Winter heating

[Darwin760]

It is starting to get cold late night / early morning, about 60 degrees. During the winter it can drop into the 30's, and my only heat source is a pellet stove. I am looking for ways to keep my veiled's cage at the appropriate temperatures all times of the day and night for the winter. I don't have a lot of money so the cheaper and more efficient the better. Thanks

 

[carol5208]

here is a link for you on what you can buy for night time without using light, just heat. http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/heat-bulbs-night-heat-bulbs-ceramic-bulbs/

 

[Carlton]

It is starting to get cold late night / early morning, about 60 degrees. During the winter it can drop into the 30's, and my only heat source is a pellet stove. I am looking for ways to keep my veiled's cage at the appropriate temperatures all times of the day and night for the winter. I don't have a lot of money so the cheaper and more efficient the better. Thanks

How cold will the room your cham's cage is in get? At night? During the day when you aren't home? Do you heat your house at all when you aren't home or is your pellet stove controlled by the house thermostat? If the room only gets down to the mid 60s at night you won't need night heat. As long as the room isn't lower than the mid 60s during the day he can bask enough to stay active and digest his food. All you might have to do is use a slightly higher watt bulb in winter. Just be aware that if the temp in his cage is a lot cooler outside his basking area he could sit too close too long and burn himself.

 

[Darwin760]

It drops down to around 40-50 inside. I am living in a small place with poor insulation. I would say the pellet stove will be running most nights and days. I am more worried for days I have to leave stove off and run errands and in case I do not make it home one night.

 

[carol5208]

during the day I would use a high wattage bulb for basking in order for your chameleon to digest his food. Shoot for the mid 80's if possible. I know it might be hard with the room itself being cold. At night if your temps are getting as cold as you say like 40-50 definitely invest in one of those ceramic heat emitters I showed you the link for.

 

[Darwin760]

So would I need the highest wattage ceramic bulb? I will be keeping an eye on temps for sure and adjust accordingly.

 

[carol5208]

well I cannot say for sure because I do not know what the highest wattage bulb will produce temp wise in your situation. I would say you will need something pretty strong though if your temps are gonna drop into the 40's in your house at night. As far as the day you will need a basking bulb of course and again you will have to play around with the wattages. If your house is super cold you may need something like a 150 watt to obtain the desired basking temp. My house is about 73 degrees and I use a 100 watt bulb and get a basking temp of about 95 at the point where my chameleon sits on the branch. This is a panther I am talking about, but just giving you an example.

 

[Kmw]

For day time heat the best i've found is 100 watt flood light bulbs. I'd use them with a dimmer or something - because they get insanely hot!

 

[Darwin760]

Awesome thanks. Sounds like a game of trial and error but I'll figure it out. I just wanted to be sure ceramic heat bulbs were the way to go for night time