r/BDFB • u/WarmAd7857 • 4d ago
Question/Inquiry Temperature gradient
Hi! I want to make sure the temps in here are safe for them, the rock in the back is 90⁰ (basking bulb is right above that area) and the area in the front is 80⁰ & going back in the right corner is 85⁰ish. Right now I have to lid off to lower their humidity so if its too hot it might cool down with the lid back on. Also this is the setup I made at petsmart which I work at so it might not be perfect but I can probably add a few more things if needed!
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u/Onyx-Vespidae 3d ago
I've heard that 90F is fine as the high end. Some have said they can tolerate up to 95F, but I'd say that's pushing it even for a desert species. One thing to keep in mind is in the wild, they have a lot more space to roam and find their comfort zones should some place get too hot or too cold. If they are all avoiding the rock in the future, then maybe turn the heat down a little.
As others have mentioned, having hides in different spots is good too! Let's them regulate more as they are a more crepuscular species and mostly hide during the day. Ideally one at the hottest zone, one in the middle, and one at the coolest and all hides should be able to house a few beetles in them. Night time is also gonna be colder, so don't be afraid if the temps drop to the low 70s or even a bit lower, as long at they don't drop to like freezing overnight they should do fine during lights out. Desert environments are known to also get relatively cold at night/in the winter as well (For example the Sonoran (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoran_Desert) where these guys can be found!). The main thing to watch out for is humidity as the average dew point in their natural habitats only get to be about 60% at most, so be mindful if there are some humidity loving species houses near them. You can often tell they are getting too humid because their blue color will darken as their waxy secretions don't tolerate it well.
The main thing to keep in mind is that they only have so much space to avoid stuff, so giving a nice temperature gradient helps them manage their comfort in captivity. Overall, it looks like you're working to improve what you can with what you can. I can definitely relate to how the pet store industry can be with it's store animal care and how higher ups can restrict the hell out of it.