Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like to know other's opinions on specific brands of lighting and temp/humidity gauges. I keep hearing about these temp guns or something and I'm not sure where to find one. My b/f was sold an ExoTerra 60 watt Sun Glo. I know chams are supposed to have UVB and UVA rays and this says Stimulates natural behavior through UVA rays so I'm not sure if it also gives off UVB. Any info anyone can give me will help me out a lot when we build our big cages for the chams when they get bigger. I've read several husbandry lists and care sheets, but I'm looking for specific brand names and so forth. Thanks in advance for any info!
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www.geocities.com/crazy_queen
3 veiled chameleons
2 mini-rex rabbits
3 rats (1 dumbo/rex, 1 dumbo, 1 standard)

Hi - you will get differeing opinions on the use of fluorescents or mercury vapor bulbs (MVB) for UVB (the light you have is not sufficient). The most recommended are the ZooMed reptisun 5.0 bulbs. They will run you about $36 in a chain pet store and about $18 online. Plenty of good online places to order from. I had very bad experience with the MVB (kept blwoing out) and unless you can keep it a good distance away it will put out too much heat. The reptisun sits right on top of cage. You also need a basking light - the sun-glo may be sufficient for this but you will need to monitor temps. Oh, you should replace the bulb about every 4-6 months.

OK, temp guns - I LOVE MINE! I got it on Ebay for $25 (incl. shipping) but you can get it direct: www.tempgun.com/main.html for $25 and I think $5 shipping. I have the PE1 and for the average user it is quite sufficient. It is a little device that you hold near a surface
(rock, branch, your cham's body) and it will give you a reading.

I also used a temp/humidity gauge that I got at home depot {url]http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc/searchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@0484506002.1123106890@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdiaddfgdilmemcgelceffdfgidgkk.0&MID=9876[/url] for about $18. It has a min/max which is nice so you can make sure your temps are going low enough at night (10 degree drop) but not TOO cold. Just be sure to get a digital humidity gauge.

Check out this link for one person's UVB project.

lele
Link

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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

home depot temp/humidity gauge temp gauge

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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

Thanks the temp gun info was great, I was actually looking at those exact temp guns on ebay. I just wasn't sure which one would be sufficient.

Also, thanks for the heads up on the bulb, I knew it didn't seem right after all the info I read. Stupid @#$()% for selling me the wrong bulb. Well, everyone seems to recommend the reptisun 5.0 so I'll be shopping around for one of those. I bought a reflector thing for the spot light....can I use a regular bulb in those or should I get a special basking light? I've seen people recommend a special spot light type bulb that has a narrower beam of light.

Thanks for the info lele....I also just read back a few days on the forum about you losing Luna, sorry for your loss, she was a beautiful cham.
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www.geocities.com/crazy_queen
3 veiled chameleons
2 mini-rex rabbits
3 rats (1 dumbo/rex, 1 dumbo, 1 standard)

Well, I just ordered 2 reptisun 5.0 bulbs for $13.99 a piece from bigappleherp.com. Seems pretty cheap to me. Thought I would just pass the word on. Does anyone have any opinions on the Cricket Total Bites?
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www.geocities.com/crazy_queen
3 veiled chams(2 males - Obi and Yoda, 1 female - Annie)
1 mini-rex rabbit - Lefty
3 rats (1 dumbo/rex- Dory, 1 dumbo - Sneezer, 1 standard - Polly)