Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the best way to light plants in 5 feet tall terrarium?It's obvious that flourecents cannot provide enough light for the plants from so high, especially if it's filtered through a mesh too.I was thinking of using an ordinary mercury vapour that produces no UV just to skip the controversial issue of MV's producing uv and use a couple of uv flourecents instead.Of cource the height of the MV will be adjusted so I keep the aproppriate basking spot temperature at the top.Any other suggestions?

just like in a garden you buy the plant to fit the site rather than change the site to fit the plant

pothos (it's cousin, philodendron is toxic), spider, ferns and place the plants that need more light closer to the top or put a separate light for others down low. I know some people will mount a strip light sideways on the cage to light those lower down. Rule of thumb: variegated plants (mottled 2-3 colors on foliage - like pothos) can tolerate lower light. And the larger the leaf the lower the light

In my 4' I had schefflera, ficus and hibiscus. I had a second set and just rotated them when they got leggy. Hibiscus typically require bright light to flower, but they can keep going even without. My hibiscus was only about 1' of the floor of cage and kept blooming for months - Luna liked the flowers.

Just make sure you do not get any poisonus plants. There are several websites with this info.
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/
http://envhort.ucdavis.edu/ce/king/PoisPlant/Tox-SCI.htm
http://www.anapsid.org/resources/plants.html
http://webhome.idirect.com/~chameleon/owners/chapter2-sub5.html

hope this helps!

lele
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

WOW Lele, that was very informative! I didn't know half the stuff about the plant info!

I have had many different size enclosures. Everything from 10 gallon tanks, to 260 gallon reptariums. I have never had a plant die from not the proper light. On some I used mv bulbs, some regular flourecents, 5.0's, regular light bulbs, ect. The only reason I have had plants die, was from not the right watering. Like when it dies, I can see that the soil was bone dry and that I forgot to water it. And I have kept the cages flourishing for years sometimes, without one plant dying from not hte proper light. Don't make things too complicated for yourself. Make everything simple. Just cater to the chameleon's lighting requirements, and the plants should do just fine. :-D

Ank-Inc.
Adam.

LOL - yup, I'm the resident plant lady

The most interesting thing about plants is that they are a lot more tolerant of their environmnet than the the little labels say - but the the little labels have to say something or all those little label makers would be out of a job! If a plant generally likes more shade but is getting a bit more sun, keeping it well watered will usually balance this out. For indoor plants this holds true too, but we have to remember that they live in a pot and not the ground so we have to occasionally feed them and hose them down (make them think it is raining or put your cham on it then bring it to the shower!) In the field it is common knowledge that most indoor plants die due to drowning (or in Adam's case dehyrating it to death - poor little plant ) rarely due to light issues - though of course there are some that are very picky. The only other problem houseplants can succumb to is pest infestations if not caught early, again, outdoor plants have a natural system of checks and balances (natural predators, rain, temp variation). So it is good to know something about your plants but you don't have to have a a degreee in horticulture

For lizards, the MOST importnat is to know what plants are toxic and which are not. OK, I'm done
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Powersun bulbs are a great way to give off UVB and UVA as well as heat. The bulbs give off powerful uv rays for 6 FEET!That will reach all the way down to the bottom of the cage, giving your cham loads of vitamin D3.....

This bulb will only work if you have a species that likes heat. The bulbs come in 100 and 150 watt sizes...too powerful for most chams. T rex has a 60 watt bulb that aparently has the same UVB and UVA dispersal, but i have not used them....

Good luck!
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eric