HWLDP (heat wave lizard death preventor) aka Misting System.
After a freak heat wave last year that cause the deaths of two lizards and heat stroke like symptoms in some others, I decided to install a mysting system. It works like this:
a) 1/2 inch pvc irrigation pipe is ran the length of all the enclosures. Every six feet there is an outlet with a cap fitted with a small plastic misting head (either 360, 180, or 90 degree spray diameter). This is plummed to the sprinkler valve.
b)A 120 volt outlet goes to a "step down transformer" that goes to the (low votage)24 volt Ranco thermostat that can be set to turn on when either a cold or hot trigger temp is programed (in this case when ambient/shade temps reach 99 degrees). A probe is placed in an area with no direct sun. The thermostat is then wired to a sprinkler valve.
On a hot day, when the ambient temp get to 99 degrees, the entire cage area will get misted and the ambient temp from the cooler mist and evaporation should drop the temp by 10 to 20 degrees. When temps get down to 85 degrees, the misters will turn off, then on again when it gets back to 99 degrees.
