Planning on getting a skink, just a couple questions left

[orion]

in a few months I'll hopefully be getting a northern bts. it will be my first reptile so im very excited. ive been doing months if research but there are still a couple things im uncertain about that i would like cleared up.

1) is a humid hide needed? i never see any mention of them.
2) should i invest in an led light to 'show off' the rest of my terrarium? its 5 feet long, so i dont want it to be too dark on one end if im only running a basking light. does anyone have brands to recommend for basking lights?
3) when reading you (VERY HANDY!!) guide, they mentioned external heat pads weren't necessary. how will the warm hide that is sheltered from the basking light stay warm enough without one?

thank you for taking the time to read this. i am going to be building a bioactive terrarium, so im also wondering what lights the plants may need, but i dont think they will be too picky, since i keep succulents around the house without any problems.

[Noah H.]

1. Humidity is usually less of a problem with Northerns, since they come from a drier climate. Obi doesn't have a humid hide, and he does just fine.
2. If you have an awesome terrarium you want to showcase, then go for it! It's your personal preference. I just use the standard dome fixtures with a normal incandescent bulb for heat and a fluorescent bulb for light. I prefer normal bulbs because they are cheaper than the special basking bulbs at pet stores and usually just as effective.
3. Even though the hide will shield your skink from direct contact with the basking light, the light is strong enough to warm up the ambient temperature of that end of your terrarium. You shouldn't have to worry about it unless the temperature in your house regularly drops below 60F/15.5C at night.

Good luck with your new friend!

[orion]

thank you very much, this answered all i needed to know!