What lights does a chameleon need?
What I am recommending is the simplest lighting combination that has been proven to be very successful with veiled, panther, and Jackson’s chameleons but there is definitely more than one way to successfully keep a chameleon. There are three lights that you’ll want to get for your chameleon: heat, UVB, and a plant LED.
Heat
Benefits & temperatures
Chameleons need a white heat bulb (do not ever use red heat bulbs) to help regulate their temperatures since they are ectothermic (cold blooded). Heat bulbs should be placed on the outside of the enclosure and usually to one side/corner of the enclosure towards the back.
The ideal temperature ranges will vary based on your species and sex of chameleon, but the general basking temperature for a female chameleon is 80°F and 85°F for a male chameleon. This can be measured by a thermometer available in my shopping lists. The heat bulb should be on for 12 hours and completely off at night. You can automate the lights with an outlet timer or smart plug. Nighttime temperatures will vary per species, but all species benefit from a temperature drop at night. Veiled chameleons do best with nighttime temps of 55°-65°F, panther chameleons should be 60°-70°F, and Jackson’s chameleons should be around 50°-65°F.
Bulbs and Fixtures
There are lots of different types of bulbs you can use for heat and the exact wattage bulb you use will vary on where you place your basking branch and temperature of the room your chameleon will be in. Generally a 50-60W heat bulbs should give you the temperatures you need. Halogen bulbs are gaining popularity in the reptile hobby but you can also use a white reptile-brand bulb or a white incandescent bulb from your local Home Depot or Lowe’s. Heat bulbs should be replaced as soon as they go out. Always a good idea to have a couple extra handy.
The heat bulb fixture is what holds the heat bulb and comes in a variety of sizes. I prefer to use smaller ones so that they don’t take up too much space on top of the enclosures but the larger ones are fine. If you have a dual fixture that holds two compact bulbs (comes with the ZooMed chameleon kit) than you can continue to use for your heat bulb but will need to get a different fixture and bulb for you UVB.
UVB
Purpose
I cannot stress enough how important it is you get the CORRECT UVB bulb for you chamelon. This bulb is 100% necessary and acts as the sun for your chameleon so that they can process and synthesize Vitamin D3. Without the proper UVB bulb, your chameleon is at risk of developing life threatening health issues like metabolic bone disease. The majority of health issues I see in chameleons are from people having the wrong UVB and supplements.
Bulbs and fixtures
UVB bulbs get even more complicated than heat bulbs. I am recommending you use a T5 HO Arcadia 6% or the Reptisun 5.0 UVB bulb. If you do not own a solar meter then your UVB bulb will need to be replaced every 6-12 months – just because the UVB bulb turns on, does not mean it is putting off enough UVB because the bulbs get weaker and less effective over time.
You may hear some keepers recommend using a T5 Arcadia 12% or Reptisun 10.0 UVB bulb especially for veiled chameleons. This goes back to my earlier comment that there is more than one way to keep a chameleon. There has been research that demonstrates that a veiled chameleon can successfully live and produce healthy offspring underneath a 6% or 5.0 UVB. So, then we wonder as a chameleon community, is the 12% or 10.0 UVB too much UVB? Are we overdoing it? We know too much UVB is harmful to humans (sunburns, cancer, etc.) but we are still learning the long-term effects of too much UVB on chameleons. This website is meant for new keepers, so I do prefer to err on the side of caution and recommend you use a bulb we know for sure is safe. If you want to learn more about this, check out Chameleon Academy.
There are lots of different fixtures you can use. I’d suggest a 24” or 36” fixture from these brands: Arcadia, Reptisun, Josh’s Frogs, and The Bio Dude. I cannot vouch for any other brands of fixtures so use those at your own risk. Your UVB bulb should be placed on the outside on top of the enclosure and does best when placed horizontally to run left to right. If you are using an enclosure that is shorter than 48” you will need to raise the T5 bulb up above the enclosure so that you don’t overexpose your chameleon. Most people use plastic cups or books on either end to suspend the bulb above the enclosure.
Your UVB bulb should be on for 12 hours and off at night.
BAd uvb bulbs
GOOD uvb bulbs
Plant LED
DO you need it?
Plant lights are not necessary since they don’t provide any direct benefit to your chameleon, but you will find it to be much easier to keep your plants alive in the enclosure if you do decide to get one. I have seen a HUGE improvement in plant growth since adding one to my own enclosures. I know some of the plant LEDs are expensive, but they last a long time! My Arcadia Jungle Dawn is going on it’s 3rd year without any issues! This is also something you could get later on.
Bulbs and fixtures
Plant LED lights do not have separate fixtures and bulbs. So you just need to purchase the light. Just like with the other bulbs there are lots of different lights to chose from. My favorite is the Arcadia Jungle Dawn plant LED light. They come in a varity of sizes/watts but the 24”/24W one would be great for a 48” tall enclosure. I’ve also used the Solar Grow and Vivarium Electronics plant LED lights and that’s a good option too. This light should also be turned off at night and run alongside your UVB.