Do Chameleons Need Heat Lamps?

As a chameleon owner, you probably have already filled your reptile’s enclosure with plants, decorative items, branches, and even food. But there’s one more thing still on that ‘must have’ list. Yup! It’s the heat lamp. But do chameleons really need heat lamps?

Well, they surely do. To keep their body properly active, they need the right amount of heat and temperature. In the wild, they can get that from the sun, but in captivity, they need an artificial source, and heat lamps are just perfect for that job.

But how much important is it for the survival of the reptile? And for how long you’ll have to leave it on? Well, our today’s article is all about getting you those answers.

Why Do Chameleons Need Heat Lamps?

The sun is a chameleon’s primary source of warmth in the wild. If you’re guessing the wild gets warmer with the first light of the day, then you’re wrong. As the mornings are a bit chilly there, chameleons usually go someplace secure to relax in the sunshine for a long time so that they can get in all the heat they need to keep up with regular activities.

After reaching their ideal body temperature, these reptiles will continue to bask in the sun till they feel the need to finally look for some shade. But for obvious reasons, captive chameleons are not that lucky to have the sun itself as their heat lamp.

Actually, they seldom see the outside world, as they are often confined to cages, which are obviously kept indoors. As the sun isn’t backing them up for the heat, they can’t get a better source than a heat lamp.

Don’t underestimate the heat lamp yet thinking that the competition is with the sun. Artificial lighting can still imitate the sun in terms of both warmth and luminosity, at least for the chameleons. Still confused about whether you should get that heat light or not. Well, let us clear up the reasons a bit more.

Maintaining Warmth

Have you ever heard the term Ectothermic? It indicates the animals that can’t generate their own body heat. And guess what? Chameleons are ectothermic. This means they are able to maintain their body temperature and keep their metabolic processes functioning only if there’s any external heat source involved.

They would simply seek out a sunny branch in the wild to bask on for warmth. But clearly, they’ve got no chance to do that in their enclosures. Thus, the installation of heat lamps will get them the much-needed warmth and keep them active.

Maybe you’re wondering what happened to their heating pad then. Well, they’re pretty much useless when it comes to chameleons. The reason for this is that they rarely visit the bottom of the enclosure. Actually, they prefer to stay on the branches and lofty perches that are set within the area. So, whether you like it or not, adding a heat lamp is your only way to get them all the heat they need.

Sensory Stimulation

Do you know on which senses these colorful reptiles rely the most? the visual ones. Compared to ours, their ones are way more developed. Actually, the range of colors visible to them is far broader than it is to humans. As a result, they are able to distinguish hues that are completely invisible to human eyes.

Though their ability to perceive color is at a whole other level, it’s nothing but annoying for them to get stuck in an enclosure that doesn’t allow their acute eyesight to see colors. Well, that’s what happens when you’re not getting them that light. After all, if adequate illumination is not provided, they will surely experience sensory deprivation.

What Kind of Heat Lamp Will Be the Best For Chameleons?

The right kind of bulb has a lot to do with your chameleon’s well-being. After all, these reptiles are not designed to take in the heat generated by all kinds of heat bulbs out there. Some will be too dim for them, and some will be too hot. So, rather than just getting any random bulb, know first what kind of bulb is actually right for your reptile.

You better choose a heat bulb that’s between 75 and 100 watts when it comes to heating up your favorite reptile. However, you’re going to need higher-wattage lamps if your enclosure is particularly large. The likelihood of accidentally overheating your reptile with decently high-powered lights is quite low. When it becomes too hot, they’ll just get down.

Now the question is, what if there’s excessive ambient heat within the tank? well, that’s something you should be worrying about in the first place. If that’s the case, there’s a high chance of them dying out of the massive internal heat as they’ll have no way to cool themselves down. So if you’re really asking for the best outcome, it’s recommended to keep the power at approximately 100 watts, not more than that.

By the way, setting this one is kind of easy. Just put a bulb, timer, and a bowl reflector together, and it’ll be ready to heat up your reptile. And yes, no matter which bulb you buy, you need to make sure that the bulb fits in the reflector without crossing the reflector’s length.

We won’t say using the timer is mandatory. However, this does make the maintenance of your chameleons simpler and less stressful. In order to let your reptile have a healthy sleep schedule, you should limit the amount of light in your cage to 12–14 hours each day. And when you’re not around, the timer can surely help you out with that.

Does a Chameleon Need Heat Lamp at Night?

You’re probably questioning yourself that the chams need heat during the day but don’t they need any at night? Well, that depends on a few factors, and how chilly your apartment or house becomes at night is one of them. The other one is the weather, as that too can take down the temperature below the lizard’s tolerance level.

By the way, the nighttime temperature dip does not harm a chameleon’s ability to blend in. But the regulation of their metabolism depends on it for sure. Interestingly, veiled chameleons can tolerate temperatures as low as 40° Fahrenheit at night. So it’s kind of doubtful that they would require supplemental heat when the temperature drops at that time.

But if you’re still confused about getting a heat lamp in the first place, you can pick yourself a ceramic heater like this that will fit into any ceiling dome. This will keep your reptile warm without letting in any light that might wake up the chameleon.

Final Words

When you’re listing up for getting the essentials for your chameleon, we bet skipping the heat lamp will be a big-fat mistake. After all, these reptiles can shortly become fatally sick and even die if you don’t get the right kind of heating sources, as they can’t produce their own.

But make sure that you’re getting the right kind of light, nothing over-powered. Otherwise, your attempt of keeping the reptile alive will become the reason of its sickness and even death.