My dragon prefers his basking spot cooler than he should.

[Nikkivsthesea]

He's a juvenile - about 9 months old - 16" long. He prefers his basking spot to be around 90 degrees. Everything I've read said that juveniles should have heat anywhere from 95-110. Is it okay that he likes it cooler? I use a 75 watt bulb that gets his basking spot to 93-ish usually, and I have a 100 watt bulb that I sometimes switch out just to see if he'd like it, and it gets his spot up to 110-ish. I have changed the height of his basking spot and all sorts of things. He really doesn't like to bask when it's higher than 92-93 degrees. I have an infrared temp. gun to check temps.

 

[CooperDragon]

It's common (based on what I've seen) for them to hang out in the 90s area near the basking spot often. I still recommend providing a basking area that's over 100. The surrounding area will be in the 90s. If you can widen the basking spot it will allow for a good range. As long as you provide a good temperature gradient (including a spot over 100), he will self regulate and pick the spot he needs which is fine.

 

[jarich]

As Cooper said, its not that your dragon need use the center of the basking area all the time, but rather that the higher end of the gradient is there should they chose to use it at some point. When creating a gradient, you want to offer as wide a useful range as possible, and then let the dragon chose where it wants and when. Perhaps your dragon will only use the center for a few minutes once a week, but if you only have a spot that gets up to 93 F you have limited the choices available to it.