Question about lighting

[Bwindi]

I just moved my summer of 2010 tegu into a larger enclosure and I was wondering about the lighting.

The enclosure is 4 feet in length, 1.5 feet tall and wide.

Right now I have a UVB + heat emitting zoo med light bulb over his basking spot.

I tested the temp at his basking spot and it was right under 90 degrees. I know this is a little low for a basking spot temp but I am afraid to put another lamp on the other side of the tank; for fear of the enclosure getting too hot.

The rest of the tank stays around 75 degrees.


Seeing how it is almost hibernating season should I just stay with the lower temps?

-- However, He doesn't show any signs of brumation. He is out basking all day and eats regularly.

Any advice? :mrgreen:

 

[chelvis]

Just raise the basking area, i put a cinder block under the basking spot and then a smaller brick next to it, this allows my tegu to get closer to further from the bulb meaning it will get warmer or cooler. You can also increase the wattage of the heat bulb if your set up allows, but the easiest way is just to raise the basking platform.

Some monitor keepers use plywood bench/shelving, im always worried about fires so i went the way of the cinder block. Take a look around the garden center loads of different pavers there, one should work for your tank. Just make sure it sits on the bottom of the tank so your tegu can not dig under it or knock it overs and hurt themselves.

 

[Toby_H]

My common advice is to follow your Tegu's lead and offer parameters that supports them doing what it seems they are doing...

I personally like to give my animals seasons, if their natural environment offers seasons...


So while I would lower the temps from 'Summertime Temps', I would not push the Tegu into hibernation...

The temps you are experiencing (daytime:90*F basking / 75*F ambient) allows your Tegus metabolism stay active yet does reflect a cooling of the season. If/When he begins to slow down you may want to use less heat or fewer hours of light, but as long as he is active I would continue to feed and offer 8~10 hours of light (slightly less than summer).

My 'rule of thumb' for my Tegu when he is brumating (but not hibernating) is when he wakes up two days in a row, I will feed him the third day... but I will not feed him if he only wakes up to deficate (and not bask).

It is important that a Tegu empty itself before sleeping for lengths of time. If I feel my Tegu has not expelled as much as it should, I will saturate his hide with warm water. This peacefully wakes him up and sparks the urge to empty himself.