enclosure set up advice

[macaroni]

so i just ordered a nice 48x24x24 tank and it should be coming sometime this week, and i need some advice on how to set it up so i can get it ready since i have at least another month until i get the skink itself
(this is for a northern BTS specifically)

im mainly curious on the substrate, ive been wanting to use carefresh but im wondering if wood shavings or chips might work better
im also wondering how deep it should be


and my other question is the kind of heating, do they need a place to bask and a heat lamp or would an under tank heater work better?

any other general advice for setting things up would be awesome too!

cheers!

[splashy07]

Hi! You made a good choice starting with a Northern. I used to use a similar product for substrate called desert snow, it's just like carefresh only all white. I found it to be very dusty and a bit too dry, one of my northerns was having
difficult sheds. I am now using repti-bark, coco husk and cypress mulch alternately or mixed. The old substrate used to develop mold if I would spray it for a humid area for shedding time. That's not good. As far as lighting, I believe they prefer overhead as they like to bask once in a while, and simulating day/night cycles benefits them, I think.
Post pictures when you get your new pet!

[macaroni]

thank you very much! notherns are my favorite out of them all! (although my friend's irian jaya was really tempting me to get one myself, theyre lovely!)
we have some cocohusk left over from when i had hissers, so thats handy! we'll have to take a trip to the petshop though and see what they have repti-bark wise

we'll definitely post when we get the lil' fella!
and if i remember right, i think you're the person i texted a few weeks back asking about your babies, haha! really hoping to snag one from ya, the parents are lovely!

[Janella]

Hi for my Northern Mintaka I use Zilla Jungle Mix and then Reptibark on top. I have never ever had an issue with shedding. Once a week I pour about 12-16oz of water over it to help with humidity. I would highly recommend not using carefresh or Aspen type bedding for them. It is just to dry. I also personally like using a basking bulb, since these guys like to bask. I don't use a heat mat. Can't wait to see pictures!