Keeping ambient temps

[Lead Change]

We've had our male Panther for about 6 months now and have been fine tuning his enclosure since day 1. Not being a cham expert I don't really weigh in with opinion on here but have learned quite a bit from some of you. I seem to have the basking and misting in check although humidity IS a little low at times now that we're using the heat off and on in the North Florida winter. The big issue for me now is ambient temps... I can't seem to get them up to 75-85 where in the summer it was no problem. He has a 75W Exo Terra daylight basking bulb that keeps his basking spot just fine. I tried going to a 100W daytime heat bulb but it pushed his basking temp up to 100. This is a Dragon Strand clear side so I've thought about hanging some clear material over the 1 screen side but... then I worry about airflow.

Any thoughts from the experts? Really willing to try anything but figured I'd ask before experimenting with our guys habitat.

 

[jpowell86]

Really willing to try anything but figured I'd ask before experimenting with our guys habitat.

Being that it is winter, I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. If you start making drastic changes to his enclosure, that can cause unneeded stress. What are your ambient temps at right now?

If it were me, based on the pic above, I would add more horizontal perches around the top 1/3 of the enclosure. This would allow him more perching opportunities closer to the basking bulb. Therefore, he could thermoregulate more efficiently in the upper parts of his enclosure and it would just help overall during this time of the year.

 

[Lead Change]

It's keeping high 60s down at the bottom and low 70s midway up. Attached a few more pics that show more. He has several horizontal and vertical structures to climb but that original pic didn't show them.

 

[jpowell86]

I really think the temps are fine. The ambient temp for a panther should stay around the mid 70's regardless of what time of the year it is. I know the very bottom of the enclosure is in the high 60's, but that is okay as long as he has moderate temps above. As long as his temps aren't dropping drastically low at night, I think you're in better shape than you think you are!

Have you checked your temps during the night?

 

[gotwqqd]

Put rocks in the bottom of the enclosure