If you are housing a chameleon at your place then you need to go through this guide. This will give you an idea regarding the lighting you should provide your chameleon as well as which are the best UVB bulbs that you can prefer for this purpose.
Now, you might think that if the mercury bulb provides heat as well as then you should buy it, but according to the research it is seen that the strip lights are the most useful of them all. You can also check best uvb lights for chameleon.
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The top Best 7 lights for chameleon (Review)
Let us now see some of the best bulbs that you can get for your chameleon pet.
1. Evergreen Pet supplies YVB mercury bulb
This product is very popular and has been regarded as one of the best UVB bulbs for the chameleons. The product has good quality, long life as well as has reasonable price.
It is also regarded as the best and suitable for the panther chameleon. This bulb helps in regulating a specific amount of energy as well as heat that is suitable for the chameleons.
The bulb is regarded to be self ballasted and it can also be integrated with various kinds of enclosures. This makes up easy according to the habitat of the chameleon. Also, this bulb does not produce UVC light which is harmful for the chameleons. It lasts for a long time as compared to the other bulbs which are similar to it.
But, we find that this bulb does not emit the required amount of heat and might not be suitable if you wish to have heat from it.
Pros:
- Does not emit UVC rays
- Works for a long time
- Reasonable price
Cons:
- Does not provide heat
2. Exo-terra solar glo mercury vapor bulb
If you are finding a suitable UVB mercury light bulb then this might be the perfect choice for you. It has large capacity as well as energy.
The users must be aware of the fact that Exo-terra is one of the leading producers so you can rely on the quality of product it produces. You can select according to the cage size the wattage that will be sufficient, that is 120 or 160 watts.
It is a self ballasted bulb and can be used with most of the enclosures easily. You just need to see that you place the bulb at the right place such that it has a perfect distance between the place and the pet. The bulb produces strong heat and can also act as a basking bulb if you want.
It provides booth UVB and UVA rays that are required by the chameleons. Also, does not emit the UVC rays. The bulb might not last as long as the others, this is because it emits heat as well.
Pros:
- Provides both UVB and UVA rays
- Provides heat
- Can be used with most of the enclosures
Cons:
- Does not have long life
3. Repti Zoo reptile UVB heat lamp
Repti zoo is also one of the manufacturers that you can easily trust. This bulb will provide the chameleons with both UVB as well as the UVA lights to your pet, and along with that it will also provide the heat that is required by it.
This bulb is able to meet the requirements of direct sunlight and it can act very beneficial for the basking period. You can select from 100, 125 as well as from 160 watts bulb according to the size of the cage.
It is a self ballasted bulb and will prevent the UVC rays for your chameleon. Also, some customers mention that the bulb does not last as long it is mentioned.
Pros:
- Provides both UVB and UVA rays
- Provides heat
- Different wattage bulbs available
Cons:
- Might not last as long
4. Mega ray mercury vapor bulb
When we are discussing about the best UVB bulbs, this bulb should be regarded as one of the best choices. This is because as compared to the other bulbs this bulb emits more light and also helps in improving the health of the chameleons.
The power of the bulb is about 160 watts and can provide the right amount of UVB that is needed by your pet. This bulb can suitably be used for any kind of enclosure. The lifespan of this bulb is more than any other bulb and can last for about 18 months. The choice will be suitable for you.
Pros:
- Provides more heat
- Lasts long
- Suitable for various enclosures
Cons:
- Can break easily if not handled with care
5. Lucky Herp UVB florescent lamp
This bulb will provide your pet the right amount of stability and the UVB that is required. It lasts for a long time and your will not need to replace it with other bulbs.
The size of the bulb is compact and it can be used with various enclosures. The set up of this bulb is easy. It can provide the right amount of UVB that is required by your pet even if it is of small size. It will help in providing strength to the bones. It provides the right amount of UVB that is required to absorb Vitamin D.
Pros:
- Provides stability
- Set up is easy
Cons:
- Does not provide enough UVA rays
6. AIICIOO mercury Vapor bulb
This bulb is of high quality and is recommended for the chameleons. The bulb will help in providing the requirements that are expected in a UVB bulb.
It is a mercury bulb and will provide both UVB and UVA rays for your chameleon. The ratio of the UVB and the UVA light is calculated considering the requirement of the pet. Not only does it provide the UVB but it also acts as source for direct sunlight. It helps to maintain the right amount of temperature as per the needs of the chameleons.
This bulb heats up if it is used all day but it switches off when it gets warm. The bulb is thin and might break easily.
Pros:
- Provides light
- Maintains the right amount of UVB and UVA
- High quality
Cons:
- Might break easily
7. Exo-terra Repti Glo 5.0
If you are looking for the perfect lamp for your chameleon which is not too small and the best choice for the enclosure then this is the most suitable product.
The bulb is compact and you can easily find the right spot to place it. It provides both UVB and UVA rays to your pet. Also, the UVB provided by this bulb will help in stimulating the behaviors. The bulb helps in providing the right amount of light and is best for tropical set ups.
It does not provide the amount of heat that might be required.
Pros:
- Compact size
- Provides both UVB and UVA rays
Cons:
- Does not stimulate heat.
How to Select Best bulb for chameleon?
Before you shop the bulb for your pet you need to know the wattage that must be suitable and the factors that will affect the light. You also need to be aware of the location of bulb, Temperature as well as the size of the cage.
The requirements of the iguanas as well as the Bearded dragons is not same as of the chameleons. The chameleons need a moderate amount of the light and the wattage should be right.
Size of the cage
While you think of buying the UVB light it is important that you consider the size of the cage. In general more the size more will be the wattage of UVB required. So, if you are buying bulbs for the bigger cages then you should prefer 100 watts bulb and even more. If the cage is of medium size or smaller than that then you can go for the bulb which is less than 100 watts.
This is just a basic guideline. Most of the manufacturers mention on the package itself regarding the bulb and with which size of tank it would be most suitable. It is important that you go through the instructions as well as the recommendations or you will end up overheating the tank and the chameleon.
UVB rating
Most of the bulbs are rated for the overall radiation that they produce. The UVB bulb of 2.0 rating are suitable for the chameleons that live in the lower layers of the forests as like the iguanas. While the UVB bulbs with 10.0 rating are suitable for animals which need high temperature for basking as we as all day heat like the Bearded dragons.
The chameleons need moderate sunlight and for them you can go for the bulb that has 5.0 rating. You can even go for the bulb that has rating of 10.0 but 2.0 rating bulb wont be enough for these. So it is necessary that you read on the package and buy accordingly.
Location
It is important that you decide where you need to place the UVB bulb in the cage. This is because it us not enough only if you buy the right wattage or bulb with perfect rating, you also need to see that your chameleon receives the UVB light. So to make that happen you have to place it at a perfect spot.
Usually it is best if you place the bulb on top of the cage. This is because, it will help your pet get the right amount of heat. Along with this, you do need to see that when you place the bulb, it should not be at a distance more than 12 inches from your pet.
Lighting for chameleons
Apart from the water and food that you provide your pet it is important that you give it the right amount of lightning as well. If you do not provide appropriate lights to the pet, the health of your pet will decline and will affect it extremely.
If you do not fix the lightning mistakes on time, then you need to know that the affect it would have on your pets health will not be reversible and you will end up harming its life.
So, it is important that you understand the importance of lightning and also provide the same correctly.
Lights needed by the chameleon
There are various kind of lights that you can get for your pet. But most importantly there are two of these kinds which are mandatory and will be necessary for it to survive, you can skip the third one if needed.
Heat light:
These creatures cannot regulate their body temperature and for this they need a heat bulb. This will help in maintaining the right amount of temperature for them, also it would provide a spot to the chameleon so that it can carry out its basking.
UVB light:
This light is very important for your chameleon. This is because it provides the right amount of Vitamin D3 that is required and will help in absorbing the calcium. If you do not provide this, your pet can suffer from diseases, this might even include the metabolic bone disease which is a very serious issue in the chameleons. It is a painful disease and might even cause death.
Grow light:
This is not very essential for the health of your pet. This is suggested if you want to make your pets cage look more colorful and happier.
This light is beneficial if we consider that the chameleon would need more light to thrive, and the UUVB or the heat lamps would not serve the purpose.
These are the best bulbs mentioned above which you can get for your chameleon. You need to pick the best one according to your requirement, and place it at a suitable spot. Also make sure you purchase the bulb keeping in view the rating and wattage as per the size of the tank.
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