Well my hot spot was around 88 and my heat mat was super low,barely hot and well first chilly day he was out and sleeping under the night light in the vines,I put the heat mat up the next day and he was right back in his hide..I don't think the heat lamp is going to heat through the hide and heat the bottom of the tank,especially through the chillier seasons..summer I can understand,unless u have an a.c around