The actual values of the temperature gradient will be
determined by the species of reptile you intend to
keep. For example, a bearded dragon requires a
basking spot with a temperature of around 43 o C,
whereas a blue-tongue is happy with about 35 o C; for
both species, the cooler end of the enclosure should be
mid-to-high 20s. Your heat source should be posi-
tioned at one end of the enclosure, to ensure the other
extremity is considerably cooler. Having said that, it is
often more difficult to provide a suitable temperature
gradient in small enclosures, especially for animals
that require high basking temperatures, as the cool
end is simply too close to the heat source.
Remember also that the enclosure is also subject to
variations in ambient temperatures. If it is too close to
a north-facing window it could become excessively
hot, whereas if the cool end is close to a heating duct,
for example, this may interfere with the temperature
gradient. On the other hand, if your enclosure is kept
in a garage or shed that has no supplementary heating
in winter, you may have your work cut out trying to
keep the basking spot hot enough (and use a lot of
power in the process). Some keepers will adjust the
temperature gradient down somewhat in winter to
allow their animals to brumate – particularly if they
wish to encourage breeding.
It is always best to experiment with a new enclosure to Well, hopefully this has helped. Let us know if you have a
ensure that you have got the thermal gradient right
subject that you would like us to elaborate on in our
before adding animals. Thermostats are, in many
next ‘Please Explain.’
cases, indispensable in allowing you to control
temperature, and a probe thermometer that can be
moved around the enclosure to take readings is an
invaluable asset! If you are experiencing problems,
consult your nearest reptile specialists, as there are
many different heating options available (you will also
need to match your heating with the right type of
thermostat).