New Indonesian Skink.. Lighting???

[karibernal]

Just got my new skink after over a year of researching, her/his name is Rajah. Rajah is Indonesian. Rajah loves hiding and burrowing in the substrate. Rajah is a little fiesty while still in the enclosure, but after I hold Rajah, she/he seems fine. I've noticed that the heat bulb I bought from home depot isn't getting hot enough. It is only 80 degrees on the hot side. I bought a 120w spiral looking bulb about $9.00. Does anybody buy their basking heat bulbs from home depot/lowes if so can you give me advice one which one I should get? Thank you

[Fatal_S]

You should get a spot or flood bulb. Those spiral ones are for energy-efficient light, they do nothing for heat. Flood lights provide heat over a larger areas, spot lights focus the heat and light straight ahead. Either could work. Wattage depends on distance from the basking area and the type of tank - grab a few (they're cheap) and try them out, find one that makes the basking area 95-105, and the warm side feel warm.



Gorgeous Halmahera Indo!!!

[karibernal]

Thank you for the info. I have a 40 gallon breeder tank and the light is about 10 in. from the higher basking area.

[Bird_Brain]

I typically use 40 or 60 watt incandescent bulbs (standard household bulb) for that distance. How are you measuring temps?

[karibernal]

I have a thermometer on each side of the tank. Without the light its around 75 degrees at night and with the lights its only 80 degrees on the "hot side".

[Bird_Brain]

What kind of thermometer? Dial, digital, ect? Where on the side is it placed? Top, bottom, middle? The 80F ambient temp is good for the hot side, you just need to measure the actual basking area. Place the thermometer directly under light on basking area and get that temp. Ideally, I feel you need an infrared tep gun or at least a digital thermometer (can get ones with probes in the reptile and aquarium sections of PetSmart/pecto for $10 or less. Temp guns will be $20 or more and be bought on amazon, eBay, tempgun.com, etc.

[karibernal]

I bought a flood light and it has raised the temp in the basking area to 90 degrees so far. So that is working perfectly. Since Rajah is from Indonesia, tends to like moisture more so Rajah loves to be on the mulch side of the tank more. But its nice that Rajah now has the option to get the heat if he/she wants. Thank you for all the info.