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 #1722175


Gizmosmum
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 Help...basking temp change?

I previously had a home made basking site that was made using plaster of paris and styrofoam. The surface temps (using laser thermometer) were 105F. I recently took it out realising it isn’t the best surface as far as cleanliness is concerned...since I can’t get it wet, and I replaced it with a rock. The rock is at the same hieght as the platform was, and yet the surface temps are reading at 85F. Thats a HUGE difference. Is it because of the materials? Is Gizmos basking spot ok still? He should be reaching the same temps as before because he is at the same proximity to the heat light as before...but if we go off of surface temps....I am way too low. The only thing I can think of is that this is a big rock and therefore it is taking a long time to heat up...but how do I measure then how much heat Gizmo is feeling? I don’t want to increase the heat and hurt him...but I don’t want his temps too low either. I don’t know what to do ... if I need to do anything. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
05/01/08  01:24pm

 #1722197


Dragon Lover
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   Message To: Gizmosmum   In reference to Message Id: 1722175


 Help...basking temp change?

His temps, as an adult, should be between 90-105. I would try a higher wattage bulb, just a house hold bulb, and see what happens.

Bricks are great for holding the heat.

Edel
05/01/08  01:49pm

 #1722425


Gizmosmum
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   Message To: Dragon Lover   In reference to Message Id: 1722197


 Help...basking temp change?

I understand what his temps should be, that is why I am concerned. My question though is why it is reading different when the only thing that has changed is the material. It was plaster of paris and now its a rock. Same light. Same enclosure. Same distance between the surface and the light. 20 degree temp difference. He is the same lizard sitting the same difference from the light as he was before. Should I crank up the heat anyway?Or is there a chance that I will overheat him trying to get a rock to heat up?

It is my understanding that a beardies heat sensors are in their backs and not their stomaches. I am concerned that I will burn him or overheat him trying to get the rock warmer when his back is the exact same distance from the light as it was before I changed things. Maybe I am not making sense, I hope that’s clearer.
05/01/08  05:30pm

 #1722473


Dragon Lover
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   Message To: Gizmosmum   In reference to Message Id: 1722425


 Help...basking temp change?

Different materials hold heat differently. Test different things.



05/01/08  06:03pm

 #1722519


Gizmosmum
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   Message To: Dragon Lover   In reference to Message Id: 1722473


 Help...basking temp change?

Let me try this again. I don’t think I am being clear.

If my beardies back is 6inches from the light on a basking spot with the perfect surface temp, wouldn’t it reason that if his back is still 6 inches from the same light he should be recieving the same amount of heat from it, even if the surface temp reads different? The source of heat has not changed. The distance has not changed. The enclosure has not changed. The beardie has not changed. The only difference is the material the beardie is sitting on. Do I still increase the amount of heat on his back even though it was fine before?

Is it so important that the surface temperature be around 105F that I should increase the temperature of a heat lamp that worked perfectly well at that same height in that same enclosure on that same beardie just because the basking surface isn’t warming up like his old one did? Wouldn’t I be risking overheating my beardie just because his rock doesn’t warm up like his old basking spot did?

I can understand changing bulbs and messing around with temperatures if anything else had changed, but everything is exactly the same other than the material he is sitting on. I am worried I will fry my beardie. Can someone please ease my mind.



05/01/08  06:34pm

 #1722547


Dragon Lover
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   Message To: Gizmosmum   In reference to Message Id: 1722519


 Help...basking temp change?

You are being clear. Different material keeps heat differently. I don’t know if the rock keeps the heat better than a brick or tile or the plaster of paris. You need to try them all and see which one will keep the heat the beast. I have a rock in one of my cages and it doesn’t get as hot as the brick. If you like the rock and you need the temps to be higher, then get a higher wattage bulb.
05/01/08  06:52pm

 #1722556


Dragon Lover
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   Message To: Dragon Lover   In reference to Message Id: 1722547


 Help...basking temp change?

As long as your basking area does not go above 100 degrees for an adult, you are not gonna overheat him. He has a big tank, and the cool side will be fine at about 85. He will not get overheated.
05/01/08  06:59pm

 #1723094


Gizmosmum
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   Message To: Dragon Lover   In reference to Message Id: 1722556


 Help...basking temp change?

Alright...I had a 100w household bulb in there and I just changed it to a 100w reptile spot bulb. The kind with the focused beam. I realise it is pretty much the same thing but I am still reluctant to crank up the temp.

I just keep thinking...if it was my hand...it wouldn’t matter what my hand was sitting on the heat from the light would feel the same, so if I made the light hotter, my hand would get hotter. That is why I am reluctant to up the watts on his light just yet.

And yes, I am very reluctant to take the rocks out. I picked them out just for Gizmo from outside of Banff national park. Yes, I said outside, so it was legal. Lol. I then brought them all the way home, sterilised them with a bleach water mixture, rinsed them REALLY well and baked them. Thats why I don’t want to give up on the rock just yet. Its a lot of work. Lol. Besides that , I made my hubby help me find the rocks. Every rock he found wasn’t quite good enough, and by the end he was a little frusterated with me...lol. I think he would kill me for making him rock hunt and then not use the rocks. lol.

I really do appreciate your guys advice and patience with me though. I know I can be a little hard headed at times. Thank you for taking the time to help.
05/02/08  10:29am

 #1723501


Yoshi55
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   Message To: Gizmosmum   In reference to Message Id: 1723094


 Help...basking temp change?

Hey I understand what your talking about. But the air temp above him is different from the basking temp below him. He needs that basking temp. Thats why they say to measure the basking spot..not the air. And the air will be cooler due to it being air! lol! I had an issue with my guy on a rock as well. The rocks dont heat up well BUT they can hold heat once they are at a ceratin degree...which is hot!! If the rocks mean so much to you, just put them in there for decoration and go to a local rock store and pick out a nice slab (cut it the right size you need and to fit a corner) and silicone it to the corner of his enclosure right just as his basking spot was previously. I did that and I keep perfect temps for my guy! He sits up there all day or on his log right below his basking slate. Slate is thinner so it doesnt take much to heat it up... hope this helps! :)
05/02/08  06:53pm


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