UVB for Chameleons

[@theguy5238]

Earned a follow. I love your presentation of the information. Thank you

[@GenSamuel]

This channel is amazing. I've just adopted my first chameleon and he was raised under suboptimal conditions. He's now 1 year old and it's noticeable how much his quality of life has improved over the one month I've had him. I'm an ethologist, so I know enough to give him what he needs, but some topics are very specific and the literature is not so complete. Videos like this one are outstanding both in completude and in didactic and scientific quality.

[@ckhaw38]

the video was excellent and reading the comments below helped me understand a little more about what to get. Where i am from, its impossible to find T5 lights. Most of the pet stores i visited that sells bearded dragons and chameleons only carry T8. So i am going to go for T8 10.0. i have an exoterra 3ft height cage in which leaves leaves me a lot of room on how low or high i can place the basking branch.

[@ChameleonAcademy]

I am glad to hear the video helped you get what you needed!

[@McZooExoticPets]

Great topic. Excellent review

[@strawhattoker6768]

Just want to say thank you for the education man, you've helped me a lot. And you've introduced me to the crested chameleon I really want now 😅. I do have a question about cross breeding between different chameleon species and the desert species, why doesn't anyone have one?

[@beholder1972]

I have a exo terra 36" wide 31"1/2 height by 18 inches depth terrarium. I'm using a t5 5.0 reptisun led/ uvb 30" terrarium incorporated hood. I have a screen mesh on top that comes standard with the inclosure. I'm heavily planted and have different levels of Basking vines and branches. The t5 sits flat on top of the mesh as i measure about 3 inches from the highest basking zone to the lowest basking point available to him at 7 inches from the top of his back. Will this be safe for my panther chameleon? I even tried to spin the t5 fixture 180 degrees to bring the t5 to the front of the enclosure to give more distance for him. Will the t5 being in front of the terrarium be fine? Or should I leave the t5 to the back of the enclosure? Thank you.

[@flacotorres8972]

Hey thanks for your channel. It’s a lot of great information but I have a question myself about the same topic. How about the t5 7% uvb ? They work like 6%?

[@sharky9056]

Yo. I hope you see this. Fluorescent tubes are banned in Europe and everyone says that compact bulbs are bad. What the f do I buy? I'm from Romania and tubes and the supports for them are just not made anymore...

[@ChameleonAcademy]

Exceptions are made for specialty applications so UVB bulbs will continue to be made. If not, then the LED UVB products would be your answer.

[@lionfirst1969]

It's a good idea to change the top of my screen enclosure and fix my uvb tubular lamp T5 on the inside?

[@ChameleonAcademy]

That would increase the power of the UVB. That may or may not be a good thing depending on the bulb type and how far to the nearest branch it is..

[@lionfirst1969]

@@ChameleonAcademy thanks for your reaction. But some advice to fix it inside,others out...dont know what to do. I'm still preparing everything before buying my friend Chameleon. Love your channel.

[@ChameleonAcademy]

@@lionfirst1969 the answer to your question is not a simple yes or no. You are trying to to create a certain level of UVB at the basking branch. Our best information tested on multiple generations is that UVI 3 is an effective level. So the question is how to get that. The best way is via a UVB meter. That gives you everything you need to know. The charts I create assume that the UVB bulb is in a fixture with a reflector going through a screen that offers 30% filtering. So you can use the set-up shown on the chameleonacademy/uvb page with that set-up. If you put the bulb inside the cage then you would have to have the branch further away to maintain the UVI 3 levels. Because we also don’t want to give them too much UVB. That will damage them.

[@lionfirst1969]

@@ChameleonAcademy i will close it with plexy glas only behind and in one side of the cage. I'll leave the top open and one side too. The side fixing points i'll make at work. Thanks for the advice. Love to watch your videos. It helps a lot.

[@_Pokeflare]

What is your opinion on the mercurial vapor bulbs? I’ve been using the Mega-Ray for the past 5 years because I was under the impression they are the best in the market. But seeing as you don’t use them I’m thinking maybe they might not be as good as I thought. Thanks in advance!

[@ChameleonAcademy]

Edgar, My only issue with Mercury Vapor bulbs is that I can't control basking temperature and basking UVB independently. I have to chose one or the other and take what I get for the other. Though, I do not know how big of an issue this is as I haven't done much testing with Mercury Vapor Bulbs. I got a bunch and started working with them, but the failure rate was so high I quit trying. I am glad they are working for you! What temperatures and UVI do you get at the basking branch?

[@RedGalaxyFishbone]

Hi! On Reddit they advice the T8s? But the T5 seems more easy because you can order the whole set with bulb and fixture. What is smart?

[@ChameleonAcademy]

The key is to know what UV Index levels you want inside your cage. Either T8s or T5s can be used. The question is which one is the best tool to give the levels you are looking for. A T8 10.0 is roughly equivalent to a T5 5.0. I know social media seems to be obsessed with T8 vs T5 so it can be very confusing. But the real answer is either can be used if they are used correctly.

[@ChameleonAcademy]

And what you say is correct. The Arcadia ProT5 package with UVB bulb and fixture sold together is a very convenient product!

[@RedGalaxyFishbone]

@@ChameleonAcademy I got around 8” between the lamp I would get and the first branch to bask on. It’s a 24x24x48 screen cage. :) I was thinking about getting The T5 Pro kit and just put it directly on the screen. I’ll be housing a pardalis male.

[@ChameleonAcademy]

@@RedGalaxyFishbone directly on the screen is okay as long as he doesn’t hang from the top panel. Both the T8 and T5 put out too high of UVB at that distance. It takes a couple of inches to dissipate to safe levels.

[@RedGalaxyFishbone]

@@ChameleonAcademy Hi! There is 9” between the basking branch and light. Would this be alright? Or else I would have to readjust everything for a bit! A question about humidity, I see a lot of 50% for juvis and adults. So spraying every night isn’t necessary? Only when they’re babies? As long as they’re having a dripper and a glass of water?

[@GaryWhite-p1k]

Garcia Anthony Brown Kenneth Smith Helen

[@ms.jewell8154]

I need so much help. I have two females I'm so confused

[@BartBasquiato]

What you confused bout?

[@ChameleonAcademy]

That sounds like a general level confusion! Hopefully the videos on this channel can help explain.

[@anthonyd.talavera2885]

I don't understand a word he is saying

[@ChameleonAcademy]

It is a special language only chameleon keepers understand!