Basics: UVB for Chameleons
by Admin
Posted on 19-10-2023 03:45 PM
Lighting - the basics
using appropriate lighting is absolutely critical to your chameleon’s long term health. With all the different types of lightbulbs available at petstores it is easy to get confused about what you actually need. Here are the basics:
uvb light
uvb light is the most important aspect of lighting for indoor captive chameleons.
Ultraviolet light rays are emitted by the sun in uva, uvb and uvc frequencies. Uvb is invisible but critical to the formation of vitamin d3 in the skin of reptiles, which allows them to absorb calcium from their food. Chameleons must have uvb light to survive.
Summary: UVB for your Chameleon
Yes, chameleons can get too much uvb light. While uvb light is essential for their health and well-being, overexposure to it can lead to health issues such as eye damage, skin burns, and dehydration. The recommended uvb exposure time for chameleons varies depending on the species, age, and size of the chameleon. It's essential to provide them with the correct uvb lighting according to their needs, and it's also crucial to monitor their behavior and health regularly. If you notice any signs of overexposure to uvb, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, or abnormal behavior, you should immediately consult with a reptile veterinarian.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/
In order to use their dietary calcium, chameleons must have adequate levels of the activated form of vitamin d, termed d3, in the blood stream. Lizards convert dietary vitamin d to d3 when they are exposed to light with wavelengths between 290 and 315 nanometers -- the uvb portion of the spectrum. In the wild, chameleons absorb uvb radiation from the sun; in captivity, uvb comes either from regular exposure to natural, unfiltered sunlight or from a commercially produced full-spectrum reptile bulb.
I’ve written a more detailed article on this topic here but to summarize a chameleon needs three types of light to survive and thrive. The lights your chameleon needs are: heat light – this is essential as chameleons can’t thermoregulate their body temperature and instead rely on the sun to regulate it for them. A heat lamp provides a spot for the chameleon to bask in and also helps maintain the ambient temperature of the cage. Uvb light– this is also essential as chameleons need uvb rays to manufacture vitamin d3 in order to absorb dietary calcium. Without this, they can develop many health problems particularly metabolic bone disease, an extremely painful condition for chameleons.,p>