Chameleons and IR lights. and laying eggs?

[dosijomi]

I've been told that infrared lights are fine for Chameleon's because they don't see red... But I read that the Chameleon's still won't get the sleep or rest they need because it's still too bright? I've been leaning towards a ceramic heater to give the heat during the night, it gets pretty cool here, but I just was wondering what everyone has for their chams here?
I still have a lot to learn about these guys, but I think I have a pretty good setup for Sneaky now. :) Just getting into the whole egg laying thing, I was told (by the same guy who said the chameleons can't see red) that she won't lay eggs until she's been bred. I'm not convinced that she won't lay infertile clutches at some point, which may be sooner than I thought seeing how big she was compared to a 3 month old male chameleon I was looking at the other day. I was never told her age, she was just a "juvi" (she was bought from a pet store for my step-son, my fiance had one once when he was growing up, it died from eating a rock... let's just say there's no rocks in this enclosure for Sneaky!) So I'd like some input here... I know I still have a lot to learn, but I have really taken initiative to make sure she is getting everything she needs. I'm not as worried about my snakes as I am about her, haha. (The snakes are still my babies, though, love them both to death!) I'm willing to learn anything and everything I need to know to care for these guys properly!
Thanks.

[Starbuck]

i used a CHE for my chameleons; my male lived to be 7 1/2, the female died at 2 1/2 as she got egg bound. I've read that females can and will still produce clutches, regardless of whether they have been bred. IMHO, chameleons are not very good pets, and female chameleons are even worse pets :/ it is very difficult to keep them correctly...

You may have better luck checking out a chameleon-specialty forum (chameleonforums is a good one). Best of luck

[Lankyrob]

I chameleon breeder that i visit keeps his with a mercury vspour bulb diring the day and no heat at night, obviously you dont want ambient temps to drop too low tho

[Starbuck]

Oops lankyrob, thanks for the reminder!!!!!!!!! I kept chameleons in my teens, so i forgot to mention that we also used a mercury vapor bulb (change every 6 months!!) during the day, but the CHE was on 24/7 during the cooler months.
Veileds are from fairly arid places that get pretty cool at night, so depending on your house temps you may not need a night time heat element.

[fuzzhc]

This might be a tad late cause I didnt even know there was a cham section here lol but yes females do lay eggs even if not been bred