Temperature

[Wrath]

If it's 80 degrees in my bedroom at night, do I still have to use an undertank heater for my lizard? I have a fluorescent UV light and a basking lamp too.

[enso]

What species of lizard is it?

[Wrath]

It's a Sudan plated lizard. From the province just south of Egypt. I'm not sure how warm it gets in my room in the day, but it's sure warm at night.

[enso]

Daytime: 90F for basking spot, 75F on cool side.
Nightime: 70-75F

[Wrath]

Yes, the basking will already be 90 degrees with the basking light, but do I still need the UTH on the warm side?

:confused:

[enso]

Well if it's 80F at night in your room i see no point for a UTH at night. There is no "warm side" at night. Just an even enclosure temp. If your room temp becomes 60F in the winter at night then yes, do the UTH thing.

[Wrath]

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Am I supposed to turn off the UTH at night on my snakes?! I only have the heat lamps on a timer, and it's not THAT hot here in cali, but it's definitely within their ranges.

[enso]

You were talking about a Sudan Plated Lizard and said nothing of serpents. =P
I guess that depends on the type of snake and the exact temps that they are experiencing.

[Wrath]

Oh it's so complicated. You just introduced a concept that I had not previously thought of. Yes I have some snakes, but I never change the UTH temp at night. Oh bother.

[Jeff_Favelle]

You need to run whatever heat pads and whatever lights you need to run to get the cage up to the desired temperature ranges. And this should have all been figured out BEFORE you got the lizard(s).

No one other than a couple of digital thermometers can tell you whether or not you have to turn on/off your heat pad/lights. Its not about how long heat pads or lights are on or off. Its about getting the cage to the temperatures that all the literature says it to be. How you do that is up to you.

[Wrath]

Oh, thanks! I don't have the lizard yet, that's tomorrow. Call me a procrastinator, I've been busy all evening trying to get stuff prepared!

I guess I'll just fiddle with all the heat sources to get the temps right.

When it comes to checking temperature, should I be checking the temp right against the pads, or the ambient temperature of the enclosures?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Good stuff Wrath, I thought you already had the lizard, my bad!!!

Yes, check the temperatures right where the lizard will be! For sure. Also check the ambient (air) temperatures. And remember, as your ambient room temperatures go up and down, so will the cage temperatures!!

Good luck bro and keep us updated!! You must be excited. :D