oneilmatt
Member
Hi all,
I just received a pair of 3-Toed Box Turtles about 2 months ago. These are my first turtles and my first reptiles. This lack of experience is the reason I am posting. I keep them outside in a spacious enclosure, and the female just laid a clutch of eggs about a week ago.
I have decided to leave the eggs outside and let mother nature hatch them, and I've erected a wire cage around the nest to keep predators out and the hatchlings in. I have also decided, however, that I will be bringing the babies in, assuming they hatch and are alive, of course.
I have looked at the hatchling care sheet on this site, as well as other resources, so I have a decent idea of what to do. However, there is so much information that I am sort of overwhelmed. I have a large empty fish tank that I will be using to house them, but my main questions involve lighting and heating.
Like I said before, I have never owned or cared for a reptile before. I have no idea what kinds of lights are good for turtles, nor do I know what brands are reliable. I am also curious about heating. Some people say that radiant heating pads under the tank are good, others say they aren't.
So I guess I'll ask these specific questions; What are the best light products that I absolutely should have in the tank? Specifically, what types of bulbs and what brands?
What should I do about the heating situation? The room they will be in does get a bit cold in the winter, probably down to about 50, so I am assuming I will need some sort of heater.
I was not expecting eggs this year, but I just want to right by the turts. Thanks so much for your help!
I just received a pair of 3-Toed Box Turtles about 2 months ago. These are my first turtles and my first reptiles. This lack of experience is the reason I am posting. I keep them outside in a spacious enclosure, and the female just laid a clutch of eggs about a week ago.
I have decided to leave the eggs outside and let mother nature hatch them, and I've erected a wire cage around the nest to keep predators out and the hatchlings in. I have also decided, however, that I will be bringing the babies in, assuming they hatch and are alive, of course.
I have looked at the hatchling care sheet on this site, as well as other resources, so I have a decent idea of what to do. However, there is so much information that I am sort of overwhelmed. I have a large empty fish tank that I will be using to house them, but my main questions involve lighting and heating.
Like I said before, I have never owned or cared for a reptile before. I have no idea what kinds of lights are good for turtles, nor do I know what brands are reliable. I am also curious about heating. Some people say that radiant heating pads under the tank are good, others say they aren't.
So I guess I'll ask these specific questions; What are the best light products that I absolutely should have in the tank? Specifically, what types of bulbs and what brands?
What should I do about the heating situation? The room they will be in does get a bit cold in the winter, probably down to about 50, so I am assuming I will need some sort of heater.
I was not expecting eggs this year, but I just want to right by the turts. Thanks so much for your help!