New here, need help regarding heat...

[christofolo]

Hi everyone, got myself an aptor early juvenile last Saturday and loving him, eating his cricks and everything but I am confused by pet store techniques..now ima get a heat mat for bruce (yep that's his name lol) today but I have a paper towel substrate. I'm worried as to how many layers on paper towel I should have to prevent burns? I have a glass tank in a room that stays in the mid 70s all day and goes to lower 70s at night.

Now the reptile store for some reason uses sand for their babies and encourage the use of uvb/ heat lights...why? I just find it annoying that "experts" say these things. Ty for any input given

 

[Arizona Leos]

The heat mat should work fine and put as many layers as you want to make you fell comfortable. I use 1-2 and when i put my hand on the area its a good temp

 

[kathstew]

Get a probe thermometer. Place the probe over the hot side of the tank, and monitor the temps. The temps should be 88*-95*. Add or remove paper towel layers as you see fit. If you need to adjust the heat mat's temp, you can use a thermostat or a light dimmer.

The air temp isn't important for leos, its the floor temp. Leos get their heat from their bellies, so you need to monitor the floor temp, where their bellies are resting.

I don't understand why petstores give false information either. I guess in part its one person gave false information, and its been passed on so many times it just seems right to the employees. Its not just leos though, you see it in all sorts of animals they sell; fish, rabbits, cats, dogs etc.
Its kinda like the rumour leos live on sand. One person said it, it was passed on so many times people think its true. Its not. Leos don't live on sand.
I try correcting the employees when I can, and it does help sometimes.