Keeper timer setting
T5 UVB: one hour later on, one hour earlier off
During active care — ON: 1 hour after daylight starts.
OFF: 1 hour before daylight ends.
During hibernation / full brumation: T5 UVB OFF (0 hours). In transition months, keep UVB off while dormant and use the active timer only once the animal is warmed and active.
October: daylight 11 h 25 m; T5 UVB 9 h 25 m.
The active T5 duration is the photoperiod minus two hours. Example: daylight 08:00–20:00 means UVB 09:00–19:00. Follow the monthly UVI strength measured beneath the tube and provide access to shade. This timing rule does not introduce hibernation for species whose schedule has only a mild or active winter rest. If an older combined heat / UV column is present, the new T5 UVB duration column governs UVB timing; existing heat settings are preserved.
UVI beneath the optional T5 tube
Working exposure targetOctober target at normal back height
UVI 4directly under the tube when it is on
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Your measuring point
Measure at the animal's normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the T5 strip, positioned toward the middle/back. The animal can enter and leave this area freely.
Keep a lower-UVI gradient and fully covered refuges near UVI 0. This is the optional exposure area, not the average across the cage.
Use a UV Index meter, such as a Solarmeter 6.5/6.5R. Warm the tube for about 30 minutes; keep reflector, guards and mesh in place. Raise or lower the fixture within its manufacturer's minimum-distance guidance, then recheck the reading and every higher accessible surface.
Evidence level: Provisional retention. These are working recommendations, often inferred; exact species optima and seasonal UV dose usually have not been measured. Log lamp-on time and animal behaviour as well as UVI.
Baines et al. (2016), UV-Tool · Muryn, Baines and Dishman (2026), Reptile Lighting Guide V10
October management
Selected automatically using the Netherlands date
Autumn taper
Central and southern Tenerife - sunny rocky scrub, walls, agricultural margins and open volcanic habitats
24-28 CDay ambient
18-21 CNight
38-41 CBasking
4T5 UVI*
11 h 25 mPhotoperiod
9 h 25 mT5 UVB duration
50-65 / 60-75%RH day / night*
Light mist 1x/wkSpray / rain
3-4Food offers*
Annual schedule
Scroll sideways on smaller screens
| Month | Day ambient | Night | Basking | T5 UVI* | Photoperiod | T5 UVB duration | RH day / night* | Spray / rain | Food offers* | Status / breeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18-22 C | 13-16 C | 31-34 C | 2-3 | 10 h 35 m | 8 h 35 m | 50-65 / 60-75% | Light mist 1-2x/wk | 2-3 | Mild winter rest |
| February | 18-22 C | 13-16 C | 32-35 C | 2-3 | 11 h | 9 h | 50-65 / 60-75% | Light mist 1-2x/wk | 2-3 | Conditioning |
| March | 20-24 C | 14-17 C | 35-38 C | 3-4 | 11 h 45 m | 9 h 45 m | 45-60 / 55-70% | Light mist 1x/wk | 3-4 | Warm-up / courtship |
| April | 22-26 C | 15-18 C | 38-41 C | 4 | 12 h 40 m | 10 h 40 m | 45-60 / 55-70% | Minimal / occasional | 4 | Courtship / mating |
| May | 23-27 C | 17-19 C | 40-42 C | 4-5 | 13 h 25 m | 11 h 25 m | 45-60 / 55-70% | Minimal; moist nest | 4-5 | Mating / first laying possible |
| June | 25-29 C | 18-21 C | 41-43 C | 4-5 | 13 h 55 m | 11 h 55 m | 45-60 / 55-70% | Minimal; water always | 4-5 | Main laying / incubation |
| July | 27-31 C | 20-22 C | 42-44 C | 5 | 13 h 45 m | 11 h 45 m | 45-60 / 55-70% | Minimal; water always | 4-5 | Laying / incubation |
| August | 27-31 C | 20-23 C | 42-44 C | 5 | 13 h 10 m | 11 h 10 m | 45-60 / 55-70% | Minimal; water always | 4 | Late laying / hatching |
| September | 26-30 C | 20-23 C | 41-43 C | 4-5 | 12 h 20 m | 10 h 20 m | 45-60 / 55-70% | Light mist 1x/wk | 4 | Hatching / recovery |
| October | 24-28 C | 18-21 C | 38-41 C | 4 | 11 h 25 m | 9 h 25 m | 50-65 / 60-75% | Light mist 1x/wk | 3-4 | Autumn taper |
| November | 21-25 C | 16-19 C | 34-37 C | 3 | 10 h 45 m | 8 h 45 m | 50-65 / 60-75% | Light mist 1-2x/wk | 3 | Cooling / reduced feeding |
| December | 19-23 C | 14-17 C | 31-34 C | 2-3 | 10 h 25 m | 8 h 25 m | 50-65 / 60-75% | Light mist 1-2x/wk | 2-3 | Mild winter rest |
Keeper notes
Use measured gradients and animal behaviour, not single thermostat readings
T5 UVI measurement
Measure UVI at normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the optional T5 strip. Place the strip toward the middle/back with free access to and away from it; preserve a gradient into fully covered refuges near UVI 0. These numbers describe the exposure area, not the whole enclosure or a daily average.
UVI review
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Range
Gallotia galloti galloti is the nominate form from central and southern Tenerife. Bischoff restricted the type locality to the Guimar valley.
Climate
AEMET Tenerife Sur normals show mean monthly temperature from about 18.4 C in January to 24.7 C in August. Rainfall is concentrated in autumn/winter and is essentially absent from May through August.
Thermal management
Use a broad gradient. Active-season basking surfaces around 41-44 C are appropriate, but much cooler shaded retreats must remain available. Winter cooling is mild; reduce basking and feeding rather than imposing deep brumation.
Humidity and rain
Keep exposed surfaces dry through the warm season while maintaining drinking water and one slightly humid deep refuge. Increase localized misting modestly in autumn/winter.
Diet
Adults are plant-rich omnivores. Offer edible weeds, leafy greens, flowers, browse and controlled fruit, plus a smaller invertebrate component. Juveniles should receive proportionally more invertebrates.
Reproduction
Species-level G. galloti breeding runs through spring and summer. Nominate-form life-history data give a mean clutch size of about 3 eggs; a practical working range is roughly 3-6, with larger females capable of more.
Incubation
Nominate-form incubation data are limited. A cautious starting point is about 25.5-27 C with moderate substrate moisture, informed by closely related Tenerife G. galloti breeding data.
Social warning
Adult males are territorial and courtship can be forceful. Provide multiple heat, feeding and retreat sites and separate immediately for injury or sustained exclusion.