How close is too close to the basking light

Ok so been a min since my last post. I'll try to keep this short. Groot passed. Accidental frying by my fiance... 100w bulb... Sheldon is alive and well. We have made upgrades to his tank. Sandmat, UVB hood, large 1/2 log, heating rock, water thing which he actually gets upset if there isn't a water source, and then there's his tried and true branch... Which I myself think is bad for him.. I think he gets too close to the light. As in 2" or closer to the light. But he SULKS if its not there. Same with his teddy bear... But I am not sure if that should be in there either...

This is how close he used to get to it. With a 60w incandescent bulb. About 4" or so away... Even when we first got the 75w he was further. And also we used to use a moonlight bulb for heating at night. But idk if he should have that... Am I just a nervous nelly???

No lights at night are best, really. nice and dark there are non-light emitting heaters (like a che) for night time if its too cool.

really, you don't want your lizard closer than 6" to any light bulbs, the further the better. Too close and they can risk thermal burn from the light, there can be hotspots that wouldn't be a problem at 12-14' away that are very intense right up by the light. You can get stands to hang your lights off the cage top, its much easier to adjust that way. Then he would be able to keep his beloved branch. How are you monitoring the temperatures, by the way?

A word of caution, the electrical hot rocks are not really a good heat source for any reptile. In years past they have been known to short out and cause terrible burns. Reptiles will tend to try and sit on the rock to stay warm but since they don't heat up the environment the animal can stay too cool and end up hurting itself.

Thankfully I kept my receipt! I think I will send my fiance back to return the heat rock. Which was pricey. And get a 100w and a stand. + a ceramic emitter... We have the folded bulb to return as well. I busted up part of the branch to get him further and "made a compromise" I put his teddy bear back in with him. He had been sulking without it... If you can believe that... He seems ok enough with a couple pieces off now that his bear is back.

I don't think you are being a nervous nelly, in fact you seem remarkably blasé about it. How did the other dragon overheat? Are you measuring the temperatures properly? I wouldn't worry about the teddy bear, he really doesn't need it and if it is making it harder to regulate the basking spot he would be better off without.