Climbing Closer to Basking Bulb

[Beeler68]

So I've worked so hard to get the basking rock to a sweet 105-110 gradient (infrared thermometer) for the little rascal with air temps around 92°(Digital probe) but still he prefers to climb up closer to the bulb. The UVB is a tube mounted in the back (T5 HO) @ 11" from the basking rock surface. He seems to climb up here a lot anyways and can be seen chilling and even gaping on occasion. Is this bad? Is he just having a great day? - Overly concerned first timer.

Edit: He's eating and acting completely happy otherwise. Super alert and gets excited when I come around for feeding and even for handling. Seems to be happy - just worried he might be getting too hot and is only climbing because it's an option even if it's not what's best.

 

[KarrieRee]

Have you taken a temp on the rock below the light w/ a digital probe thermometer?
Karrie

 

[Beeler68]

Have you taken a temp on the rock below the light w/ a digital probe thermometer?
Karrie

Sit the digital probe under the light on the rock? No I haven't - I have my probe above the rock to the side a little. I have been using the infrared gun for the basking spot. I can stick the probe over there though. I ended up moving the tank around a bit and did a whole new setup to give him way more space and opening area to roam. This way he has easier access to the cool side if he's getting too hot. I think he'd be too hot if anything because I had a 150W bulb in there that I had to offset on the rock because it got too hot (115° at 11"). The tank was 93° to 79°on the cool side but he'd start gaping as he'd bask once I switched from the 100W to the 150W. The 100W obviously doesn't get as hot (90° air temp and 110° basking) - so I switched back to that one to see if he likes his rock more. I'll send some pics when I can take some of the new setup. It felt too cramped and like there was no growing room - so I figured I can use the other stuff to redecorate later on and give new setups for enrichment every 6 months or so. I am working from home (and have been since March) so I'm stir crazy anyways so I'm sure a lot of my concern is just too much time on my own hands. He's been super happy and very alert. He's shed and he's eating regularly. He has a goofy personality and has learned our scents and even prefers to be held to in his cage sometimes. He'll walk right out on your hand and settle in when he wants to be held. It's been amazing so far. Just concerned as always ?

 

[Beeler68]

Have you taken a temp on the rock below the light w/ a digital probe thermometer?
Karrie

Karrie,

What temp should the probe be measuring on the rock under the light? Is this the 90-95 or the 100-110? I thought the spot itself should be 100-110 with ambient air temps from 90-95.

Thanks in advance! Here's a current picture (notice the probe - waiting for it to show me the temp still since it takes a few)

 

[Beeler68]

Temp on rock directly under light with digital probe came in at 109.0° after sitting for over an hour.

 

[KarrieRee]

It's good to offer a gradient heat and that log you have on the cool side I would stick that under your basking bulb see if you can get different heat gradients from 95-110 then he can pick where he wants temp to bask-- put your rick on cool side- your uvb should be around 12-15 inches
Karrie