Does anyone out there have hot summers and no air conditioni

[bayoupig5]

Need some advice please. This will be the first summer with my beardie. I live in an area that gets very hot in the summer. Temps range from 30-36 Celsius/86-96 Fahrenhet, with peaking temps ocassionally up to 40 Celsius/104 Fahrenheit. These heat waves last anywhere from 2-3 weeks, two or three times a season. Inside temps are unfortunately not that much cooler, I have a flat roof and no air conditioning! Temps inside when it is this hot sit around 30-34 Celsius/86-93 Fahrenheit. Central air conditioning, which has been suggested in not an option. I cannot afford 5-6 thousand dollars. Window mounted conditioners will not work either, due to a large picture window that does not open. I am hoping to get a portable unit, but that is as long as expenses allow. My beardie is in a 48 x 18 x 20 (75 gallon) enclosure, with a Reptisun 10.0 UVB and incadescent for heat sources. I will turn the heat lights off during these heat waves. But does anyone out there have any other suggestions on keeping my beardie cool. I know that too much heat is not good for them. Would fans help, would frozen gel packs help (insulated around the outside of the enclosure)? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[diggerdrake]

you will still need the bright lignt for basking even though it will bring the temp up over a tolerable level. but as you mentioned a portable cooling unit will work to lower the temp at least in the room you keep your beardie. It may even provide a little comfort for you as well Start looking for a swamp cooler at the thrift stores and on craigs list. That way you will not be spending a fortune for new when used may be as good.

 

[citrusdragon]

I would consider some type of thermostat to turn off the basking light at a certain temperature and leave the UVB lighting on. We do this sometimes when we're not running the AC. It's kind of funny we notice the dragons get very active with the heat light off, and just UVB. The temps then will even out in the cage and it will just be a warm day for the dragons as it is for you.

Fans and ventilation are another consideration and I have some for a few set ups, but I fell a shut off for the basking light for the hot days works best for us.

Jeff

Pro Exotics has a cool thermostat for around 80 bucks

 

[Freeie]

Ty for posting this i was wondering this myself here where i am in california we get heat from 90 to 115 f outside. I was wondering about them needing AC to keep their temps kind of cool. I was thinking about frozen water bottles under a towl or ice packs. Some times our ac dosnt work. Maybe turn off the bask light and just use the household bulb? along with the uvb of course.

 

[bayoupig5]

Ty for posting this i was wondering this myself here where i am in california we get heat from 90 to 115 f outside. I was wondering about them needing AC to keep their temps kind of cool. I was thinking about frozen water bottles under a towl or ice packs. Some times our ac dosnt work. Maybe turn off the bask light and just use the household bulb? along with the uvb of course.

Yeah the ice packs/gel packs are what I was kind of thinking, but I hope someone can shed some light on this. There has to be others out there who deal with this.

 

[bayoupig5]

you will still need the bright lignt for basking even though it will bring the temp up over a tolerable level. but as you mentioned a portable cooling unit will work to lower the temp at least in the room you keep your beardie. It may even provide a little comfort for you as well Start looking for a swamp cooler at the thrift stores and on craigs list. That way you will not be spending a fortune for new when used may be as good.

In summer could the bright light for basking be changed to a compact flourescent, instead of incandescent, while still using the UVB?

 

[palomino]

Thanks for posting this. I have been wondering what to do about this myself. I live in Ohio and while the summers are short, they are often extremely hot and humid. I live in an old house and my dragon's room is not air conditioned.

Problem is is that I have an MVB. Does anyone use their MVB in the summer or should I get a UVB light just for the summer in case I have to turn the MVB off. I could also hook up a fan as the top of my viv is a screen. I am also going to adjust the MVB up higher with a stand so maybe that will help as well. Just trying to get prepared now.

 

[bayoupig5]

Thanks for posting this. I have been wondering what to do about this myself. I live in Ohio and while the summers are short, they are often extremely hot and humid. I live in an old house and my dragon's room is not air conditioned.

Problem is is that I have an MVB. Does anyone use their MVB in the summer or should I get a UVB light just for the summer in case I have to turn the MVB off. I could also hook up a fan as the top of my viv is a screen. I am also going to adjust the MVB up higher with a stand so maybe that will help as well. Just trying to get prepared now.

See I heard great things about MVB's too, but with the heat factor...decided to seperate heat and UVB. I haven't gone through a summer yet, unlike your summers it is dry here, not humid, so I'm lucky that way, humidity here usually sits around 40 or 50 %

 

[stuby]

I remimber last summer hear in Ohio, well Souther Ohio. It got pritty hot. I would always turn the basking light out between 1-4pm the hotest time of the day. We also used timers. I have one of thous two cyical timers that will shout down twice a day. See I have my timer set to turn on 1st at 7am then off at 7pm then the secent cyical shouts off from 1-4pm then the pins on in. Right now I only have the first cyical going.