Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've used UV bulbs for my chameleons forever but recently I've read a few articles suggesting that veiled chameleons don't require a UV bulb...especially if they get UV from natural sunlight....apparently ther is a risk of overloading them with D3???

As far as I'm aware this is bogus information (although I've heard of the D3 overload before) but I've always thought veileds needed some source of UV.

Can anyone shed some light on this further, any validity behind these claims???

I believe the only time a cham would NOT require a synthetic source of UV would be if it is housed outside, in a warm climate year round.

Otherwise, I would think, just like humans and other animals they would need some source of UV rays to be healthy.

You can not overdose on NATURAL D3. Our bodies produce it with exposure to the sun, if you could overdose on sunshine generated D3 then a large portion of the population would cease to exist. You can overdose with suppliments, or a combination of UV rays and suppliments.

Yes, I do use a UV bulb for my chameleon. I live in Canada and can not take him outside year round, so I have no other alternative.
Even with my skink, which is more nocturnal, I have a UV bulb in with her. I'd rather be safe than sorry.
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Kim

Could you post the article(s) that you're talking about? That might help the discussion.

thanks,
Joel Fish

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