Outside basking question

[Daypaul]

Hello all! I have a free range setup where my cham can get natural sun through screen storm windows. When inside when she gets to hot she will move in the shade but while we are outside she will keep basking to the point where she starts holding her mouth open and will not move to a shadier area, at which point I bring her in or mist a little to drop her temp which works. But I wonder why she won't move? Should I let her keep basking it usually is not above 85°f but I still get worried once she starts gapping her mouth. I feel like she knows when to seek shade so maybe I'm jumping the gun on moving her?

 

[Carlton]

The sun warmth she's getting outside is less likely to dangerously overheat her because the heat isn't an intense focused beam that a lamp would produce. As long as she has shade to retreat to she will move when she needs to. Gaping is very common as the cham's internal organs warm up. I think you'll see her move once she's had her "fill" of warmth and UV.

 

[KapitalJ]

my guy does this in his enclosure all the time. Gapes for a while, then moves away... however I always seem to worry just the same!