Posted by:
jerry d. fife
at Fri Mar 23 16:11:53 2012 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by jerry d. fife ]
Not sure I should enter this topic, but thought I'd give my two cents worth. My iguanas are maintained outdoors, so different than an indoor cage.
In Arizona my rhino's have experienced temps from 20 degrees to 122 degrees. They are provided a heated hide during freezing winter temps. During the summer we often have temps over 110 degrees. The rhinos never bask at these temps. They bask in the morning or when temps are cooler, however their body temps will still reach 110-115 degrees. If they basked when the temps were over 110-115 degrees their body temps would quickly exceed the air temps and they would over heat. I generally spray their cage with water when temps exceed 115 degrees because they have their mouths wide open and are obviously hot even in the shade.
For indoor temps, I think the key is where you have UV lights and temps throughout the entire enclosure. If they warm up too quick and retreat to an area which is covered or UV is not available, that could be a problem. If they bask longer with 110-115 degree hot spot and get more UV, that would be a good thing. If the enclosure is maintained in the mid to upper 80's I believe a basking site at 115 is plenty. (I do raise hatchlings this way)
In observing them in the Dominican and observing my own, they are most active on warm rainy or overcast days. When it is hot & dry, they retreat to burrows, shade etc.
I just think there are factors other than temps to consider, UV lighting is important.
I guess I've said enough.
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- Rhino basking spot - jerry d. fife, Fri Mar 23 16:11:53 2012
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