Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my leo, Yoshi, in the same cage fro 4 years. It is a 10 gallon, and has one shelter. However, I would like to change this.

I am soon going to get a 20 gallon long tank for her. Could anyone post any terrarium pictures for me?

My main question, however, is shelters. I am getting tired of picking the old skin off her toes every time she sheds. It dosnt gross me out, but its a pain to do, and she dosnt enjoy it.

Therefore, I would like to create another shelter for her. I have been told that creating a damp shelter will aid their moliting. I am goiing to use an empty yogurt or sour cream container with a hole cut out of it for entrance. I would like to know:
a)what can I sue to line the shelter? I would prefer not to use paper towels, since not only do thay not liik good, but they also mold. I recently finished creating a tropical vivarium for not particular reason, but I have found moss to be great. Its free, and dosnt mold. However, I would have to get it from outside. Would I have to worry about little buggies in the cage?
b) I had used 100% silicone with no mildew preventers on my vivarium. You need to use this if your going to introduce amphibians. Do I also need to use that to secure the moisture-holder to the outside?

Sorry if I've confused any of you, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

If you're going to use moss from outside, make sure you bake it to sterilize it. It's possible that bugs or other animals have deposited eggs or feces containing eggs into the moss. You don't want them in there because the warm temperature and humidity of the humid hide will provide a perfect environment for them. (This is how parasites and disease transfer in nature.)

For my humid hides, I use coconut fiber. It's sold in petstores as Bed-a-Beast, Eco-Earth, Forest Bed, etc. They're all pretty much the same thing. It comes in a brick form that expands when you soak it in water. Sphagnum peat moss from a gardening store works well too. Both are very inexpensive.

By the way, even though a 10 gallon tank is small, you should provide a minimum of two hides--one on the warm side, one on the cool side.
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