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I have a 20 long and recently upgraded my uth from a small one (8x8) to a medium (10.5 x 11). I also started using the dayglo (60w) during the day and nightglo (75w) at night. Well, my leo hasn't been eating much and hiding on her cool side more. So I realize it's much too warm for her on the warm side. With the uth and dayglo it was getting to be over 100. Without the light, it's around 92 on the ground. Should I go without the light during the day and just let natural daylight in or switch back to the smaller uth? Also, she's on paper towel right now and well over 6 inches and she's about 5 months old. I would like to use sand as a substrate, is it safe now or should I wait until she's older? (She actually started out on sand and was fine, but I was bit paranoid) Thanks

Well, for the UTH you really should get a temp control device because it will overheat without one. Until you can get one, leave the lamp off because 92 degrees is only a few degrees off from being optimal. As for the sand issue, you can put her back on it if you would like (since she is over 6 inches) but I don't recommend it.

Cleo
1:1 leos (6 eggs cooking)

I would get rid of the light. Just get a rheostat or a thermostat, or even just a dimmer control to hook the uth up to. You can control the temps with those things. Lower it to about 88-90 degrees and you should be good to go. You can put her back on sand. Some will say that sand is bad even for leos over 6 inches, but there shouldnt be a problem. For an adult leo to get impacted it would have to ingest quite a bit of sand, so it should be fine for her. Make sure you have a calcium dish in there though, so your leo doesnt start licking the sand for calcium.
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Josh
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