Basking spot - need advice

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zeusa

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I have Zeus, a 2 year old male. He had a artificial tree branch under one of the coil UVB's. I read in this forum to lose the coil UVB immediately and also that he needed someplace to stretch out (he's pretty big, around 21"). Cage is glass acquarium 46" long x 17 "wide x 18" high.

So, I got a piece of 16" x 16" ceramic tile and the 100 watt Powersun MVB in a deep cone fixture on the far right of his cage. His basking platform is 4" high. I used bricks under the ceramic tile to elevate the tile and also to create a hiding place under the tile. So the platform is just about 18" from the bulb. Next to the Powersun is a 100 watt Exoterra tight beam basking light. This makes digital temps on the ceramic tile platform around 90-92. The cool end of his cage is a 40 watt household bulb. Temps at cool end are 80.


With the deep fixture, I believe the platform is too far (18") from the 100 watt MVB to get the benefits of the UVB, and I am losing a lot of heat, but am concerned about adding more weight to elevate the platform further. Does anyone know of a support I can use for the tile that won't weigh as much? Any suggestions?

Also, I read in the Powersun package insert that you should leave this light on for 8 hours. Zeus's lights are on from 7a to 9p. Am I supposed to use a separate timer and heat lamp? There's no way he'd stay warm enough with just the 100W Basking light.

I'll gladly purchase the Megaray MVB, but I don't know if the 160 watt would solve my problem. His platform would be exactly 18 inches from the light if you count the recess for the deep fixture. So any advice on the 100 vs 160 would be appreciated.

Finally, does anyone know of a way to make them actually USE the platform? He sits on his limb still in the center of his cage.

I am a frustrated grandmother of this wonderful animal and want to get it right!
 

ja0brinkmeyer

Hatchling Member
i use the mega ray 100 watt and the temps are just fine. try to use some wood to raise the platform higher or you could build a new one. i would keep the lights on the time you have them on. 80 degrees is ok for the cool side but a little cooler wont hurt.
 
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