Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got mine from a reptile show and they just had it on a regular 75 watt light bulb...I aked about a uvb or uva and they told me they didnt need one or require one...its about 2 inches long nice color and big belly...looks very healthy...should i just leave it how it is or use the uva bulb or buy a uvb bulb... I bought it a 60 watt Zoo Med uva light bulb but will i need a uvb bulb...? thanx for responding!

also how much can i hold her...put in days or week form (etc.every other day, once a week) thx!

you should have researched this before you bought one, and yes they do require UVB lights. get a zoo med 5.0 UVB bulb, or an exo-terra 7.0 UVB bulb, and get it fast. they guy you bought it from is a dumbass and chameleons are what I consider to be one of the hardest lizards to care for, as well as the most expensive.
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1.0 Ambanja Panther Chameleon - (Seppi) - (12/28/03)
1.0 Ghost Phase Leopard Gecko - (12/15/02)
0.1 High Yellow Leopard Gecko - (06/17/02)
0.1 Blizzard Leopard Gecko - (4/14/04)

Yes and here are some other things to consider:
What kind of chameleon is it?
Captive bred or wild caught?
Female or male?
How old?
What size cage are using and what are the materials?
What is the cage's temperature and humidity?
How are you offering water?
What are feeding, how often, what size?
What supplements are you using and how often?

Chameleons require specific care and you did not do your research before buying one, chances are their are things you may need to change/add. Post the answers to the above questions, and anything else you can think of, and we'll make recommendations.
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~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)
0.1 African Hegdehog (Kaimah)

i just wanted to add a couple things. firstly you can keep chameleons without a uvb its just not recomended. all the other people in this forum will argue that, but i believe its true. since the uvb bulbs are pretty cheap and it will GREATLY reduce the risk of MBD, you should just get one. There are other ways to get chameleons there vitamin D3 besides uvb, but unless you want to take him out in the sun for 30 mins a day you should just get a bulb. also the negitive effects of not keeping a chameleon under uvb will take weeks to show, so don't feel like he might die in a couple days without a uvb. i recomend you get one within a week though it will definetly help out your new pet. also you can handle chameleons everyday, but if its a baby keep handling to a minimum.

The seller was either a complete idiot who wanted a sale, bought a bunch of animals wholesale for quick $$, or was not the actual person breeding the animals. Showing chams under "regular" light bulbs would be fine for a day or so, as a deficiency takes weeks to show up. Possibly the actual breeder raises all his animals in outdoor cages? There is some evidence that UVB/A lighting can be replaced with very careful supplementation, but for most of us this is tricky and not guarranteed. Get the light...it won't hurt and will definitely help. I would not trust ANYTHING else this person told you about care!