My updated brooder...

[Tank'sMom]

The yolk sacs are pretty well healed. So I decided it was time for larger quarters with real substrate. They freaked (they've only been on paper towels)! So cute watching them walk around checking it out.
Has a basking bulb, night bulb, and heating pad under the humid hides.
Several different temp options. But overall maintaining 80-85 degrees and 80% humidity.
Growing wheat grass in there and separate plates for greens/flowers and Mazuri. Also a shallow water dish.
Still soaking them every day! (And yes it's covered with the top unless I'm working with them to keep in humidity)
First night in there.
Open to suggestions!!!

 

[Tank'sMom]

Forgot to mention I will be mounting the lamps better on the wall. Don't wanna burn through the plastic. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Hey, more space is always a great thing!

For starters:
Cover up the holes in the green hides otherwise they won't work as "humid hides".

The food dish with pellets in it should be sunken into the substrate so there is no lip for them to hurdle.

 

[Tank'sMom]

I thought about that. But they are soaked inside! Really wet walls. So I figured I'd leave them for added air circulation.
But if you think it'll help.....
Thanks!

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Forgot to mention I will be mounting the lamps better on the wall. Don't wanna burn through the plastic. Any thoughts on that?

I don't understand... Are the lights/heat sources sitting on the plastic?

 

[Tank'sMom]

Hey, more space is always a great thing!

For starters:
Cover up the holes in the green hides otherwise they won't work as "humid hides".

The food dish with pellets in it should be sunken into the substrate so there is no lip for them to hurdle.

And I'll push the Mazuri bowl down. Good tip!

 

[Tank'sMom]

I don't understand... Are the lights/heat sources sitting on the plastic?

No. They are suspended about 4-5" above it. Not sure where they should be yet?

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Sorry, I just want to make sure I understand correctly before giving you advice..

The lights hang a few inches above the closed plastic lid?
I'm not familiar with anyone doing it that way. I've always cut holes in the plastic lids to fit the lights. Then sealed the hole around the dome.

 

[Tank'sMom]

I could do that. But the enclosure is not very tall. I'd worry about the lights burning them. That would put the lights pretty close to the substrate. I could get a taller tub.
Also, do the lights melt the plastic top? Both are 100W. Even if you cut a hole?
Aaaaand do I have to worry about the basking bulbs hurting their eyes?

 

[Tank'sMom]

Made it through the first night! The walls are damp all over, humidity 85% on one side and 90% on the other.
Temp rages are 80 ambient and 95 around the humid hides, where they slept (together in one). The hides seem very humid, dripping even.
I left one end open an inch for air circulation.
Is it possible to have them too humid???

 

[Dizisdalife]

I don't believe that you can have it too humid. And I don't believe that you need to be too concerned about air circulation. Under the lights the humidity is going to be much less than the ambient. So, spray their shells often to keep them from drying out when basking.

 

[Flipper]

Their new bigger enclosure seems lovely to me, but I'm a newby

I like the grass plot

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Under the lights the humidity is going to be much less than the ambient. So, spray their shells often to keep them from drying out when basking.

Joe, Is this tip applicable in this particular set up? The lights and heat sources are housed outside the chamber, over a closed lid.

Do you think this will heat up the inside of the tub without the desiccating effects from the bulbs?

 

[Vet]

Does the lid not block most the light and heat? I would make a custom top for it if the tub is too short to accommodate the lights...

 

[Vet]

Also you don't want the plastic getting hot or melting... as a side note you and the torts will be breathing in the chemicals.

 

[DeanS]

I have to agree with Heather...plug the holes...I like wet walls! And so do the ITs. Can you imagine how stagnant the air would be if they were down in a burrow? After that, leave the setup as is! Don't do a thing with the lamps...except maybe lower them an inch or two! They can literally sit an inch over your cover...and probably should. I'd like to see their temps no lower than 85 or 90...and at his age...ambient temps are NOT as important as humidity...and since you've got that covered...

One other thing! You really should consider a terra cotta plant dish...the smallest possible...because that nice looking water dish is going to be a problem for them to climb out of...I don't like the edges either! Just my $0.02!

 

[DeanS]

Another thing! If you can get them outside for even half an hour...you won't need ANY lights the rest of the day! There probably isn't any light in the burrow...or very little (at most)! I'm moving these guys into different micro-biomes daily...throughout my property...although not exactly widespread...it still allows different degrees of sun/shade...and they don't see the same environment on any consecutive days!

 

[Kirin]

I'm not a fan of the heating pad under the hid. I read on here that someone had a little one and was using the heating pad and the babys feet fell off. If you have the temps right then I wouldn't use the pad.

 

[Tank'sMom]

Also you don't want the plastic getting hot or melting... as a side note you and the torts will be breathing in the chemicals.

I'm worried about that as well. I'm watching really closely to make sure the plastic is not going to be compromised.
The idea is just that I want the strong heat without it getting crazy hot.
I also like that it blocks out the light so it shouldn't hurt their eyes too badly.

 

[Tank'sMom]

I'm not a fan of the heating pad under the hid. I read on here that someone had a little one and was using the heating pad and the babys feet fell off. If you have the temps right then I wouldn't use the pad.

I've had concerns about heating pads over my 20+ years working with Herps. It's a small heating pad, and there's a thick layer of substrate between them. It's there more for back up.
But I'll keep an on their feet.