Anyone use shale rock for the basking spot?? I was going to try it out but I thought I would just asked before I even bought some. I have the top of my retes stack painted black but with winter comming I think shale on the top would hold the heat better. I use a different kind of rock for my beardies in the winter and it seems to suck up the heat and hold it better than the black painted wood. I cannot find anymore of this rock though so I think shale will be somewhat similar.
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Shale covered basking spot
shottz
Nov 03, 2011 02:22 PM
Replies (2)
FR
Nov 03, 2011 07:56 PM
Black allows the heat to be absorbed by the boards. Retes boards are to allow the monitors to absorb the heat, so liter colored boards are best.
Retes boards are to allow many different temps, and different humidities, as in choices. The boards are not suppose to hold heat.
Shale, also defeats the purpose, its heavy and dark.
The reason for retes boards is to provide many choices in a small area, and our cages are normally very small.
If you have a room sized enclosure, you could use all manner of different materials. Good luck
shottz
Nov 04, 2011 12:24 AM
FR_ only the top of the retes stack is black to get that 135 basking spot without having to add another bulb. There is
5 levels below that with a hole all the way through. The bottom one being fully submersed in the dirt in which it dug a deep hole under the soil/sand substrate. My nile usually spends most his time on the level below the black, which is about 110 in that slot. All the other levels are normal light wood colored.
