Heating temps

[Guest]

My tegus coming from varnyard on tuesday! So Im running temps today to get a reading on the tank. I have a 55 gallon with a 160 watt exo-terra uvb/basking mercury bulb on the far left side. The basking spot is about 103.9-105.2; about a foot from that its about 84.0-85.0, towards the center of the cage its 77-78, and cold side is 74. are these temps on the hot side/cold side too low? Should i put my 75 watt red light on the hot side to boost the temps up a bit?

 

[Guest]

The temps seem ok .. What are they with the light off ?? I keep mine at 72 to 75 degrees at night ... with your cold side that temp .. you may want to put your light on the cold side

 

[Guest]

The temps sound pretty darn good to me, though the basking spot *might* need a bump of only a couple degrees; play around with that, and watch your tegu's reactions. Don't use the red light. If you need to raise the temps a bit, it won't be by much at all, and so a regular CFL house bulb will do just fine.

 

[Guest]

I got a red light on at night its a 75 watt and I keep it in the center of the cage. I havent checked the temp yet for that though.

Alright awesome! I was worried they would be too low. If I need to put the basking spot up i'll just put an inch or two more of cypress mulch to raise the heat and get it closer to the bulb. Its about 14 inches away from the bulb right now. I might end up buying a regular bulb like you said just in case the temps get *too* low for whatever reason. Actually on the farthest of the cool side the temp gauge said it was 71...too cold? Thats on the very far side, though.

 

[Guest]

I think your red light in the middle is great ..I have a ceramic heater near the center of mine and they work great a good thermostat is a great thing to have and are relatively in expensive.. You can warm it up more by putting a board or what ever over the screen top .Good luck with your new tegu .. Don`t expect much as he will most likely burrow down in the chips and hide out most the time till spring ..

 

[Guest]

Oh, good idea I'll have to do that. Yeah I know, Im getting him right when hibernating season is here );

 

[Guest]

Hehehehe, there are so many stories out there now of people getting their new hatchlings, getting to spend about a couple weeks with them... and then they go down for the Winter.

If you're going to keep a heat source going at night, I'd recommend switching out that red light you have for a ceramic heat emitter. They're cheap, and they don't put out ANY light, which is better for when your tegu is sleeping.

 

[Guest]

I thought Lizards didnt see in shades of red? Maybe thats only certain ones like leopard geckos and bearded dragons lol

 

[Guest]

Birds see colors fish see colors too .. I can think of no reason that lizards wouldn't see colors too . I don`t care what the scientists say .. That could be true to some degree in lizards thet hunt at night ..

 

[Guest]

Well, for any kind of nocturnal reptile (like some geckos), I've heard those red lights are fine, but tegus aren't nocturnal, and having any kind of visible light on while they're trying to sleep has been known to cause stress in them. Ceramic heat emitters may cost a few bucks more, but they last a long time, and are worth it for the health and well-being of your tegu.