Different temps around cage?

[breebree218]

Hello I haven't gotten my hedgehog yet, and I'm trying to make the temperatures in the cage constant and correct. But so far the spot that the heat emitter is focused on is 78.2 degrees, while when I put a separate thermometer on the very edge of the cage it's only 73.9.

My problem is I can get the outer parts of the cage to the right temperature, but the middle where the heat emitter is most directed towards will be too hot (probably 81-82 or maybe higher).

So my question is, is the variance normal or do you guys have the same temp all around the cage? Or, has no one used multiple thermometers in different places to check? Because in reptile keeping not every part of the enclosure is ever the same temp. Any insight is appreciated. I'm using an 8.5 inch dome lamp by the way

[Ria]

The area the heat lamp is over is aways slighly higher in temp. The edges of my cage are 25.5 degrees and the middle is 26ish degrees

The only way you'll know if its too cold or hot for your hedgehog is by seeing how they are in the cage at the temp you have it.

[breebree218]

Originally Posted by Ria

The area the heat lamp is over is aways slighly higher in temp. The edges of my cage are 25.5 degrees and the middle is 26ish degrees

The only way you'll know if its too cold or hot for your hedgehog is by seeing how they are in the cage at the temp you have it.

So should I focus on trying to heat the rest of the cage to 75 - 78 while the center remains 80? Or should I focus on the center? I figure since you said the spot below the emitter is usually the hottest that means 80 is okay for that spot?

[Ria]

80 for the spot under the heat emmiterr is okay, and that will keep the outside edges close to that but will still be slightly cooler but closer to the higher temp.

[nikki]

Using a 10 inch dome would help spread the heat out more evenly. If that doesn't help you may have to use 2 CHEs.