need advice on set up...confused

[Pinky81]

So I have been poking around on here trying to get ready for my hatchlings. Im a little confused. this is what i have set up right now. I have a 16qt sterilte tub with a small UTH on one side nothing on the other. I have a probe in the tub it measure 94 on tub bottom.

Now ive seen someone here with ALL wet paper towels and i have seen direction for having very small dish of water and a moist hide on hot side.

But Im starting to think I got this all wrong that my tube is too big and that the whole tub should be 94 degrees.

I am about 50 days in and now Im questioning my set up...please if any of you more seasoned members can give me some suggestions!

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Mel, a 15 is too big for hatchlings right out of the egg. 6qt shoeboxes are perfect. Heat under one end. They need a little more humidity at first, so you may have seen wet paper towels from misting. Also, babes hide under them, and it would be easy to lose one and panic in a 15. Wait till you hear their little screeches when they see the giant poking around their tub You'll crack up.

 

[Pinky81]

Thanks Laney... I am so glad I asked! Gotta make a run to wally world. So do you suggest a hide in a hatchling box or just the misted paper towel?

Also what is the thought about Calcium in the box...should I have a dish of calcium powder in there right away?

They Screech??:inquisitive: Oh boy thats gonna be interesting LOL...Im thinking Id be better off getting a few 6qts and lining them up on the floor along my wall with heat tape running underthem, don't have a table long enough.... hmmmm! im rethinking my whole set up..although I will only have one hatchling coming out of the first two clutches....I wish I had a spare room!! LOL

 

[fl_orchidslave]

I use a gatorade cap to feed from with powder in it. Tinies have no problems getting to it. Some folks may put in a moist hide but I hold off a bit on that because they poop so much and in the hide too. That's just how I do it tho.

 

[acpart]

I start out with only a hide and nothing else in the hatchling enclosure. I mist a few times a day to keep the humidity up. Once they shed, I put a small, shallow water dish in there, a small shallow dish with a few small mealworms and a milk bottle cap of calcium. For the hatchlings in the glass enclosures I also use a small humid hide. I make it out of the plastic baby food containers (I have a lot of these since I feed my day geckos peach baby food) with paper towel. The hatchlings in the rack (my hatchling overflow) don't get a humid hide because the 6qt. tubs are too small and I feel the humidity is high enough since they're so enclosed.

Aliza

 

[TripleALeos]

Here's what I use.. Its very easy and simple. The hides are simply used meal worms containers from when I used to buy them at the local pet store. gatorade lid for water and water bottle lid for calcium. I use a small dish (not pictured) for meal worms. Hope this helps.

 

[Pinky81]

Aliza that help a ton!!! Question!

Where is your heat source?? I don't have a "rack" I was planning to get a square card table and setting up the hatchling bins on there. I just don't know if I should get heat tape or just us the extra UTH that I have.

Thanks for your suggestions...I guess not hat I have 8 clutchs in the bator Im rethinking my plan of action.

 

[acpart]

My rack has heat cable. I recommend that you get some Zoo-med heat cable, one of the longer lengths, tape it to a large piece of plexiglass so that you can place the (covered with airholes) tubs on top of the heat cable and have a heat gradient. Get a thermostat and raise each tub a bit to vent the cable.

Aliza