HATCHLING CARE

It must be noted that hatchling setups and adult setups are much different. Hatchlings live on land in the wild, typically under tidal wrack or amongst marsh cordgrass (spartina sp.) that may sometimes get flooded during high tide. In light of this, hatchlings require only a small tank with 1” to 2” of water, a submersible filter and lots of plastic plants for them to shelter under. Specific lighting is not required for their first 6-12 months, although a UVB-only light source is recommended. Basking lights are not recommended until they reach 3” in carapace length due to their tendency to cause bumpy shell growth because of the increased heat output and resultant decrease in humidity.