Hey Eve,

It's my mission to provide the most optimal environment I can for Dexter - that is very important to me. I love this little dude and want to provide nothing but the best... so hoping to get some different input from folks. Here I thought I was going good and have a great set up, but the heat thing bothers me a lot. I feel bad. Although, it wasn't life threatening as they are just small hot spots... but still. I sure wish I had that digital camera to show you what his tank looks like.

It is a 40 gallon. It is the length of a 20L, but it is taller. I use the felt bottom, which personally, I like b/c I am not breeding him. I have two lizard ladders on the left side of the tank, a hammock in the righ rea corner, and two more lizard ladders (those plastic ones you get from Petsmart that are green with the suction cups) on the back wall. And another hammock on the right rear corner and yet another ladder on the right side. yeah I am a fan of those... I have them on all sides except the front so he can climb his heart away. He use to use them ALL the time and just hop and climb all the time. I also have a bendable branch in the center leading over to the left side. The left side is the hot side and the right is the cool side. He has a hide rock on each rear corner. His feed dish in on the right side as well as his water dish. Now his humidity box is in the rear center. He still has quite a bit of free space though although I make it sound cluttered.

The under the tank is on the left side (hot side) as well as a Mercury vapor flood 160W and a 150W tight flood - both on left. I think I am going to get rid of the 150W tight basking light now that I know how hot it is. At night I have a red night light on the right side. All on timers. Lights go on at 8 or 9 am. I simply can't remember. They go off at 8pm. The night light comes on at 8pm and goes off at 7am. The under tank heater is on 24/7. He always sleeps on the left side. Usually under his rock, but also just outside of it. PRobably b/c it gets hot (now that I got that temp gun). He is like clockwork. Up at 8/9am and goes under the rock at 8pm when the lights go off... it is acutally funny how he runs like clock work

I put meal worms in his bowl in he morning (smaller ones). Fill his dish every other day (water). It is almost empty in that amount of time so that is why that often. I use bottled water instead of tap water.

I can't think of anything else. Was just curious to get your input as well - the good and the bad

I want to make this perfect for him so I can get a girlfriend for him

Anywahoo... ttyl
JIM