Warm side air temps?

[Fruit Snacks]

Im trying to aim for 85f-90f (29c-32c) warm side air temp for my northern blue tongue is this too hot? Right now I have a probe in the middle of the enclosure that reads 90f (32c) and a probe on the cool side in a hide that reads 78f (25c)

[splashy07]

That's fine. My northerns don't seem to like anything above 95.

[Fruit Snacks]

Right now I’m getting 90f or lower on the warm hide then 80f in the middle hide and the lowest at 75f in his cool hide. These are his air temps in his hides. Is this the best way to measure is air temps for his warm and cool side? I’m using probes.

[Krebllogs]

No, those probs are sort of useless if you want an actuate readings.
Use some type of a Digital Infrared Thermometer gun. You can get an accurate surface readings throughout the enter enclosure, from hot to cool, by pointing the laser pointer at a spot, getting the temperature in return as you point it around the enclosure.

I don't know if it's ok to link to amazon, but I use this one for my reptile setups:
https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Thermom ... r=8-8&th=1

It don't have to be that brand, but you can find comparable ones for around 20 bucks. You can get them at any hardware store too.

[Fruit Snacks]

Thank you for the recommendation but I’m not taking surface temps I’m doing ambient air temps so his enclosure isn’t too hot or cold.

[Krebllogs]

Yeah, what I suggested will give you closer to what you need.

Those probes are basically only reading the hotness of the probe itself. which is a small usually black or metal surface, no? that's less useful than having the actual reading of the surface your skink will be laying on. Plus, your sink isn't going to be laying on the probe. and if they do, the reading of the probe meter will be what the skinks external body temp is because they will be blocking the heat source from the probe. These things don't read "ambient air temps" neither.

So, one of those temp guns is the only accurate way to get the temp levels you want to reach. You can even point the laser on your skink (not in the eyes) while they bask, under their heat source, and get the current temp off their body. Which is all that matters.

[Fruit Snacks]

So what do you do to make sure his ambient air temps are good?
I have a temp gun. I do use it to measure my basking spot temps.
You don’t measure what the air is in the enclosure?

[Krebllogs]

I don't know, I've never measured ambient air temperature, for any of my reptiles... I don't think that's something people do. Unless it's a zoo, or something, with more expensive animals/tech?

I use a temp gun, for the temperature gradient across an entire enclosure, as well as a hygrometer to get the humidity level in the air. So, do you mean humidity? Temp requirements are generally easy to achieve, with a heat source + thermostat combo and a temp gun, for the actual readings. The humidity level is also very important and, based on your setup, it can be harder to reach. Plus, it varies based on what type of skink you have.

As for what type of hygrometer, I would stick to a decent name brand, as the cheap ones, usually sold in multi packs, aren't accurate at all. Sorry, I don't have a link to one. I think zoomed makes one, but I have no idea of their's is accurate. Some thermostats also have a humidity probe build in. I use one of those as well.

[Fruit Snacks]

Maybe it’s not as important for blue tongues skinks as I thought.
Here’s a definition of what I was talking about.
"Ambient air temperature" refers to the temperature of the air within a reptile enclosure, while "surface temperature" refers to the temperature of a specific surface within the enclosure. Ambient air temperature is the overall temperature of the space, while surface temperature is the temperature of a specific spot a reptile can choose to bask on.
I have a Zen Habitat that’s a 4x2x2 and because it’s a screen top all the heat from the bulb constantly escapes and my A/C usually keeps my room around 75 thus giving him a ambient air temp around 75-80 if I don’t cover the screen top with anything.
I’m realizing that reptile owners either keep their overall temperature hotter in homes or have dedicated rooms for reptiles to make sure that it’s not too cold or own enclosures that aren’t screen top enclosures but solid top enclosures thus retaining heat better because the heat has to escape through side or back vents in the enclosure.

[Krebllogs]

Yeah, I get it, but if you have the temps correct, inside the enclosure, you're good.

Your main heat source, for me I use a thermal heat emitter, in a lamp, if you use a type of heat bulb, or mat, you can use one of those, should be connected to a thermostat. Which will raise and lower the heat based off probe reading, placed, inside the tank, where the basking spot is.
So, when the actual room temp is higher or lower, the thermostat will adjust as needed to keep the temp you set it at.

I have my thermostat probe sticking out on the side of my skink's backing platform. It's usually set to something between 90-95 degrees. When I use my temp gun on the surface across the basking area, it ranges from 80 up to 95 degrees at the warmest spot. My temps ever really change inside the tank, but if they do get higher or lowers, you just adjust the thermostat as needed. My cool side is around 70 degrees.
I know what you mean with the room temps drastically changing. With me, I live in an apartment building, so during the winter, I have no control over the heat. I can't turn it off, so my small rooms get pretty hot, if I don't open a window. On these days I lower my tanks thermostat temps so my reptiles remain comfortable because the thermostat will remain maxed out and essentially overheat the area on these days. So even with an optimized setup you'll have to make adjustments as needed.

Do you have a thermostat? I don't know the brand of mine, but zoomed makes them too.

Also, yeah, you're right about closed off enclosures. The ones with the front sliding doors are defiantly better, and easier to keep, but I actually don't have one of those nicely build enclosures either. I've always used what I have. And for years I've used various setups with tanks and screen lids of all sizes.

Currently, my skink is in a 55-gallon glass fish tank, with a screen lid. I have a long 34 inch T5 UVB Lamp over the top, and a couple of heat bulbs on one side. One bulb remains off, unless I need the extra heat one day. Again, my heat lamp is plugged into a thermostat. With my set up, yes, keeping the humidity is the hardest thing. I so need to mist the tank daily. I also have tiles over the parts of the screen lid where the light fixtures don't cover. This help reduce the amount of humidity escaping my tank through the screen.

If you have the means, yes, you should get one of those sealed front opening enclosers you're talking about. They are better build, easy to set up, and even more easy to clean. If you can't it's fine as long as you do the research, spend the time to get everything correct before introducing an animal to it. There is no wrong way to do things, as long as your reptiles remain happy and healthy.

If you want to see my set up, I can take pictures and post them later. I'm also trying to go bioactive with live plants...

[Fruit Snacks]

I will look into getting a thermostat that might be the fix I need and thermal heat emitter thank you! I would love to see pictures of your enclosure with the plants. If I use the thermal emitter do I get a highest watt to pair with the thermostat?
Also, I am in the middle of building a new enclosure for him. I will post pictures when it’s done.