Hi Tinman,
I have pine shavings in a 10 gallon aquarium, with paper towels over the 3/4 of the tank where the food and water is and most of the pooping seems to happen. A couple of times a day I take out the food and water, gather up the paper towels with the mess on them, stir up the litter, put down new paper towels, and put the food back in (seems to be staying clean) with fresh water (which is anything but staying clean).
The tank we had actually had for geckos (lizards) which were a 'surprise' Christmas gift for my son, from his Aunt (who gives live animals to a kid without asking the parents first??). The lizards never did well, and just kind of wasted away despite me trying everything I could. Daily soaks and hand feedings didn't do it...anyway, I guess we weren't meant for lizards!
The tank is now recycled into a temporary brooder. There's a heating pad uner one corner of the tank, and a 100 watt heat lamp on that corner too on top of the mesh lid. That side of the tank is in the low 90's for now. Next week I'll have to see what temp turning off the heat pad makes, or start raising the light to drop the temp the requisite 5 degrees.
Chicks seem good for now-they keep picking a spot not directly under the light but nearby to make little chick pile for sleeping, with a straggler or two in a mini-pile somewhere else.
The dog has taken to guarding the tank-I don't know if Bailey is just jealous of the attention, or if she is being protective. If the cats are checking out the tank,the dog is definetely 'on alert' though so I think that bodes well.
OK, another long post, sorry about that!!