Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am almost done with this LONG ONGOING PROJECT!!!

veiled chameleon cage...
6'x3'x18"

needs lights..
not enough room above for a MV light(ceilings are 7') so...
i was thinking a 4' florescent UVB running vertically inside the cage so that no matter where he goes he is getting UVB. I picture it running in the front corner or maybe both front corners w/ a glare shield so that you can look in w/o being blinded. BUT...

what about the problems...
water...i have a automatic mister that may be able to get some moister on the bulbs and fixtures...any solutions?
breakage inside the cage...very remote chance...worth taking?
electricity...can he ge to any electrically hot areas?

any input?

scott

I use 2 fixtures in my iguana cage. I also use a warm air humidifier every other day or so. I also have a LARGE dish of water on the bottom of his cage, so the humidity is pretty high in there! I haven't had any problems so far...4 years and counting. I don't get water directly on the bulbs or fixtures though! With chams you should have pretty good circulation and as long as the bulbs and fixtures aren't getting direct water on them I don't think there will be a problem. You might try asking the same question to the chameleon people & see what they are doing.

why would you be able to use a MV? you have about 2" extra room at the top of the cage.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 normal ball python (felix)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

-funny typos-
"There are six genes which determine the amount of melanism present in a person's skink"-about human skin color

please give me more typos

I am worried about the heat both inside the cage and also on the ceiling of the room...

most things i have read say that you need to have the MV away from the cage a bit to get the heat for basking low enough.

and likewise i worry about the fixture being to close to the ceiling and burning my house down.

i have even thought about using a recessed ceiling fixture (not recessed just placed above the cage, i am not into permanent alterations to the house at this time) cause they allow you to be within 2" of combustable materials. but that only solves one of my problems

i dont know if anyone else has heard the same thing, but according to some of the higher ups at t-rex their 100 watt spot active uv bulb is safe for most range of temperatures even on a 10 gallon tank. i would think that in a cage your size this would be no problem. i've had them on 20L aquariums with a basking spot in the mid 90's, i'm not too familiar with specific temps with the chameleons but i think it may be a bit lower than that, however, with a cage that size as long as you dont have a basking spot within 12-15 inches or so of the fixture (which there shouldnt be anyway for saftey issues, i.e. being able to reach the fixture) i'd say you'd be just fine. i know it'd be nice to take home and test before you drop 40-70 dollars on a bulb, but just letting you know about that. the way it sounds to me is that the higher wattage has less to do with the amount of heat it puts out, and more to do with the UV concentration/penetration.

Attach mesh directly to the light fixtures, to protect the bulbs and keep the animals from touching them or getting into the electrical areas.

As for moisture, that WILL be a problem, you'll have to aim your misters carefully. A very small amount of splatter will probably not affect the lights--I had an exposed bulb in a modified fish tank hood with a water dragon for years--he'd occasionally splash a few droplets onto the bulb--this was revealed by the fact that I had to clean the bulb itself occasionally, as it would get muddy droplets dried onto it.