leo heating worries

[orrimaarrkko]

i bought a set up from a local shop, and was told this is all i would need for a starter set up. i have a heat mat and a tight beam basking spot light at one end and a cool side. i was told buy the shop to keep the light on for 8-10hrs a day. with this light on the temp is about 31c and at night when i turn the light off it drops to 21-22c. i was told by the shop that this was ok. am i doing the right thing? i have a woodern Viv. they are both moving around when they get to hot to the cool side..

[ToxicSiren]

Not really. Leos dont need heat lamps they are nocturnal. So they do not bask. They need a heat mat conected to a thermostst only. They do not like light x

[Ally]

I have found that leos do bask if given a heat light, but it needs to be connected to a thermostat to prevent it from overheating. The heatmat will also need a thermostat for the same reason.

If I were you, I'd ditch the heatbulb as it's not strictly neccesary and a dimming stat for it is expensive. Get yourself a thermostat for the heatmat and set it so that it's 28C - 30C on the mat (the air temperature will be cooler but that's ok). You can leave that on 24-7 without worrying, just check the temps over the mat occasionally just to make sure everything's still working.

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by ToxicSiren

Not really. Leos dont need heat lamps they are nocturnal. So they do not bask. They need a heat mat conected to a thermostst only. They do not like light x

i have kept a spot light over rocks for over 10 years, been fine....never once ever used a heat mat.

[BlackRose]

my leo hates any light whatsoever. and she has her warm end on 90 with a heatmat. i forgot to say DONT put a heatmat IN the tank. ive heard of someone who did this and covered it well and the leo was badly burnt. I use plenty of kitchen roll as substrate as its so easy then to clean and she likes it, and its all held down in the right places with her bowls and hides etc. the heatmat is then on the bottom of the outside of her tank, three quaters under.

[FluffySheep]

Are the heatmat and bulb on thermostats? As long as the substrate at the warm end doesn't get too hot (over 92F), they should be fine. Definitely get thermostats if you haven't got any though.

Originally Posted by BlackRose

my leo hates any light whatsoever. and she has her warm end on 90 with a heatmat. i forgot to say DONT put a heatmat IN the tank. ive heard of someone who did this and covered it well and the leo was badly burnt. I use plenty of kitchen roll as substrate as its so easy then to clean and she likes it, and its all held down in the right places with her bowls and hides etc. the heatmat is then on the bottom of the outside of her tank, three quaters under.

Is that a wooden viv?

[BlackRose]

no. i asked around the shops, and the specialist and a few people told me also that a faunarium is fine for one leo. if i do every get round to breeding tho, she shall be placed into a bigger wooden viv.

[FluffySheep]

Originally Posted by BlackRose

no. i asked around the shops, and the specialist and a few people told me also that a faunarium is fine for one leo. if i do every get round to breeding tho, she shall be placed into a bigger wooden viv.

I only asked because the OP said it's a wooden viv, and I couldn't heat my wooden viv with the heatmat underneath. Mines inside the viv under a sheet of lino.