Basking
Sitting under heat and light to raise body temperature and absorb UVB.
Basking is how a diurnal reptile warms up and, under a UVB source, makes the vitamin D3 it needs to use calcium. The basking spot is the warmest point in the enclosure, directly under the heat lamp.
Each species has a target basking-surface temperature; too cool and it cannot digest or stay active, too hot and it risks burns or overheating. Control the heat source with a thermostat, and measure the surface the animal actually sits on.
Related terms
baskr turns the fundamentals into practice, log temperature, humidity and weight and it scores each animal against species ideal ranges, flagging problems early.
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General husbandry guidance, not veterinary advice. Always confirm details for your species with an up-to-date care sheet, an experienced keeper or an exotics vet.