Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my argentine b&w tegu and I was wondering what temps you keep yours at? Right now my temps are 106 degrees in the basking spot and between 88 to 90 degrees on the cool side. I got her from agama and I asked Bert what temps are good and he said around 96 F on the basking and upper 70`s lower 80`s the rest of the cage. Does this seem right cause I thought that I read on here that the basking is suppose to be 110-115 F.
Thanks Steve
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Thanks Steve
Owner of:
2.1. Bearded Dragons
www.home.wi.rr.com/stevesreptiles

I usually keep mine at around 95-110 basking and then my tank is so large that I am able to have a temp gradient from around 90 outside the basking light to the mid 70's on the cool side. That way they are able to move around to where they are comfy. Mine will spend a little while in the basking light then move off to the cool side for a while. They usually hang out in the cool side though and that is where the prefer to sleep also. I think the advice Bert gave is good. He has been breeding these for a long time and knows his stuff. You should remember that on this forum we are all posting our own opinion and what we do not saying that we do not know what we are doing butjust it is our opinion. I would have to say listen to the breeder since they have obviously figured out what works to be able to breed in captivity. Just thoughts. Another way to decide is to watch your tegu if it hangs in the warm side all the time increase your temps a little, if it always stays on the cool side decrease your temps a little this is where a good digital thermometer or a temp gun is vital it allows you the ability to see exactly whats going on. Good luck to you with your little guy. If you watch your lizard it will tell you what it needs.

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Beau W.

"There are no athiests in foxholes. It is not an argument against athiesm but rather one against foxholes." James Morrow

From all I've read and from my tegu's behavior, I'd say to make sure your cool side is a good bit cooler than you have it. While they need a hot basking spot (And that's surface temp measured with a temp gun, NOT air temperature), they need to be able to get cool or they will dehydrate. What are you using to measure your temps? It sounds like your air temp on the hot side is too hot.

Leslie

Thanks for the replys. I am using a digital temp gage, plus I have a temp gun that I use. I switched the bulb just now from a 60w to a 40w so hopefully that will work to cool it off some. I am also going to try a spot bulb to see if that will work also cause now I have just a regular household light bulb in there. Then if that dont work I will have to put another vent in there.
Thanks Steve
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Thanks Steve
Owner of:
2.1. Bearded Dragons
www.home.wi.rr.com/stevesreptiles

What size is your tank that you are housing the little guy in right now? That will be a factor in your bulb choice. Also while heat is important you also need to have UVB and UVA and you will not get those from a regular house bulb. Go to big apple herp or to one of the other reptile supply places and get a mercury vapor bulb or a flourescent bulb and fixture for your UVA needs. I use both a flourescent uva and a mercury vapor spot bulb in my enclosure. Now Flourescents will not generate much heat so you would still need a heat source in addition to that. If you go with a flourescent then you are able to go with a spot light for basking. Good luck to you and I hope this has helped you out.
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Beau W.

"There are no athiests in foxholes. It is not an argument against athiesm but rather one against foxholes." James Morrow

The cage my tegu is in right now is 6`l x 2`d x 18"h. I have a 4` shop light in there with a regular bulb and a repti-sun 5.0. I am going to get another repti-sun to replace the regular bulb soon. The shop light on one side by the basking log is about 6" away. I changed the bulb from a 60w to a 40w this morning and the temps are now 96f basking and the cool end is 85f. I think I am going to put another vent in on the cool side to see how that works out. Thanks for the help I appreciate it. I will post some pics of the setup once I take some. Steve
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Thanks Steve
Owner of:
2.1. Bearded Dragons
www.home.wi.rr.com/stevesreptiles

Hey it sounds like you are on the right trak to reaching the temps you want. Like you said in your other post if the new vent does not work to help a spot light surely might since it does not prject light and heat to the whole tank. I also put a small computer type fan in the top of my tank so that it pulls the air out of my tank to keep a good circulation going without creating a huge draft. That is what finally helped me achieve the cool side the way I wanted it. Good luck
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Beau W.

"There are no athiests in foxholes. It is not an argument against athiesm but rather one against foxholes." James Morrow

rheostat. That way you don't have to keep changing bulbs. Home Depot sells a rheostat built into an extension cord. They cost less than $10.00. Put in a larger than needed bulb and adjust it downward. This makes the bulbs really last too.

Mike B

Here is a pic of the cage that the tegu is in. It isnt done in this picture yet though.How do you hook up one of them fans I thought about doing that to all my tanks before but didnt know how to wire it up.Im sure it isnt that hard. I am going to get a spot bulb and try that and I have a rehostat that I am going to hook up too. Thanks for the help. Steve

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Thanks Steve
Owner of:
2.1. Bearded Dragons
www.home.wi.rr.com/stevesreptiles

what I did was went to comp usa and got a fan from them. When I was there I made sure I told them what I was going to do with it. They wired it up for me there so all I had to do was take it home and mount it. If they will not do that for you at one of the stores in your area check walmart for a small fan then just mount it so it pulls from the tank instead of blows in. I also covered mine with screen so that jsut in case I would not have a tegu missing a tail or anything else. Good luck and it sounds like you are going to have a sweet set up. Mine took a few months of fiddling with things to get it right so just hang in there.

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Beau W.

"There are no athiests in foxholes. It is not an argument against athiesm but rather one against foxholes." James Morrow