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I have a basking rock in the Mali tank heated from above by a radiant heat lamp. Acording to a tempgun the rock goes from 110-160 from outside edge to the center. The Mali lies directly in the center of the rock for short periods even though it is too hot for me to touch. How hot is too hot for a basking Mali? and will he have enought sense not to lie on a rock that is too hot?

Iv recorded temps of 170f on logs here in Montreal Canada, therefore I guess uromastyx must be exposed to such temps in nature, however I think anything above 130f is unnecessary, if its an electrical heating device (hot rock) I who’d discard it as many have failed and caused burns and even death to many reptiles.

A temp gun measures the surface temperature of the object rather than the air temperature. If you measure the air temp with a digital thermometer and those are ok, maybe you could try a basking surface that's lighter in color or made of something different so it won't get so hot. Just check the air temps again to make sure they're still good after the switch.
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Torey
Salem, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
1.1 Uromastyx Maliensis (Tank and Turtle)
1.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser and Leeloo)
1.1 African Dwarf Frogs (Bruce and Sheila)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.0 Sunset Dwarf Gourami (Sideshow)
0.0.1 False Spotted Corydoras (Spot)
0.0.2 Metae Corydoras (Frank and Jesse)
0.0.2 Dwarf Sucking Oto (Tootsie and Dum-Dum)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

From everything I've read 120 to 150 is optimal.

A temp gun measures the surface temperature of the object rather than the air temperature. If you measure the air temp with a digital thermometer and those are ok, maybe you could try a basking surface that's lighter in color or made of something different so it won't get so hot. Just check the air temps again to make sure they're still good after the switch.

Ambient temps are what the care sheets have all gone by. I don't know that the uro will always know it's getting burned so I'd be careful. I had a hideout that I didn't know was conducting heat quite well, and my mali was blistering on her side while she was resting. So be careful on the 160° range.
-Jim
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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII

120-130 is the standard suggestion for basking spots although uromastyx.com suggests up to 150. I'd suggest turning it down a little so that it never goes above 150 anywhere. I think the important thing is to observe your uro. If he seems fine (breathing, eating, etc normally) then it's probably ok. I keep mine around 125. I've tried hotter but he started avoiding the basking spot and staying on the sand so I changed it.
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Kane

As other posts said, proper basking temps have been stated anywhere from 120-160. I prefer 120-140 maximum. As Jim said, you have to be careful with some rocks as they hold heat better than we think. I just bought a Storrs monitor who suffered a thermal burn (before I got him) from lying under a basking light, not touching it. I have also read that the Mercury Vapor bulbs with the little square in the middle are the worst for creating very high concentrated heat that can cause thermal burns. You just have to try different things and choose what creates the most ideal situation for your uro. Good luck.

Pam

If you look at his head, on the left is a white spot where he suffered the thermal burn.

Pam