[rhacoboy]

Hello,
I'm wondering what temps you guys use for the breeding season, and also what temps work well for the cooling season.

Would a 50 watt bulb be sufficient on top of the cage?
Thanks,
-Armen

[billewicz]

Hello,

So, these guys come from very hot and humid digs throughout Southeast Asia all the way to India.

I run my Tokay rooms from 80-85 degrees at night up to the very high 90's during the summer months. Right now 90 to 92 might be the high and 78 might be the low especially on cold rainy nights during the winter. I'll mist heavier on rainy days/nights as well to match the outside conditions. Cooler rainy months bring on the breeding season and the boys will start squawkin'.

By mid-February I'll start bringing up the temps slowly and by late April I'll start reducing the amount of misting.

I know others have a different opinion on this next part, but I like under tank heat for individual enclosures. What I like is that it will dry out the substrate in between mistings while keeping the humidity up. Now this assumes heavy misting several times a day, especially during the winter into the spring months.

50 watts from above is fine but it may not be enough depending on how tall the enclosure is. If the substrate stays moist it will invite mold, riot and pests. There needs to be enough heat and ventilation to keep your Tokay happy, enjoy.

Michael

[MauricesExoticPets]

^^Trust this guy^^

Maurice Pudlo

[Logie Bear]

Michael, (for curiosity) do you just heat the reptile room to those temps or use the UTH on all the tanks?


I currently use paper towel as a substrate and a 75 w heat bulb for my tokay enclosure. No problems as of yet!

[billewicz]

Actually, both because the rooms are warmer on the top shelves so I will use heat pads under the bottom enclosures to keep them the same as the upper room temps. I also have a few enclosures in our living areas which are no where near hot enough and use heat pads under all of them as well.

Also, if you are bring the humidity to tropical levels the substrate can get soggy which can invite unhealthy fungus. Under heat will dry the substrate out in between mistings which will reduce unwanted growth.

Paper towels will lower the humidity and could make shedding difficult. If the moisture levels are high enough, the paper towels can grow some funky black and pink molds if not changed often.

I do use paper towels in the very young hatchling enclosures and if I'm nursing a Tokay back to health but other than that, I use Cyprus mulch. It holds a lot of moisture and it is slow to rot or grow fungus, etc.

I hope that quenches your curiosity.

All the best,

Michael