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 #1814282


Sonic94
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 Heating

Hi, I was just wondering how I can heat my cham in the winter. I live in Michigan so in the summer it is easy to keep heating up. But during the winter I need some suggestions. I will be gone to school during the day so I need a thermostat of some sort and a timer would be nice also. I would like to have something that I could see my cham at night. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanx.
07/30/08  11:55pm

 #1814325


LunaC
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   Message To: Sonic94   In reference to Message Id: 1814282


 Heating

Your cham shouldn’t really need any additional heating during the winter, even in Michigan.
I presume he has a basking bulb now, so the same bulb will be fine during the daytime hours even during winter. I also presume your house/apt has heat, so normal winter time rooms temps should be fine as well. Just make sure he gets plenty of water and raise the humidity if you can.

You may want to see your cham at night, but your cham doesn’t want to see you at night. They are diurnal just like you are, so he needs regular daytime light when he’s awake and nighttime darkeness when he sleeps.

When you think chams, think "no light at night".
07/31/08  12:48am

 #1814514


Sonic94
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   Message To: LunaC   In reference to Message Id: 1814325


 Heating

Thanx for your reply. But I heard that some kind of infrared light at night doesn’t disturb them. If this isnt true thats ok. And also since heating bills have gone up we cant keep our house at a good 70 degrees F. all the time especially when no ones home during the day because as I said I am in school, My parents work, and my sister is also in school so I dont want My cham to freeze or even burn from the lamp.

And also at night we lower it. So I dont want it to freeze especially when it goes into the deep negatives(rarely but it does). Thanx for your help LunaC I greatly appreciate it. If you or anyone else can help me more that would be great.

Quote:

Just make sure he gets plenty of water and raise the humidity if you can.


Would A automatic mister be good and a waterfall with a fogger be good also. I know you guys dont recommend waterfalls because of bacteria but I could clean it probably every day if necessary unless their is a better way.



07/31/08  08:55am

 #1815252


LunaC
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   Message To: Sonic94   In reference to Message Id: 1814514


 Heating

Your house doesn’t have to be 70 degrees all the time for the cham to be healthy. Night time temps can drop down into the middle to lower 60’s. As long as he has the recommended basking temps during the day, he should be okay. Be sure to actually measure the temperature beneath the basking light, though.

I wouldn’t really worry about the infrared night light. It just shouldn’t be necessary.
Just for further info, though ... what species and what age is your cham?



07/31/08  09:07pm

 #1815694


Sonic94
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   Message To: LunaC   In reference to Message Id: 1815252


 Heating

Mine is a veiled cham and is about 13 wks old and is a female.

Alright, ya, I have decided to junk the red light idea. One more question though. My cham is in my room and I like staying up late. I turn off her light at 8:00 p.m. I was wondering if I could put a blanket over him so I can get dressed or do whatever without disturbing him. Thanx.
08/01/08  09:06am

 #1816149


LunaC
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   Message To: Sonic94   In reference to Message Id: 1815694


 Heating

Okay, thanks (re: species, age). Yes, you can use a towel or something to cover her cage if you think there’s too much light in the room after her lights go out.



08/01/08  04:10pm

 #1816226


Sonic94
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   Message To: LunaC   In reference to Message Id: 1816149


 Heating

Tahnk you for your reply LunaC. I appreciate it.
08/01/08  05:21pm

 #1816378


Sonic94
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   Message To: Sonic94   In reference to Message Id: 1816226


 Heating

Sorry, but I have another question. I dont think my basking light is powerful enough can I use a 100 W bulb or is this too much.
08/01/08  06:54pm

 #1816646


LunaC
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   Message To: Sonic94   In reference to Message Id: 1816378


 Heating

100 watt sounds pretty strong for a 3 month old baby. I have grown chams and the strongest bulb I use is a 60 to 75 watt (depending on the distance between the bulb and the basking point).

Never ever ever just rely on wattage. You have to actually measure temps and either adjust the wattage or the distance between the bulb and basking point to achieve the proper, safe basking temps. Never let anyone tell you to just use X wattage.

What are the dimensions of your enclosure? What kind/type? That can have a bearing on wattage as well.



08/01/08  11:30pm

 #1817197


Sonic94
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   Message To: LunaC   In reference to Message Id: 1816646


 Heating

Mine is just a ten gallon tank now temporarily. What is your suggestions on dimensions?
08/02/08  04:26pm

 #1817614


LunaC
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   Message To: Sonic94   In reference to Message Id: 1817197


 Heating

At 13 weeks, she definitely needs need a bigger enclosure. The sooner the better. A 10-gallon is okay for hatchlings, but by 3-4 months, they need to be moved.

A 24"L X 12"W X 24"H is good for now, but by the time she reaches adult (around 9-12 months), she will need an even larger enclosure. 30"L X 18"W X 36"H would be the miniumum cage size I would recommend for an adult. Taller (48") is even better.



08/02/08  10:44pm

 #1817877


Sonic94
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   Message To: LunaC   In reference to Message Id: 1817614


 Heating

Is there a way you can provide some building plans so I dont have to pay $$$. If you can or anybody else can please tell me.
08/03/08  08:25am

 #1817884


Julirs
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   Message To: Sonic94   In reference to Message Id: 1817877


 Heating

By the time you start buying materials to build, the $$$ starts adding up. LLL has some nice screen cages on sale for $57.00, or Repatriums work OK also, and are cheaper than screen cages.
08/03/08  08:50am

 #1818628


Sonic94
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   Message To: Julirs   In reference to Message Id: 1817884


 Heating

ty!
08/03/08  07:36pm


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