Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am new to the forum and will be getting my first Chameleon in Sept. A 3 month old Sambava Panther. I am just trying to get everything in order before he arrives. I live in Michigan, so every now and then a big storm, especially in the Winter, will knock out the electricity. Besides the use of a generator, any tricks or suggestions? Also, any tips for the first time owner will be greatly excepted! I have done alot of research, and I can't wait until he arrives. Thanks.

How long of an outage are we talking about?
If it's only a short time, there really won't be any ill effects. (Besides some grumpy chams when the lights come back on)

If it happens pretty frequently, you could try a UPS from APC. You can run your lights and equipment from battery source when the lights go down..

I really don't think this is necessary though.
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Joe
- www.chameleonkeepers.com

I guess I am concerned with the temp. drop in the winter. If the electricity goes out for a few hours, how low can the temp. get before it becomes fatal?

I guess I am concerned with the temp. drop in the winter. If the electricity goes out for a few hours, how low can the temp. get before it becomes fatal?

So you are saying that your worse case scenerio is that the power gets knocked out for an extended period of time during the dead of winter. So, the furnace doesn't kick on and the temp in your house goes down?

This is going to take some creativity to plan for this scenerio. But, your goal would be to keep a basking light on the cage to give them a warm spot. Generators, Battery Backup systems.. Theres a ton of possibilites.

Chameleons can make it through some chilly temps, but not for a long period of time. If the temp hits 60f, I would really start to worry.
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Joe
- www.chameleonkeepers.com

Maybe I'm being over-simplistic here, but what's wrong with one of those kerosene (sp) heaters, and some blankets over the enclosures to keep in warmth? It's not like any power outage is going to last for more than a few hours, so you don't really need a back-up generator to provide UV lighting. All you need to do is keep your collection warm enough to survive a temp drop.
I say kerosene space heaters because they don't require electricity to function and are portable, so you can take the heater to your herps. Kerosene heaters can be dangerous, so I would suggest being careful with these.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

...I live in NH and we have the same problem of occasional
power outages. I just got my leaf chams in May so I, for one, am glad you brought this up as it will get me prepared before hand rather than in the crisis hour! I also have a tarantula that takes higher temps, too

I guess I will look into other/backup power sources, but if anyone else from the frozen north has some input we would sure apprecite it!!

lele

>>Hi, I am new to the forum and will be getting my first Chameleon in Sept. A 3 month old Sambava Panther. I am just trying to get everything in order before he arrives. I live in Michigan, so every now and then a big storm, especially in the Winter, will knock out the electricity. Besides the use of a generator, any tricks or suggestions? Also, any tips for the first time owner will be greatly excepted! I have done alot of research, and I can't wait until he arrives. Thanks.

There are a couple of easy options here. First, put the chams in a smaller cage in the room that is easiest to keep warm. Heat the room with candles or a kerosene heater rated for room use (you will have to crack a window to vent the exhaust...read up on such heaters so you know what is safe). The more warm bodies you have in that room the better. You won't need to keep the room really warm, just above 55. The chams will just sit quiet. Drape a blanket over the cage so they just snooze and lower their metabolism. Get to know a neighbor with a wood stove or other backup heat source and arrange (ahead of time) for an emergency trip with your chams in a box with a perching branch and damp towel to provide humidity. Set the box up with all you would need and just keep it in a closet. Chams pretty much sleep in the dark, so they could survive a day in a box if needed. Also, you can keep some of the shipping hand warmer heat packs around. You can again put the chams in a insulated box with one (you can get packs that last for 20-30 hours or so). After all, you just need to keep them from getting below 55 for extended times, and if they are asleep anyway should survive it OK. If it looked like days without power you could even keep a small Reptarium handy for a trip to that neighbor with the stove. Actually chams are easy...try aviary birds! I have a wild rescue toucan that would be a real pain to do this with. He's as big as a raven with an 8" bill and is NOT handleable. I keep an airline dog crate for him and pray our town generator never breaks down.