Basking spot
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What is it?
A basking spot is a warm area where an ectothermic (cold-blooded) creature lies to gather heat. For uromastyx, this area generally reaches temperatures in excess of 50-60'C (120-130'F).
Basking temperatures should be measured with an IR (Infra Red) temperature gun. This temperature need to not just be hot in 1 tiny spot, but covering the entire basking platform. For most species, a platform of 8"x8" is a great size that will allow the entire body of the Uromastyx to absorb heat.
Materials
Various types of material can be used as a basking platform, the most common being slate. Be sure to use a natural slate, as some slate covered with resins or other coatings to give it a shiny look may give off toxins due to the high temperatures. Natural slate can be easily found in Home Depot, Lowes, etc. for reasonable prices. Uncoated pavers may also be used, although the slate will give you a larger surface area then smaller sized pavers.
How to heat your basking spot
Some of the bulbs you could use include:
- MVB, otherwise known as Mercury Vapour Bulbs. These produce UVB and heat at the same time. The best MVB, rated by independent tests, are Mega-Ray®. An explanation as to why Mega Ray bulbs are better than any other MVB currently on the market, and why this is a very worthwhile investment for any lizard owner, can be found on the Mega Ray page
- Halogen flood bulbs: depending on the height from the bulb to the basking spot, an easily available heat-producing bulb such as the Philips 90w Halogen Flood works great, and will give you the right temperatures quickly. Please remember to check your temperatures with a temperature gun (surfaces) and a good quality digital thermometer (ambient air).
Always remember to buy spare bulbs so that when your old one reaches the end of its life, your lizard isn't left without light, heat or UVB. Although this will not kill your uromastyx over the course of one or two days (possibly triggering longer sleeping periods and lower activity levels, similar to brumation, any longer than this should be avoided where possible.
Fittings and fixtures
A lot of the time, these bulbs generate such heat that they require a ceramic light fixture, so make sure to buy the appropriate fixture for the bulb. Many domed reptile light fixtures come complete with a ceramic socket. When handling bulbs that have been switched on for some time (even just a few minutes), be careful as the outside can cause burns if not handled properly.
Controlling the temperature
Although many domed reptile light fixtures come with a dimmer (rheostat) fitted to the cable, it is not a good idea to use this - first of all, some lights (such as the Mega Ray) require specific line voltages, and a dimmer simply raises or lowers the voltage variably in order to raise or lower the output temperature. It is instead recommended that you buy a thermostat to make sure the temperature stays constant - this has the benefit of automation, so that you can be confident of the correct temperatures even when you're not at home.
As always, when measuring temperature, be sure that you are using appropriate and accurate measuring tools.
