Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As I was looking over all the info I have thus far on keeping crocs, I haven't found anything specific as to basking temps so i wanted to be re-assured by the "proffesionals" that my readings are ok.

As far as water temp. he has an aquatic titanium heater that keeps the water temp at a regular 80-85 deg. F throughout the 40-45 gallons of water he currently has 24 hours a day, and I have a 50 watt basking bulb that keeps the center of his land area at about 90-95 deg. F during the day, and a red nightlight basking bulb that keeps that same area and part of the area around the land around 80-85 at night. These temps are what I am mostly worried about, are they too hot? The larger land area also has a faux plant that partly shades him from the direct light as well. He does spend 80% of his time basking during the day, so I wanted to make sure he was at his "comfy-est".

I have read alot about their PBT being the most important in them eating and growing healthy and I have no reason to think that he is not doing well right now, as he is acting, swimming and eating all in the way I would expect, I just wanted to know if I have these set right, or is maybe they should be "raised" in order to have a lower basking temp.

Little wordy, sorry about that, but thanks in advance for any help.

The basking temps are fine and as long as you have an ambient air temp of around 85 degrees you are safe. The thing that I noticed is your water temps. Your water temperatures are a bit too high. Reduce your water temps to about 78 degrees and you will be doing good.

Chris

Yeah I did realize it may have been a little on the high side after thinking about the basking temps so much, but it was usually more around 82, not 85, but I bumped it down last night to between 78-80, so we're good to go there.

What do you people use to test air temps in their tanks? I was thinking about getting a nice digital thermometer with a probe, but I have no idea which one would be a good one. As of now I have a disc thermometer, that any local pet store carries, that I stuck in diff places throughout the terrarium and took readings, a probe would make this task alot easier, and will def come in handy in the future with the larger terrariums.

Actually I use the same thermometers/hygrometers. I get the ones from zoo-med and they seem to work great and are pretty accurate. Stay away from the ones made by ectotherm, because they aren't quite as accurate. You can get the surface temp guns to test surface temperatures of basking spots and such. I have used the floating water thermometers to test water temps, but be careful because depending on the size of your animal they might try to eat it. air temperature is monitored best by either the digital internal thermometers or by using the stickable temperature gauges that you can get at local pet stores.

Best Wishes,

Chris