My basking branch is at a good distance from the lightbulb (paranoid cause last cham got burns), but if he were to climb the top of the cage he would be pretty close (5 inches). What do I do, he climbs the cage every now and then
Reptile & Amphibian Forums
Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
Basking light good range from basking branch but too close to cage?
tassadar898
Dec 07, 2004 07:16 PM
Replies (3)
Carlton
Dec 07, 2004 07:50 PM
I think to be safe set your lamp so the highest spot he can climb to is at the desired temp. If the basking branch is lower (farther away) it won't be by very much, and at a few degrees lower temp he will just sit there a bit longer. Chams absorb heat over time to reach "operating temp". He'll just reach it a bit slower I think. Better safe than sorry.
tassadar898
Dec 07, 2004 08:10 PM
Im usng a 60 WATT and I put my hand under the basking branch and it isn't that warm, I dont have a thermometer at the momeny. Should I use 100 Watt?
Carlton
Dec 08, 2004 11:01 PM
The only way to know for sure is to get the thermometer. Your hand is not accurate and your skin can't be compared to the temp rise from the skin of a cold-blooded animal. Your skin starts off a lot warmer than a cham's, so what feels barely warm to you is really warm to a herp. I can't tell you what watt lamp to use, no one can. The thermometer is the thing to get...don't guess. The best thermometer to use is a "non-contact" infrared temp gun because you can measure the surface temp of anything you point it at. Pro Exotics sells them for about $25 these days (a year ago they were about $60!). It will pay for itself right away.
