Too dark of a background?

[aegillesp]

So I pretty much keep all 4 walls covered (3 with a background, the front with a black pillowcase) to Laputa and Marven's tank but both are always dark. They don't seem stressed, they eat plenty and poop plenty and I see them moving around normally but they are always brown, Marven a little lighter, but still brown none the less. The background I have is actually for a fish tank, but it was the only "forest" background I found that would fit my tank (18x18x24). They've both been in it for 3-4 weeks and the only thing I question is their color. They were bright green when I put them in, good clean bill of health, eating, pooing, moving, hunting, etc. Should I be concerned or let it be? They get a long for the most part too, I've seen them lay together... My gut says they are just hiding with the colors of the background, but I'd like other people's thoughts...

[flybyferns]

Hi,
You have done an great job on this.
Maybe they just didn't like "their stuff messed with"

( "the front with a black pillowcase") I think you should take the cover off the front now.... be sure to provide a day /night light cycle.
They should not '"always be in the dark"
More daylight ( and plant bulbs) will change their color

Enjoy - Give them time

[aegillesp]

Thanks! Currently I only use a Reptisun 5.0 compact florescence bulb and a Ceramic heat lamp. I'm going to order a dual dome light fixture so that I can use a daylight basking bulb and the ceramic at night. Now, I do have a heating pad on the bottom back corner and I've noticed they sit in the water dishes that sit over those, Would it be a bad idea to purchase a bigger heating pad to cover a little more area so I can get a bigger water dish over there?

[ICFrogs]

My Lily is always brown, until I feed her and she's full....then she gets a little green. But it doesnt last long. She likes to be Brown.
She's getting to the point where she looks at me when I talk to her now. I've had her for about 4 months now. I got her from a family that had 2 small kids who liked to hold her, but she didnt like to be held. So they wanted to find her a new home and I just happened to find her on CraigsList one day. She's much happier now than she was when I first brought her home. I think the Green comes more often, but she likes the Brown.