Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Help! My Uro is supposed to come today in the mail and I can't get the cage past the temp. 100degrees! I have a 3'Visions cage I have been frantically switching flood light bulbs(125watts) and a infer red(120watts). My husband covered the ESU fixture with aluminum foil and put towels over the vent holes, that's how I was able to get 100 degrees. I won't be able to get a hold of Doug Dix until about 11:00pm tonight est. He has said that the mercury vapor is too hot for Visions cages. My poor baby won't be able to get warm enough when he arrives from his long trip from Washington

Where are you measuring the temperature? The whole cage doesn't need to be super hot - the only place it needs to be 120 or so is directly under the basking spot.

Perhaps the regular floods aren't focused enough. You can go to a pet shop and get a basking spot bulb if you need to. They are designed for this and do work well, though they're more expensive and don't last as long as a regular bulb.

I definitely wouldn't cover the vents, in any case. Your new uro will need the air circulation for certain.

Good luck! And let us know how it goes!
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
0.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
0.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

Hi Torey, thank you for answering my post.I'm measuring the temp on the basking rock underneath the basking well; it is reading 102 degrees. If I take the towels off I will only get 80 degrees. I think the aluminum foil is helping but your right I should go to the petshop to get a basking bulb.

Hi, I use a piece of patio slate for my uro and it seems to absorb heat better than ordinary stones...his basking stays at 110 degrees and 85 to 90 in the cooler "zone" ....good luck...Lyn

Lyn- My basking spot is up to 110 but I will get a piece of slate and remove the covers on the ventalation outlets.

Barbara

I use T-rex 150 watt clear basking bulbs and it keeps the basking temperature at 115 degrees. The Day-glo 150 watt tight beam basking lamps have also worked well for me in the past. Only the basking area needs to be that hot, there should be a cooler area to allow them to regulate their temperature. Good luck!!

Hello everyone! Thank you for your help. The basking spot is staying at 110degrees and about 95 degrees for the rest of the cage.Orion is scratching around the sides of the cage trying to get out and going back and forth to the basking spot. I hope he discovers his hiding cave pretty soon because it will be time to shut the lights down for the night. What times should I set thr timer at to come on in the morning and to shut off at night?

Barbara

I set all my lizard lights to come on just before I get up in the morning, then make adjustments for the seasons. Every few weeks now, I'm shortening their days to mimic the natural sun. I've read differing opinions on how much variation there should be, but 14 hours summer light and 10 hours winter light seems about right. There's different stuff to do, though, if you plan to brumate Orion. Someone more experienced should tell you about that.
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
0.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

Hi Torey. I get up about 6am so I'll set the timer a little before then. I do not plan to brumate Orion, he's still a juvie but I might in the future.

Barbara

Brumation is not just for breeding. It is to mimic natural conditions in the wild so the lizards will have a chance to cool. In the wild all ages of uros brumate so why not in captivity. I am not sure but i think i might put my hatchlings in a very short and warm brumation. just enough so they are not active and stop eating for a few weeks. I will cool them down enough so they dont lose weight, but will will have it for about 4-5 weeks instead of 6-8 weeks. So they get a little used to being brumated so when they are adults they are not in shock when you put them into a cold brumation to breed them.
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Mike
1.1.3 maliensis (Spike, Marshmellow, Brown, Green, Orange)
1.3 geyri (Fire, Flame, Sunset, Princess)
0.1 Pit Bull/German Shephard/ Lab/ ect. mix (Kodak) - looks like an over grown toco bell dog.