basking temp/ check it out enclosure.

hey guys just wondering i added a new basking log to pieces cage as he out grew the last one .... but i noticed today that he is gaping... just sitting there should i move it a little further from the light??? its a 4 ft tall enclosure with the 160 watt mega ray mecury vapor bulb. before he was always right at the top of the enclosure and would not sit in his basking spot so i thought i would move it closer... or is this him just being lazy and not moving when he is too warm? in the picture it is 12 inches below the light.. also what do you guys think of the enlosure? add or take any thing away all comments are welcomed

mine was doing this also i actually had a thread about this. i pushed mine back and everything but it is just on some days. i belive that they are thermoregulating their temps. but as long and you don't see any discharge and he is not turning a pale color (over heating) he should be fine. I would get an approx temp at where he is at. If it is at or around the basking temp recommended for your species he will b fine.

your using a solid walled enclosure right? if so hes going to roast in there.

get a the basking temp for where he is sitting, one from the mid area, and one under all the foliage furthest away from the light

Why dont you put a thermometer in his highest baskign spot to see his temps?

Pretty easy to fry these guys without noticing until the burn is already there.

I keep one there at all times to make sure it doesnt top out. If its 85 degrees out, I have to turn the basking light off.

Docility said:

your using a solid walled enclosure right? if so hes going to roast in there.

get a the basking temp for where he is sitting, one from the mid area, and one under all the foliage furthest away from the light

Click to expand...

hey sorry i for got to post what his basking temp is. on his main one (the big stick is 33.7C so roughly 93 F which is the closest one... the 5 sticks are 2-7 inches below that so drastic temp changes on each... also ill add to the roasting hes only at max with the plexy front on 28 C (82 F) with it open or screen front it is 21-24 depending on the temp out side if windows are open. its not fully sealed i have a 6 inch by 2 ft hole in the bottom front and a 18 x 18 inch hole in the side near the top to keep good ventalation... and a few holes in the top to let stale aire out.... remember hot air rrises so as it comes out the top and side it draws fresh air in from the bottom....( im a HVAC tech...) any way any suggestions?? ohh forgot under the foliage its 15 C so 59 ish F mid in the dense forest.. its about 16-17 so 61 F

Are you just taking temps by chart reference or are you using a real thermometer?

im using a cooper mini IR thermom it reads in a triange type lazer.

but how does that sound all those temps about regular?

if he will get out of the main part of the sun he will be fine, but then again he may just lay there, and get burnt. i like the hand test. if it can burn you it can burn your cham.

on the top of my hand it doesnt even feel warm at all...... i dropped it 1 inch... but other then that does all the temps look normal? and how does the enclosure look over all?

seem to be fine. im glad its only like 57F in the bottom. this will allow him to cool of super fast

Docility said:

seem to be fine. im glad its only like 57F in the bottom. this will allow him to cool of super fast

Click to expand...

Sorry, but I think this is totaly misinformation, and I hope the user comes back and reads this.
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/temperatures-and-thermoregulation.html

33.7c/92f is fine for the basking spot.
15c/59f is too low according to the kittyblog.

The basking light will provide the hottest spot in a corner at the top of the enclosure. At the bottom of the enclosure should be the coolest temp (perhaps 68 or 70 degrees) in the middle will be an ambient temp of anywhere from 72 to 80 degrees.

Click to expand...

So thats 20-21 celcius for the bottom and 22.5-26.5 celcius for the middle.
Please check the guide for night temps as well, as sometimes information for that can be misleading.

Somebody please correct me if I am wrong.