Leo tank setup

[tress29]

I hope someone here can answer my question so I don't have to join ANOTHER forum!!

I have Sephira in a 20L tank, with a glass versa lid.  I haven't used any heat all summer, and in fact rigged up a screen lid for her.  Now that temps are dropping, we need to warm our girl up a bit.  I have a dual light for the top and usually use a 15W night bulb that stays on all the time, and then the 25W daytime bulb to raise the temps during the day.  Even with both bulbs on yesterday, it didn't raise the temp more than 73 degrees.  (My apartment is 69-70.)  I'm trying to remember but I think we got 75 last winter.  Do you think I just need new bulbs?  Or do I need to add a heat mat to the tank as well?  What size would I use?  Installed at one end so she can get away from the heat?  Does it matter that she's on paper towel, not substrate?

I've got the night bulb on the left, with her moist hide and a jaguar skull.  (Her "dad" is a 9 yo boy!)  The right end has the 25W bulb, and a log thing she can climb up on.  She used to perch on the log, I guess to catch the cool breezes, but now she hunkers down in her skull.  The only other change we've made is she's in the bedroom of my 3rd floor apt, not in the 4th floor loft. 

Thanks for any ideas you can share.  I turned her lights back on waaay before I turned the furnace on!

Theresa in Indy

[justanotherfroginthepond]

I don't think I've ever sold a leo set-up with less than a 60-75 watt basking bulb, and we always do UT heaters with them as well.  UT heater won't work for you with paper towel as substrate, though, so you're gonna need to raise the watts in your bulbs.  It's a simple fix, but it may require that you get a different fixture.  Dome fixtures set flush on top of your screen lid should be fine.  Leos can be pretty tolerant of temps, but prolonged lower temps are something to stay away from.

[tress29]

Thanks!

Theresa in Indy