confused about these animals

[tsdsbd]

where in the world do these things live to have basking temps of 140 degrees?!?!

i just find that ridiculously hot, idk ANYTHING about monitors or tegus so im just trying to learn

[Skiploder]

where in the world do these things live to have basking temps of 140 degrees?!?!

i just find that ridiculously hot, idk ANYTHING about monitors or tegus so im just trying to learn

Ever been to the beach - or better yet - touched the asphalt street in front of your house on a 90 degree day?

Things like rocks and sand have low specific heat. Specific heat is the amount of heat flow required to change the temperature by one degree. A substance with a low specific heat, like rocks, sand and asphalt, require little heat flow to change temperature.

So in an area like the Australian desert, the ambient temperature may be 95 degrees or so, but surface temperatures can be much, much hotter.

Next time you have a cloudless 90 degree day, go out at about 2:00 PM and use an infrared thermometer to measure the surface temperature of the street in front of your house. Then you will have an understanding that animals in your area have some pretty high basking temperatures too,

[tsdsbd]

yeah i understand that the surface temperatures are high, but in an enclosure the heat lamp thats get to 140 degrees is acting as the sun providing heat for it isnt it? so wouldnt that be like the sun beating down from the top of the cage at that kind of heat?

im not questioning you guys or saying youre wrong im just confused lol

[Skiploder]

yeah i understand that the surface temperatures are high, but in an enclosure the heat lamp thats get to 140 degrees is acting as the sun providing heat for it isnt it? so wouldnt that be like the sun beating down from the top of the cage at that kind of heat?

im not questioning you guys or saying youre wrong im just confused lol

Think of the lizard's back as the surface temperature - it's no different than a rock or a piece of wood for that matter (other than the properties/capacity of specific heat).

On a 90 degree day, the radiant heat from the sun will cause the surface temperature of the animal to rise well above the ambient temperature - correct?

[tsdsbd]

Think of the lizard's back as the surface temperature - it's no different than a rock or a piece of wood for that matter (other than the properties/capacity of specific heat).

On a 90 degree day, the radiant heat from the sun will cause the surface temperature of the animal to rise well above the ambient temperature - correct?

ok i get it now, thank you very much, one day id like to own a tegu or savannah monitor