light cycle rotation questions

Knight05 · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:51 am Post subject: light cycle rotation questions

So basically my tegus are 100% nocturnal they come out at like 8-9 pm every night and hide again about 6-7 am. I usually use my inferred bulb at night for lower heat and to not disturb their rest cycle. But if they are coming out at night that means no UVA/UVB on meaning they dont get whats needed. Do I turn the UVA light on at night to make sure they get proper heat to digest and stuff and fool them into thinking its day or what do I do? i don't want to mess up their cycle but i dont want to disturb them either

txrepgirl · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:46 am Post subject:

I know you don't want to mess up there cycle but ( and I don't mean to be rude about it ) it is already messed up.They should be awake during the day like they are in nature.What I recommend is getting a timer ( you can get it at wallmart for about $5 ) and set it for the time the sun comes up ( I set mine for 8 am and turn it of at 8 pm ) and turn it of when the sun goes down.It will take them to adjust a few days.I know how it is.I had to deal with the same thing.Some times I have to work at night and before I bought the timer our Tegus schedule was all messed up because I got up at different times some times and it got later and later for me to turn on the lights.So they started to sleep in and went to sleep later.It got to the point that when Leonidas ( Zeus started to hibernate ) heard me come home at 3 am he came out of his hide and stayed up until about 7am.So I bought a timer and he has been getting up about 5 or 10 minutes before the light comes on.He gets up right before 8 am and goes to sleep at about 2 or 3 pm.Oh I for got to tell you that when he got up at night I turned on the UVB and the basking light.Hope that helps.Good luck and please keep us posted.

angelrose · Moderator Joined: Jan 05, 2008 Posts: 1455

I am going through the same thing Knight05 with my Angelrose my little night owl. on the flip side my Guin & Lance are up no later then 6 am and hungry, very hungry. lol.

Angelrose was waking up at 9pm as well. I am trying to reset her clock now by turning the lights UVA & B the same time as Guin & Lance on.
at night when she did wake up I would I used to put the day lights all on for her. and she can come and go as she pleases so she would eat and roam around at night like a gypsy.

it takes a few days to reset them but it works.

and now I can sleep

meanah · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject:

yeah i keep all of my herps on an 8.30 to 8.30 it works quite well and im able to see all of them after work for a few hours.
_________________
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
1.0.0 Arg. Tegu
0.1.4 Bearded Dragon
0.1.0 Royal Python
1.0.0 Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Kingsnake
0.0.1 Painted Turtle
0.1.1 Spotted Pythons
1.2.0 Tokay Geckos
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos

worldeater · Respected Member Joined: Mar 06, 2008 Posts: 578

umm, i keep my lights on 24/7 so that my night temps remain stable. if i turn em off the ambient will plummet to high 60's low 70's.

grox don't mind as whenever he sleeps he's in his den with the entrance boarded up with moss. his sleep cycle seems normal aswell, he's allways out sunning himself when i get up at 7:30 and usually isn't out anytime past 5:00 PM

does he really need a day night cycle? can anyone recommend a night light that puts out a good bit of heat, and emits light so he knows where the warm side is if he wakes up?

also, not to hyjack, but he allways closes his eyes when i scratch him, is this a sign of stress or joy? and he allways struggles a little when i lift him out of the cage or put him back, does this stress him out?

Dragonfruit · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

Some people use ceramic heat emitters or those red or blue night lights that give off heat. As long as there is heat, he will find it regardless of light. I was under the impression that the low 70's was not too low but I may be wrong? My apartment stays warm enough that I dont have to worry about night temps. Signs of actual stress are usually things like increased breathing, increased heart rate, possibly hissing and puffing up (although those two are more signs of annoyance / agitation), and also lethargy if the stress escalates. His closed eyes may be a positive reaction to your scratching or it could be slight annoyance; most people would like to think that they are enjoying though. If I stroke my tegu or scratch him, he acts more annoyed than anything, unless he's shedding, then he loves it and will rub back against me. Struggling when you lift him out: is he struggling or trying to find a better perch on your hand? If he is struggling, I would personally say I don't think it is the biggest stressor as long as it doesn't last very long.
_________________
~Tango's Mom~

"I always like a dog so long as he isn't spelled backward" - G.K. Chesterson

meanah · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:

yeah i use a 100 watt red heat bulb for night time for the tegus it keeps them warm and has enough light to see them if they are up
_________________
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
1.0.0 Arg. Tegu
0.1.4 Bearded Dragon
0.1.0 Royal Python
1.0.0 Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Kingsnake
0.0.1 Painted Turtle
0.1.1 Spotted Pythons
1.2.0 Tokay Geckos
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos

worldeater · Respected Member Joined: Mar 06, 2008 Posts: 578

he does push against my hand like he wants me to scratch harder. he also absolutly hates it when i touch the base of his tail.

lol, and is it normal for them to shed more than once a week?

gonna go buy him a nightlight after work, 100watt should be good.

txrepgirl · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:04 am Post subject:

I don't use a night light for my Tegus because the enclosure is always between 72 and 75 at night.Now in the summer time when my boyfriend ( Bryan ) cranks up the ac I will get them I heat light.I might get me one,too

.