do i need a liner?

ReddyFreddy

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Hello everybody, I recently made my Russian tortoise a new enclosure made out of TriPly plywood and pine common boards, and opted not to seal it, as I only plan on having it up for a year or two. However, now I am having second thoughts on whether or not I should have at least used a plastic liner (i.e shower pan liner). I also saw that pine was safe for enclosures, but I am now wondering if that is assuming the wood is treated with a varnish or sealer. I would love to hear this forums thoughts on whether my worrying is justified, or if I am just being OCD.
 

Gillian M

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Hi @ReddyFreddy and a very warm welcome to the forum.

Sorry, I cannot help with the issue however I'll tag some experts who'll be able to help you.

In the meantime, please post pics of your tort and his/her enclosure.

@Yvonne G @Tom kindly help in the above issue.

Thank you.
 

Yvonne G

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Hello everybody, I recently made my Russian tortoise a new enclosure made out of TriPly plywood and pine common boards, and opted not to seal it, as I only plan on having it up for a year or two. However, now I am having second thoughts on whether or not I should have at least used a plastic liner (i.e shower pan liner). I also saw that pine was safe for enclosures, but I am now wondering if that is assuming the wood is treated with a varnish or sealer. I would love to hear this forums thoughts on whether my worrying is justified, or if I am just being OCD.

I line my tables with plastic, but at the end of the season when the inhabitants go outside and I clean the table out, it's always wet underneath, so I doubt it does much good. If you just build it with the mind set, "Oh well, it's only for a couple years until the tortoise can live outside." Then you won't care if the wood gets wet. Mine are all built with plywood and no harm has come to any of my babies from the damp wood.
 

ReddyFreddy

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Thank you Gillian and Yvonee, here is a pic of the little guys home.
 

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SarahChelonoidis

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What will your enclosure be sitting on? For me, the lining is essential so water doesn't soak through and end up on my floor. Protection of the enclosure isn't as important for me as protection of my flooring. If the enclosure was in the garage or an unfinished basement, I wouldn't care, but mine are in the living/dining room and I don't want my wooden floors warping.
 

ReddyFreddy

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What will your enclosure be sitting on? For me, the lining is essential so water doesn't soak through and end up on my floor. Protection of the enclosure isn't as important for me as protection of my flooring. If the enclosure was in the garage or an unfinished basement, I wouldn't care, but mine are in the living/dining room and I don't want my wooden floors warping.

It`s sitting on an old toy table that o had in storage, one of the ones that are often in kids rooms for hotwheels and wooden trains. It`s off the ground about two feet, so i doubt my carpeting in my room is gonna get soaked in an case.
 

Gillian M

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I line my tables with plastic, but at the end of the season when the inhabitants go outside and I clean the table out, it's always wet underneath, so I doubt it does much good. If you just build it with the mind set, "Oh well, it's only for a couple years until the tortoise can live outside." Then you won't care if the wood gets wet. Mine are all built with plywood and no harm has come to any of my babies from the damp wood.

Thanks very much your answer Yvonne.
 
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Would tinfoil work as a liner, im Just trying new things XD, but seriously I would search up the seller that makes the wood you got and do some research on that and tinfoil would be a good liner
 

Eric Phillips

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I've used heavy duty garbage bags before with no problems.
 
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