The species from extremely warm regions are ideally suited to be kept in greenhouses that are heated by the sun and cool at night.Should be provided with chameleons microclimates (cool, wet corners) to allow the animals to retreat to when she is very heated. The greenhouse will be heated to prevent night the temperature falls below 10 ° C. A drawback of this mode of chameleons have is that it is very difficult to find the eggs, because the female usually camouflage the site of laying; females better get ready to put on and place them in separate terraria. An advantage of this system is that it is possible to have several animals that chameleons together without being viewed each other all the time. This is particularly beneficial during the breeding season because animals can mate when they want, which has a positive effect on the number of fertilized eggs.
We have mentioned many times in danger of overheating that we must now say something about otherwise. In general, chameleons are more tolerant of low temperatures that high, but be careful.For example, the Chameleon pardalis not tolerate temperatures below 12 ° C. It is not necessarily advisable to play the night temperatures. An average value seems to be the key to success.Daytime temperatures must always be within the temperature range of activity. In addition, there must always be a source of light like a spotlight "spot" or some other type of lamp calorific, so that chameleons can be heated to the temperature you prefer. For the welfare of lizards is absolutely necessary to reduce the temperature at night. In the cage this can be achieved simply by turning off lighting and heating. As daytime temperatures are usually about 16 to 18 ° C. The peak reduction is about 7 to 9 ° C, which generally is adequate. The peak reduction temperature appears to be essential for restful sleep, this is probably due to decreased metabolic activity. If a chameleon who is accustomed to a big drop in temperature at night is not provided this decrease, the animal will show a large decrease in their vitality and live a shorter time.
There are many ways to heat a terrarium. The small terrarium is heated with a heating cable and large terrarium for reptiles with special bulbs with reflectors "spot" or halogen lamps. If using reflectors "spot" should install power units from 15 to 40 watts, and if used should use halogen lamps of 20 watts. Lamps must be installed so that when chameleons are "asoleen" can not touch the bulbs, because otherwise they might burn the scales. For this reason to decorate the terrarium is important to always maintain a distance of at least 4 cm between the animal and the lamp. This is achieved by placing the branches so that not too close to the lamps. The terrarium lighting with mercury vapor lamps or the like do not need additional heating because these lamps produce enough heat. It is sometimes said that chameleons could shoot the tongue against the lamp, We have used reflectors "spot" and lamps of various kinds in our terrarium and have never seen a chameleon shoots his tongue against a lamp.
Artificial sun?
If we consider that in the tropics sunlight has an intensity of 100,000 lux, and even in the shade of the trees remains of 10,000 lux, will see how difficult it is even closer to the natural conditions of their animals. Most chameleons are "sun worshipers".Therefore, the intensity of light plays an important role in their hunting behavior and also contributes to the increased vitality of the animals. Schuster (1979) showed for the Jackson's chameleon (Chameleon jacksonii) needed a light intensity of at least 100 lux to capture animals for food. A 40-watt incandescent bulb produces only 35 lux at a distance of one meter. It can be seen that chameleons do not display their full natural patterns of behavior unless there is a minimum luminous intensity. Fans who can keep their chameleons in a greenhouse, are easier because even in a window box is usually light intensity of 2,000 lux.
To illuminate the terrarium appropriateness of certain power fluorescent lamps and the mercury vapor and halogen lamps. For small rearing tanks a single fluorescent tube is sufficient, for terrariums of a height of 50 cm it takes at least two fluorescent tubes, and taller terrariums needed proportionally more powerful lamps. Stettler (1973) states that for a cage of 70 cm by 40 cm wide by 70 cm in height are required four to six tubes. If terrariums are even higher, the mercury vapor lamps are suitable high intensity. When they are installed under the lid of the terrarium, not lost simultaneously light and has good heat source for the terrarium. The new iodine vapor lamps produce significantly more light than the mercury vapor lamps. These lamps appear to have been created precisely to sun worshipers.Is produced from the powers of 35 Watts, but unfortunately are expensive. This is offset somewhat by its long duration and its low power consumption.
Simply use lamps "sunlight", because they produce a light spectrum very similar to the sun light and because it is most pleasing to our eyes. With a combination of fluorescent tubes "sunlight" and "warm tones" proved to be the most attractive. It is also important to use good quality reflectors (sold in pet shops).With them, the light utilized can increase by 40%. Reflectors "spot" halogens are ideal as point sources to supplement the light of fluorescent tubes. Unfortunately require the use of a transformer, so that should be compared only when they will be used for various terraria.
The photoperiod should reproduce natural conditions or would have kept about 12 or 14 hours a day (except to Chamaeleo chamaeleon). We have achieved good results against the chameleons in the garden during the summer. It is clear that the animals come alive in the sun, colors are brighter and their activity increases. Can be made suitable for terrariums outdoor materials such as wire mesh, placed in a location protected from wind and partial sun (you must provide protection against overheating during the day and against cats and rats at night). Do not allow chameleons are released in a garden, because in a few minutes will be gone forever.
It is sometimes recommended the use of ultraviolet lamps. Some people regard them as essential and others attributed at least revitalizing effects. In our opinion, the provision of adequate doses of vitamin D3 eliminates the need for UV lamps. In any case, the same scaly skin of chameleons only passes less than one percent of ultraviolet rays.
Finally, it should insist that many species of chameleons have different lighting needs.
Technical aids
Currently, timers are a must for any type of terrarium, because nobody has time to turn off or turn on lights or heaters each day at the same times. Timers with some regularity can be achieved which is helpful for the welfare of the chameleons. For example, tests can determine exactly when and for how long to stay on the heating so the temperature will not fall or rise too. There are also thermostats that can be used to turn off and turn on the lights and fans when temperatures reach preset. If I had to do all this manually, maintaining the terrarium would be an activity that would require a long time.
Recently, it has spread the use of automatic sprinklers in the terrarium, and they can be reduced to a minimum daily tasks. The only daily manual activity remains to be done is to feed and water the animals. It was so much more time to observe and study the chameleons. At the same time, an automatic sprinkler also allows greater freedom of action to the owner, who does not have to be present every day and can occasionally be away for a weekend without having to worry too much about their chameleons.
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