How do i stop my basking spot from being too hot?

Question

I have had my red eared slider setup the same for a while now, and my res loves to bask a lot under the lights. I recently got a zilla digital thermometer to check if the temps were all right, but to my shock i came back and the basking spot was 145F! i immediatly turned of the light, to cool it down. I read that it was ok if the basking spot got up to 100F, but mine went way over that! I never thought it would get that hot since i have a 50 watt, on a screen, 5 inches away from the basking place. i dont want to lower the water level because it is perfect, but the air temp is usually 90-95F, its just the basking dock gets way too hot. What should i do?

Answer 1

you can fit the basking lamp to a thermostat to keep it at the correct temp, all reptiles lighting and heating should be fitted with a thermostat as it is alot safer for the reptiles and you don't have to worry about the tank getting too hot,

Answer 2

he needs the water , so higher the light some how above the tank.

They do love to bask,I have 4 and two of them are 36 yrs old..unbelieveable.

..

Answer 3

Do you have a temp gun? If a thermometer is reading that you got a higher temp. A thermometer is NOT for measuring basking temps. A TEMPGUN is. A thermometer is for air temps. Try either buying a lower watt light not a 50 watt halogen flood.  Try a regular bulb for a turtle. or buy a dimmer switch so you can plug a light into the cord and turn down the temp

Answer 4

get a normal household bulb at a lower wattage

Answer 5

try moving the light further away frm the where u usally leave it at. .