Here what I had the great success with (raised a couple hundred this way). 27 to 30C is fine, just that you don't want to do it with any light, so a CHE would be perfect. I kept mine with just room light and no special lights on them to start. Simple plastic container around 14 inches by 10 inches that is tilted so it's half land and half water. No substrate at this time.
Food wise I had the best success with getting them onto pellets first. I'd soak a few Koi/Goldfish pellets and place in the dry end. I'd keep doing this until they started to eat the pellets (no live food while getting them to eat the pellets). After a month of eating pellets well I'd start adding live food with the pellets.
Danny
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