Substrate for Neonates

[jajeanpierre]

I'm getting my cages ready in anticipation of my 12 quad eggs hatching any day now. These will be my first ever babies.

I want to use a substrate for a couple of reasons: First to increase the humidity, and Second, so there isn't a pool of water collecting on the floor from the misters. I don't know how much of a risk a puddle of water really is for a neonate.

They will be housed in Dragonstrand breeder cages with misters. All doors will be solid to keep in the humidity.

One breeder recommended that I use leaf litter on the floor but I'm not sure I like that idea because the leaves will be so large compared to the size of the little babies and their food.

I was thinking of using clay pellets, maybe clay pellets with a layer of paper towels on top?

Suggestions please.

 

[GCash]

I'm getting my cages ready in anticipation of my 12 quad eggs hatching any day now. These will be my first ever babies.

I want to use a substrate for a couple of reasons: First to increase the humidity, and Second, so there isn't a pool of water collecting on the floor from the misters. I don't know how much of a risk a puddle of water really is for a neonate.

They will be housed in Dragonstrand breeder cages with misters. All doors will be solid to keep in the humidity.

One breeder recommended that I use leaf litter on the floor but I'm not sure I like that idea because the leaves will be so large compared to the size of the little babies and their food.

I was thinking of using clay pellets, maybe clay pellets with a layer of paper towels on top?

Suggestions please.

A small puddle would not pose much of a problem for the neonate, but if you feed crickets even a single drop can take a few out. They get trapped in the surface tension and can't break free. Fruit flys and bean beetles fare a lot better. If you don't want to just use paper towels, I've heard terry cloth works well and helps maintaining humidity. A more natural approach is sifted peat/sand bio active substrate but comes with some risk as well. Whatever you use, I would try to keep crevices to a minium so the feeders that aren't contained, if you cup feed, are still available to hunt easily. Clay pellets wouldn't offer that I'm afraid.

 

[jannb]

With panther and veiled babies we've always used paper towels and they worked great. Tylene (ponders) has raised allot of Quad babies you could send her a PM and see what she uses.