Where to put hides.

Guys I’m worried about Dobby. Shock. I’ve got her cave under the basking light , but she sits in her cave all day not on top of it. And the temps ( despite me having the dimming thermostat on top level 92 ) is only 97 degrees . I’m using a digital thermometer probe which as you can see in picture, the probe is hanging down to under the cave to get temps where she is sitting. Using an infrared temp gun temps are 95.8 where she is sitting and 105 under the basking bulb. The heat bulb is pro-rep 100w. Is this ok or should I move her cave so she has to sit directly under basking light ? The trouble is, she loves that cave so no matter where I put it she will stay under it even if it means staying cold. I’m so confused.

Well I think first I would get rid of the sand--- its not good for them - you can try some non adhesive shelf liner or slated ceramic tile both from Home Depot or Lowes or your local hard ware store- tile would need to be cut to tank size for easy removal for clean up w/ vinegar / water in spray bottle and paper towels- same w/ the shelf liner --- as for the cave it may be to hot for her if its 105 on top - if its 95 in the cave then thats probably why shes in there - she is not basking at all -- what about going to the bathroom ? and is she under her UVB ? It could be she is just not needing to bask so much -- Hiccup has been doing a lot of lounging in his rock-- he pokes his head out but doesnt go sit directly on the rock for basking every day - his metabolism has really slowed down w/ his eating etc.......... I am watching his weight to make sure hes not losing -- you can try rearranging her tank and see what that does -- some others may have some ideas - but it could be its too hot w/it being 105 its hard to say w/ the way they have all been acting -
Karrie

Hi
I’ve got the non adhesive liner under the sand. She kept digging at it so we put a thin layer of sand over the top after trying her with a dig box which she refused. We are in the UK , got a few hardware places but I keep seeing your Home Depot stores mentioned and sound so much better than ours. I thought the basking spot needed to be around 105 , should I turn it down ? Her toilet habits have slowed down but so has her eating. Although she had 5 locusts and a dubia today. That’s the most she’s had all week. She refuses veg at the moment, under her cave she’s not really getting much uv which is another worry. I was told she’s too young for brumation by a rep vet but I spoke to the breeder I got her from and he said at 8-10 months she’s not too young for semi brumation which I’m guessing is what she’s trying to do but I keep disturbing her ?. The uv we have is the t5 type which I’m told is better than the t8’s. Vet wormed her and she’s not worried by her appearance. Weight is the same so I guess it’s a waiting game. So you wouldn’t take out her hide ?

No do not take her hide out -- she is doing the semi brumation thing --- if shes not losing weight she should be ok- let her do her thing - I am feeding Hiccup like normal and some days he eats his vegies like 2-3 bites and some days not at all - he ate 6-8 roaches here on Tues or Wed and nothing now the rest of the week - I continue to put fresh vegies in there every day so its offered --- the sand I still would get rid of you can always put fleece in her tank or paper towels for digging- I have set Hiccups cave/ platform on top of his fleece blanket w / some paper towels in his hide for digging --
Karrie

Aww ok. Thank You. I will go home and sort the sand. I’ll use newspaper on top of the liner for now, she’s offered veg daily and water is always available. I even put droplets on her nose x