Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Should the light cycle for a male veiled be on for 12 or 14 hours a day in the summer? What should it be in the winter 10 hours a day? Thanks

Hi-

You should have your lights on a 12hr cycle all year long. The lights we use to provide UVB/UVA light for our chameleons doesn't come close to the natural sun light. In the summer time the best thing you can do is move him outside so he is expose to the suns rays, be sure he has a spot to bask and a shaded area at all times. Hope this helps!
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John @ Chameleon Paradise
1.1 Ambilobe Panthers
1.1 Nosy Be Panthers
1.1 Sambava Panthers
1.2 Rhampholeon uluguruensis

Is it bad if I do a 8:30am to 8:30pm light cycle? I get home from work late and like to see them for a little bit before it's "lights-out."

It's not a big deal now since it's still sunny at 8:00pm, but when it gets darker ealier, I do want to see 'em a bit.

Please let me know your thoughts.
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4 Month Old Ambanja Male I - LESTER
4 Month Old Ambanja Male II - SHOGO

Hi-

Should not be a problem. I have mine set for 8am-8pm. Hope this helps!
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John @ Chameleon Paradise
1.1 Ambilobe Panthers
1.1 Nosy Be Panthers
1.1 Sambava Panthers
1.2 Rhampholeon uluguruensis

I try to keep a different lite cycle for the seasons. There's no way to perfectly simulate the different lengths of daylight, but trying can stimulate breeding.
I am not sure if it has MUCH of an effect on chameleons, although I'd imaging it would in some species. With day geckos, we would get results, much better results, if we changed the daylight hours seasonally.
In the winter, we'd keep the bright lights on for only 6-8 hours a day, and during the summer, 10-12. They will not be dark, as there is daylight in the room, but it is not as bright for as long as it is in the summer.
Like clockwork, a week or two after the 12 hour photoperiods started, they would begin mating/courtship. Several species of day geckos are kind of hard to breed without such photoperiod changes.
Eric A