and not necessarily with the sun as I have to work early in the morning.

 

[Hoj]

Thanks alot guys, ill definatly use some of those tips, one more question... Is it completly neccesary to simulate sunrise? I understand the value in simulating a natural habitat but will it be take a negetive toll if i dont simulate sunrise?

By simulating do you mean the time of the act of it getting brighter slowly. I stagger my lights as the come on and of not much of a sunrise/sunset bet definalty ques them to get ready for bed.

 

[sterling archer]

By simulating do you mean the time of the act of it getting brighter slowly. I stagger my lights as the come on and of not much of a sunrise/sunset bet definalty ques them to get ready for bed.

well what i mean is it going to be bad for my cham NOT to simulate sunrise? i havnt been doing it so far, and my little guy doesnt seem to mind... also how do you even do that... second timer?

 

[Carlton]

well what i mean is it going to be bad for my cham NOT to simulate sunrise? i havnt been doing it so far, and my little guy doesnt seem to mind... also how do you even do that... second timer?

I'd say it is up to you. I have done both depending on where the cham's cage happened to be in my house and the species. If the cham could see the general house lighting level from windows that still seemed to affect them more. Eventually I settled on having the UV light come on about an hour before the basking spot in the mornings and shutting the basking spot off an hour or so before the UV light in the evenings. It takes two separate timers but is easy to do.

 

[Decadancin]

Thanks alot guys, ill definatly use some of those tips, one more question... Is it completly neccesary to simulate sunrise? I understand the value in simulating a natural habitat but will it be take a negetive toll if i dont simulate sunrise?

I stagger the lights just to try to make his enclosure a little more like real world conditions. Just a couple of timers. I've got two basking bulbs, so they come on one at a time. They go off in the reverse order. I'm not sure if there is any measurable benefit from this or if it is necessary, but the temperature in his enclosure does get gradually hotter and cooler like it would in nature. I don't think there would be any negative effect.

 

[sterling archer]

I'd say it is up to you. I have done both depending on where the cham's cage happened to be in my house and the species. If the cham could see the general house lighting level from windows that still seemed to affect them more. Eventually I settled on having the UV light come on about an hour before the basking spot in the mornings and shutting the basking spot off an hour or so before the UV light in the evenings. It takes two separate timers but is easy to do.

I stagger the lights just to try to make his enclosure a little more like real world conditions. Just a couple of timers. I've got two basking bulbs, so they come on one at a time. They go off in the reverse order. I'm not sure if there is any measurable benefit from this or if it is necessary, but the temperature in his enclosure does get gradually hotter and cooler like it would in nature. I don't think there would be any negative effect.

ok guys thanks alot for the advice ill try and see what i can do in the means of another time for my cages basking spots might be a little tricky cause im running outta plugs lmao

 

[CLP]

How much do you shorten the daylight from 12 hours a day? This is my first cham and to be honest, I thought you just kept them on a 12 on/12 off cycle all year. I'm in Canada, so it's already dark by 7 pm and not light until after I've left for work - I hate winter How much should I be shortening the daylight as I assume I don't want to completely follow the natural cycle here in the winter or the lights will only be on for about 8 hours come January! Sorry if I hajacked this thread a bit

 

[Decadancin]

How much do you shorten the daylight from 12 hours a day? This is my first cham and to be honest, I thought you just kept them on a 12 on/12 off cycle all year. I'm in Canada, so it's already dark by 7 pm and not light until after I've left for work - I hate winter How much should I be shortening the daylight as I assume I don't want to completely follow the natural cycle here in the winter or the lights will only be on for about 8 hours come January! Sorry if I hajacked this thread a bit

8 or 9 hours a day in winter should be fine! My guy seems to just know the daylight is getting shorter and puts himself near his resting spot for the evening.

 

[CLP]

Really? Only 8 or 9 hours? That surprises me. Does the day get that short in Yemen? Aren't we trying to replicate their natural habitat as much as possible? I'm fine doing it, easier on the power bill, but that seems like a short day for where they come from. Of course, I have to admit I really don't know anything about Yemen

 

[birdlover71]

Noticed the difference

My guys have noticed the season changes also. Normally they would find their sleepy spot around 7-8 now they are finding it 6-7.

 

[Olimpia]

I also shorten the duration of my days according to the sun. My chameleons can see what's going on outside and are in bed by 5 in the heart of winter, why bother keeping the lights on another 2-3 hours if no one is using them. They do what the sun says, not what my lighting set-up tells them!

 

[CLP]

OK. Thanks everyone. It makes sense they'd be dictated by what the sun is doing. I just assumed the "accepted" practice would be to keep the light cycle more stable and maybe only shorten the daylight by an hour or two in the winter. But I'm all for saving electricity! And come to think of it, the last few times I went to put my guy to bed, he was already in his sleeping spot. I guess I just never thought I should be adjusting the light schedule. That's what I love about this forum - so much great info!