With high ambient temps, do you still need a basking light?

[jakeg]

MY question is if the ambient temp in my apartment is 80+ during the day, should I still use a basking light? I have a 5 month old panther. A heat wave has swept through So cal, and I find when I am at work my apartment cranks up to 80, his cage was 82 degrees in the cool side of the cage, first time this hot since I have had him. What you think?

 

[suzi]

My thought is that it is really important for them to have a cool spot, is it possible for you to raise the ambient with ac? If not and it is a temporary heat wave I would think that he would be fine without a basking spot until the wave is over, 82 is pretty hot and I would be afraid that the basking temps may reach too high a level while I am not home if the room got really hot. That happened to me once with a heat wave, I think you have the right idea.

 

[Rob G]

no basking light till the heat wave is over. I've had the same thing goin for a couple days and I moved the cage ontop of an a/c vent so the bottom is chilled, but I left the basking light on so its warm at the top still

 

[sandrachameleon]

Agreed, no basking light until you have the ambient temperatures under control.