Need Help to Stabalize Temps

[Mirrorakay]

Now the summer is coming, my mom has gotten back into her habit of making the temperatures in the house fluctuate like mad. I'm talking almost 15 degree differences based on her mood. Sometimes she likes 62 and other time 75 still isn't warm enough for her. As a result Zeke's basking spot is going from about 92-104. I check on him every few hours and keep trying to adjust the temp to get it right, but the temperature in the house is changing so often I can't keep his basking spot at 100 no matter how hard I try. Not to mention that I'm in and out of the house for work and school and can't babysit the temps all day.

Then today Zeke's poo had three undigested worms in it. Completely undigested. I'm clearly not managing to keep the temps where they need to be and my mother won't change anything. So I need to figure out how to get his basking spot where it needs to be. This morning it was hovering around 94 and I got back from the movies to find it at 102! I am giving the temps at least 45 minutes to register before I start messing with the lights again. In the end I seem to be fighting a losing battle and I don't know what to do. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[doe222]

the temps can range from 100-110. and maybe you did not just give him enough time to bask before lights off and thats what caused the undigested worm. it does not have to be an exact 100 but a minimum of 100. it being at 102 and 104 is not too hot. my beardie likes to sit in 115-120f sometimes which is offerd at the very end of his basking area. so 100-110 is fine and ample basking time.

 

[Beardednoob]

You can get a thermostat to help you balance out the temperatures, just hook up a secondary dome, when the temperature gets below a certain set point it will kick on the secondary dome. :wink:

 

[Mirrorakay]

the temps can range from 100-110. and maybe you did not just give him enough time to bask before lights off and thats what caused the undigested worm. it does not have to be an exact 100 but a minimum of 100. it being at 102 and 104 is not too hot. my beardie likes to sit in 115-120f sometimes which is offerd at the very end of his basking area. so 100-110 is fine and ample basking time.

Zeke gets fed his worms at around noon and lights our is almost a full eight hours later. I always handle him before feedings or right at bedtime so he has time to digest everything. So I definately think it has to do with my temps being off. He has a tendency to leave his basking spot and go into the cave if it exceeds 102. I trust that he knows what his body needs, but I would just prefer to keep it between 100-102.

I did have second dome set up for winter, so I could definately give that a go. Thanks for the suggestion beardednoob.

 

[Beardednoob]

:wink:

 

[KristenT]

this might get a little complicated, but it would work....

You could take a thermostat, and hook it up to control a dimmer, and the dimmer controls the light output of the bulp, thus the heat. Set the thermostat to whatever temp you want it - either ambient cool or hot side temps, or basking temp, wherever you put the thermostats sensor - and as the temp goes down, the thermostat will kick in to correct the falling temps by turning the dimmer up, which will make the bulb hotter. Likewise, as the house temp does up, the thermostat will register this and kick in to lower the dimmer, which lowers the heat output of the bulb.

I can't tell you exactly how to get all this set up, as I've never done it, but it would solve the problem!

 

[eternitylonger]

this might get a little complicated, but it would work....

You could take a thermostat, and hook it up to control a dimmer, and the dimmer controls the light output of the bulp, thus the heat. Set the thermostat to whatever temp you want it - either ambient cool or hot side temps, or basking temp, wherever you put the thermostats sensor - and as the temp goes down, the thermostat will kick in to correct the falling temps by turning the dimmer up, which will make the bulb hotter. Likewise, as the house temp does up, the thermostat will register this and kick in to lower the dimmer, which lowers the heat output of the bulb.

I can't tell you exactly how to get all this set up, as I've never done it, but it would solve the problem!

Do you know of a thermostat like this? I'm looking for one to control my temps but I'm having a hard time finding one to use with incandescent bulbs.

 

[KristenT]

The only place I've seen them, now that I think about it, was at a salt water aquarium store, so maybe try looking for aquarium supplies? I don't actually have this set up, but I've seen it done. I'm sorry I can't give you any more info than that. If I come up with anything else helpful, I'll let you all know! Going to start lookingn into it and see if I can't find what i'm talking about....

 

[eternitylonger]

Thanks! That would be very much appreciated.