Basking too hot?

[Nfhobbs09]

Hello! I have been setting up my enclosure the past two weeks in preparation for a yearling burmese here in a couple weeks. The tank set up went very nice and all my numbers are good to my knowledge for the past couple of days but I am worried about the basking spot. Here are my average numbers for the enclosure:

Hot side day ~ 91-92°F 75% humidity
Cool side day ~ 81-83°F 94% humidity

Hot side Night ~ 90-92°F 73-75% humidity
Cool side night~ 79.5-81°F 93-94% humidity

With the basking spot i was originally getting a peak of 116° on the slate taken with a temp gun. I have since raised the 50w flood light as high as it can go with my current fixture and lowered the slate as low as it can go on the substrate and i am still getting a surface temperature peak of 108°F. This is too hot to my knowledge yes? And if so are there any quick ideas to lower that temp? The first thing that comes to mind is to replace the rock slate with something less heat absorbing. But im open to all help as this is my first ever enclosure build

 

[g4mobile]

Please read this post from Mark.

How to raise a Healthy Star Tortoise.

Stars, Leopards, and Sulcata tortoises are almost identical in care requirements, especially their first few years to get them started properly and thriving. These tortoises, their first few years, will fail to thrive and be active, unless you provide proper heat, humidity, and light. Leopard...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Tom]

Hello! I have been setting up my enclosure the past two weeks in preparation for a yearling burmese here in a couple weeks. The tank set up went very nice and all my numbers are good to my knowledge for the past couple of days but I am worried about the basking spot. Here are my average numbers for the enclosure:

Hot side day ~ 91-92°F 75% humidity
Cool side day ~ 81-83°F 94% humidity

Hot side Night ~ 90-92°F 73-75% humidity
Cool side night~ 79.5-81°F 93-94% humidity

With the basking spot i was originally getting a peak of 116° on the slate taken with a temp gun. I have since raised the 50w flood light as high as it can go with my current fixture and lowered the slate as low as it can go on the substrate and i am still getting a surface temperature peak of 108°F. This is too hot to my knowledge yes? And if so are there any quick ideas to lower that temp? The first thing that comes to mind is to replace the rock slate with something less heat absorbing. But im open to all help as this is my first ever enclosure build

Check the basking temp by placing a digital thermometer on its back, at tortoise shell height, directly under the lamp, and letting it cook there for an hour or more.

If it's over 100 and you can't raise the bulb any higher, get a lower wattage bulb, and save that one for winter. Alternatively, you can get a rheostat and simply dial down the power a bit. That might be the easiest way to go in your situation.

Like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Cdmall-Motor-Speed-Controller-120V/dp/B0FMXNQY6J/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Or this:

Amazon.com

 

[Nfhobbs09]

Check the basking temp by placing a digital thermometer on its back, at tortoise shell height, directly under the lamp, and letting it cook there for an hour or more.

If it's over 100 and you can't raise the bulb any higher, get a lower wattage bulb, and save that one for winter. Alternatively, you can get a rheostat and simply dial down the power a bit. That might be the easiest way to go in your situation.

Like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Cdmall-Motor-Speed-Controller-120V/dp/B0FMXNQY6J/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Or this:

Amazon.com

I’ll try that out today and come back with the numbers tonight thanks