Setting up my viv.

[eccentric_amber]

I am getting a Leo in Aug and I am researching husbandry. I am slowing starting to collect things I am going to need for our new family member. I have Bearded dragons and a big fan of using slate tile. Since I have extra tiles I would love to use them for our Leo. I read in a few post that people do use it but some are heating the tile from above; that doesn't sound right since they need belly heat. Wondering if I would have problems using the UTH with the slate? Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[karencowboymojo]

We have a UTH under slate, and it works awesome. The way we did it, is raise an additional 12x12 tile a little under a half an inch off the tile floor, and placed our UTH directly under it.

 

[eccentric_amber]

So you have tile as a base, raised another piece slightly and put the heater between the 2 tiles? Since I haven't had an animal that needed an UTH in over 10 years I am by no means an expert, (I even wonder if I was using it correctly back then?) but do you just need to make sure there is space between the bottom tile and heater so there is air flow and it doesn't short out or over heat?
So you would have:
top tile with something to raise it a bit
UTH stuck to top tile
space
bottom tile/glass or whatever

Sorry if my questions are silly! I really want to make the perfect home for our Leo when we get her.

~amber

 

[karencowboymojo]

Instead of raising the tank, we raised a piece of tile and stuck the UTH directly to the bottom of it.

We use a thermostat to ensure it doesn't overheat.

 

[eccentric_amber]

thanks

 

[karencowboymojo]

Just visited your site...so sorry to hear about Chance's story.

These little guys have such a large, and unique personality...It's hard to hear stories like Chance's.