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calcium/lighting

lele Nov 19, 2003 01:47 PM

I have two unrelated questions:

If I switch to primarily silkies for Luna should I cut back on amount of calcium supplement?

I notice in set up pictures that most of you seem to use the BIG domes for basking (or are those the MV bulb housing?). I use the smaller (5.5". Does it make a difference? Does the larger dome creat more heat because there is more surface and reflection? Since she is now in a larger cage the heat dissaptes more. She seems to be spending more time basking and trying to get closer to heat source. I have a 60w and added a 25w today. thoughts appreciated!

thanks
lele & Luna
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & no name
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & no name

Replies (2)

Charm_Paradise Nov 19, 2003 04:40 PM

Lele-

You should keep your regular dusting schedule, but because one worm can hold as much dust as 8 or so crickets depending on the size of the worms, make sure not to over do it. You can just dip the bottom of the silkworm in the dust then feed, rather then rolling the whole worm in dust and don't dust all the worms. You will get the feel of it.

The 10" domes you see are often used for MV/halogen bulbs because they have a ceramic socket, deeper wider dome to hold the larger bulbs, and larger dome to deflect more heat/light out over a larger area. A 5.5" dome can not house these bulbs, you will need a 10" dome. What is the temp of the basking site? With the cooler temps coming, you may think about using a 100w bulb while it is cooler and then changing back to 60W. I use a combo of 40 and 60w bulbs here different bulbs for different seasons to control heat. If you are thinking about changing to a larger dome, it will do no good, because it will just spread the heat out over a larger area. I would stay with the dome you have now, or if you change to a ceramic bulb get a 8" dome with a ceramic socket. Just play around with the different bulb wattages, I would try and use only one dome and heat bulb, it will save you money. You can use the clear homedepot bulbs for basking bulbs. Hope this helps!
-----
John W. Lucas

CHAMELEON PARADISE

CHAMELEONS ONLINE E-ZINE AUTHOR

Feeding Baby Chameleons
Caging Baby Chameleons

F. pardalis

Ambilobe Locale
Nosy Be Locale
Sambava Locale

Rhampholeon uluguruensis

Eggs Incubating-

F. pardalis - Ambilobe Locale

got SILKWORMS!


Photo © Chameleon Paradise 2003

lele Nov 19, 2003 06:34 PM

thanks, John. My concern with the calcium is b/c silkies are naturally higher in calcium and didn't know if that should be a consideration. She is nearing 6 months so I was going to begin to adjust her feeding habits...or maybe I'll wait till I get back in Dec.

OK on the light info. I think I'll get some 40w. I have a ceramic heat emiitter that I use for my nocturnal geckos but might get another. Again, thanks

lele

>>Lele-
>>
>>You should keep your regular dusting schedule, but because one worm can hold as much dust as 8 or so crickets depending on the size of the worms, make sure not to over do it. You can just dip the bottom of the silkworm in the dust then feed, rather then rolling the whole worm in dust and don't dust all the worms. You will get the feel of it.
>>
>>The 10" domes you see are often used for MV/halogen bulbs because they have a ceramic socket, deeper wider dome to hold the larger bulbs, and larger dome to deflect more heat/light out over a larger area. A 5.5" dome can not house these bulbs, you will need a 10" dome. What is the temp of the basking site? With the cooler temps coming, you may think about using a 100w bulb while it is cooler and then changing back to 60W. I use a combo of 40 and 60w bulbs here different bulbs for different seasons to control heat. If you are thinking about changing to a larger dome, it will do no good, because it will just spread the heat out over a larger area. I would stay with the dome you have now, or if you change to a ceramic bulb get a 8" dome with a ceramic socket. Just play around with the different bulb wattages, I would try and use only one dome and heat bulb, it will save you money. You can use the clear homedepot bulbs for basking bulbs. Hope this helps!
>>-----
>>John W. Lucas
>>
>>CHAMELEON PARADISE
>>
>>CHAMELEONS ONLINE E-ZINE AUTHOR
>>
>>Feeding Baby Chameleons
>>Caging Baby Chameleons
>>
>>
>>F. pardalis
>>
>>Ambilobe Locale
>>Nosy Be Locale
>>Sambava Locale
>>
>>Rhampholeon uluguruensis
>>
>>Eggs Incubating-
>>
>>F. pardalis - Ambilobe Locale
>>
>>got SILKWORMS!
>>
>>
>>Photo © Chameleon Paradise 2003
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & no name
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & no name

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