Some like it Hot?

[saltwaterguy02]

Just curious if any one else has seen this behavior. I have a 4 month old female panther and she wants to sit right under the basking light where it gets around 90. The temp in the cage is between 70-85. I have tried to move the light in various spots of the cage, but she will just find her way under it again. I have read that Panthers like the heat in the highs, but when she is under the light its so hot her jaw opens. Any thoughts??

 

[trd1215]

She should just bask under the light until she is satisfied and she should walk away and cool down for a bit. How many watts is your bulb?

 

[LovitaVelvet]

You are right in saying that some just like it hot. My panthers are not like that, but I had a sengal who was. She sat directly under her heat lamp all day were it was about 90 degrees.

Just make sure she can't get close enough to the light to burn herself and let her bask if that is what she is into.

-Nicole

 

[boj3434]

Im sure it just depends on the chameleon and alot of other things but ya just like some people prefer hotter or colder I think chameleons liking it hot or cold isnt far out at all

 

[ChamOh]

i think 90 degrees is too hot. 80-85 may be better. she is opening her mouth to cool off. She is following the light because they still need to bask, but it's too hot when she gets there so she's gaping her mouth. that's my guess.

 

[pssh]

Opening her mouth means she is too hot. I keep my female around 80-83 and she is about 8 months old.

 

[fluxlizard]

If she is opening her mouth and chooses to remain under the light instead of moving away, she is not too hot. She is choosing to heat her body that hot on purpose.

Think about it- if she's right next to it, she can move slightly away to a temp that is a little less extreme but still warm- she could choose 80-85 if she wanted to but she isn't. She's choosing to be where she is.

Studies have shown lizards will give themselves a fever to help fight sickness.

Humans sometimes sit in saunas because they like it.

90 is not an extreme basking temp for a panther. It won't burn if it is only 90. IMO it is easier to keep a lizard healthy if they can heat up slightly above normal like this when they want. Every sun-basking lizard I've ever bred will do this from time to time- heat up and gape so they can remain cooking a little longer before moving away. They will do it indoors under lamps and outdoors under the sun.

"When they want" is the key.

It's fine as long as she can move away when she wants, and provided the heat is provided in a gradient so she can choose a range. It can't be an all or nothing sort of deal from using too low a wattage bulb too close to the basking site.