Hi everyone,
I'm going to be housing my babies in a big plastic trunk (obviously leaving the lid open lol) It's 31"x12"x16" and has a fairly flat floor, no big trenches or anything like some of them have. I have a few questions about lighting/heating/substrate.
What is a good substrate for them? I've been told shredded newspaper is best until they get bigger (not sure how big they'll be when I get them, but probably close to freshly hatched). Is that really best or should I use something else like peat moss or cocofibre or tiles?
I am going to be bringing back the fluorescent light fixture off one of my empty fish tanks to provide a full spectrum light for them when I go home for a visit in April. I was planning on leaving their tub in my livingroom, where there's no a/c. I'm living in the Caribbean, should I also bring down a clamp lamp w/ ceramic heater or should the house be warm enough? I know the tortoises live outside on the island here, but those are adult torts, not wee babies. I really don't want to get back to the island and realise I need more supplies, which I won't be able to get here, because, well it's an island
Would you all suggest a ceramic heat lamp? Or would it be better if I just got a full spectrum lamp that I could also use as a heater, like a repti-sun or something?
Any other tips/hints about housing would be very much appreciated
I really appreciate the sticky of the plastic tub enclosure, I was feeling a little ashamed that I was going to basically be putting them in tupperware, but now I feel much better I think I might try growing some plants for my little one too, although I'm pretty pitiful at gardening, I'm going to give it a go
I'm going to be housing my babies in a big plastic trunk (obviously leaving the lid open lol) It's 31"x12"x16" and has a fairly flat floor, no big trenches or anything like some of them have. I have a few questions about lighting/heating/substrate.
What is a good substrate for them? I've been told shredded newspaper is best until they get bigger (not sure how big they'll be when I get them, but probably close to freshly hatched). Is that really best or should I use something else like peat moss or cocofibre or tiles?
I am going to be bringing back the fluorescent light fixture off one of my empty fish tanks to provide a full spectrum light for them when I go home for a visit in April. I was planning on leaving their tub in my livingroom, where there's no a/c. I'm living in the Caribbean, should I also bring down a clamp lamp w/ ceramic heater or should the house be warm enough? I know the tortoises live outside on the island here, but those are adult torts, not wee babies. I really don't want to get back to the island and realise I need more supplies, which I won't be able to get here, because, well it's an island
Would you all suggest a ceramic heat lamp? Or would it be better if I just got a full spectrum lamp that I could also use as a heater, like a repti-sun or something?
Any other tips/hints about housing would be very much appreciated
I really appreciate the sticky of the plastic tub enclosure, I was feeling a little ashamed that I was going to basically be putting them in tupperware, but now I feel much better
I think I might try growing some plants for my little one too, although I'm pretty pitiful at gardening, I'm going to give it a go 
