Closed "Chambers"

Jeff9241170

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image.jpg Closed chamber bins

Hey guys, this is my current setup for my torts (2 redfoots and 1 elongata) been reading about closed chambers on the forum, problem is since the bin heights too low, i set the heat lamps outside

So far im getting the the following

Temps 30-32c
Humidity 80-90%

For air circulation, I open the bins entirely during cleanup and soaking

It really is so much easier to maintian humidity in a closed chamber vs an open one, I never got this amount of "fog" on my previous setups

My questions are:

Is this setup ok? The lamps outside of the enclosure, but the temps are maintained well (I guess living in a tropical environment has its advantages)
Airflow - is it sufficient? These are not airtight bins, and the I open them at least 2x a day during soaking, cleaning and feeding

Oh and the torts dont stay here permanently, they have an outdoor enclosure when the temps are just right, I also soak them under direct sunlight

Thanks!
 

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G-stars

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View attachment 111564 Closed chamber bins

Hey guys, this is my current setup for my torts (2 redfoots and 1 elongata) been reading about closed chambers on the forum, problem is since the bin heights too low, i set the heat lamps outside

So far im getting the the following

Temps 30-32c
Humidity 80-90%

For air circulation, I open the bins entirely during cleanup and soaking

It really is so much easier to maintian humidity in a closed chamber vs an open one, I never got this amount of "fog" on my previous setups

My questions are:

Is this setup ok? The lamps outside of the enclosure, but the temps are maintained well (I guess living in a tropical environment has its advantages)
Airflow - is it sufficient? These are not airtight bins, and the I open them at least 2x a day during soaking, cleaning and feeding

Oh and the torts dont stay here permanently, they have an outdoor enclosure when the temps are just right, I also soak them under direct sunlight

Thanks!


One problem. Your ambient temps are good but what about your basking temps?
 

leigti

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How do they get UVB? Do they go outside several times a week for sunshine? do they get enough light during the day to know that it is daytime in time to be active? And what do you do for heat at night?
 

Tom

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I would not do it that way Jeff.

You said temps were 30-32. Where? There are four temps to know and monitor. Warm side, cool side, basking area and overnight low. Ambient of 30-32 all the time is not good in my experience, but I don't know the two species you are housing. All wet all the time will almost certainly lead to shell rot on the red foots, but I don't know anything at all about the elongata.
 

Jeff9241170

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Hi guys! Thanks for the feedback!

They get natural sunlight daily, original plan was to expose them at least an hour a day, but will need to change that after getting feedback

Hey Tom

Need your expertise, so the setup isnt ok since its just ambient temps, a bulb inside the enclosure will provide them with a "basking" temp which should be warmer than the ambient temps right?

Though the whole enclosures not "wet" most of the cocopeat is moist, particularly the area on one side, they usually sleep on another side and I turn off the lamps to drop the temps to 27-28 at nights

What should be done done to provide the basking, warm and cool sides? My understanding is the lamp on one corner is basking, the middle will be the warm and the other corner will be the cool side

I have a hatchling redfoot on the small bin, a 6.5 redfoot on the longer bin under that, and an elongated on a similar bin right next to these

Appreciate all the feedback I could get as I have a 6" leopard on his way around next month

Thanks!!!
 

leigti

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Are you able to designate one entire room in your house for all your tortoises? I ask this because then you could get some large enclosures for each of your tortoises and keep that room warmer and more humid than the rest of the house. You would still have to keep each enclosure nice and humid but dedicating one room would make it easier. And you might also be able to rig up lighting fixtures in a systematic way.
 

Tom

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Hi guys! Thanks for the feedback!

They get natural sunlight daily, original plan was to expose them at least an hour a day, but will need to change that after getting feedback

Hey Tom

Need your expertise, so the setup isnt ok since its just ambient temps, a bulb inside the enclosure will provide them with a "basking" temp which should be warmer than the ambient temps right?

Though the whole enclosures not "wet" most of the cocopeat is moist, particularly the area on one side, they usually sleep on another side and I turn off the lamps to drop the temps to 27-28 at nights

What should be done done to provide the basking, warm and cool sides? My understanding is the lamp on one corner is basking, the middle will be the warm and the other corner will be the cool side

I have a hatchling redfoot on the small bin, a 6.5 redfoot on the longer bin under that, and an elongated on a similar bin right next to these

Appreciate all the feedback I could get as I have a 6" leopard on his way around next month

Thanks!!!

I'm sorry Jeff but I don't have enough experience with RFs to tell you how to house them best. In the past I housed older ones in conventional tortoise set ups, but with more humidity than for the ones we used to call "desert" species. They did okay that way, but I think there are probably better ways to do it. Since I don't keep this species, I'd rather let someone with more current knowledge and success advise you.

While I think elongated tortoises are really cool, I have no experience with them at all.

Once your leopard gets there I'd be happy to share what I've learned with you about them. In fact, I can just give you that info now, so you can have the right sort of set up ready when it arrives. These threads should get you started.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
 

crimson_lotus

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For a hatchling redfoot, your temperatures should never be below 26.5/27 and you should have a basking spot of about 40. If you only let the tortoises outside for an hour a day, I would personally make sure they have access to a UVB bulb. You can find bulbs that have both uvb and also emit heat. I would recommend cutting some of the top of the plastic top off enough so you can show the light through, and cover the gaps with tinfoil.

I have a 4ft by 4ft enclosure for my one redfoot, and I have two basking bulbs. For smaller enclosures you may be able to get away with one bulb, as long as the temperatures are set.

Do they have any hides or anything under there? I hope you have a water dish as well. Tortoises also need a lot of room to walk around, I would try buying larger bins or making some of your own from wood.
 

Jeff9241170

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Theres a water dish and a hiding spot for the hatchling, for the juvies (6.5 and 8) Theyre just there mostly during night times or when weather outside isnt warm enough for them, other than that they spend most of their times in an outdoor enclosure
 

Jeff9241170

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Oh and theres a water dish for all of them, and a back up food dish for the 2 bigger ones in case they cant spend the time outside

So far since its Dec (cool season in our area - will last until feb) theyve been spending most of their times indoors, but when its warm enough again, theyll be spending most of their times outside as planned
 

Jeff9241170

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Here are updated pics of them during feeding time (while getting proper exposure to sunlight) so far only the elongated one gets to spend time in the garden, I was hoping to do the "humidity" treatment Tom has done to fix the slight pyramiding on the 6.5 red foot (Saruman)10867206_383569518487096_1245513699_n.jpg10888202_383572431820138_1502990075_n.jpg10888239_383569358487112_890210736_n.jpg10893374_383573998486648_444561071_n.jpg10893383_383569478487100_143678734_n.jpg10867206_383569518487096_1245513699_n.jpg10888202_383572431820138_1502990075_n.jpg10888239_383569358487112_890210736_n.jpg10893374_383573998486648_444561071_n.jpg10893383_383569478487100_143678734_n.jpg10867206_383569518487096_1245513699_n.jpg10867206_383569518487096_1245513699_n.jpg10888202_383572431820138_1502990075_n.jpg10888239_383569358487112_890210736_n.jpg 10893374_383573998486648_444561071_n.jpg10893383_383569478487100_143678734_n.jpg
 

Yellow Turtle01

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Is their natural sunlight coming in through a window in your house? If so, it's not beneficial. Glass blocks essential UVB rays your torts need. To be effectively getting natural sunlight, they need to go outdoors :D
 

Gennifer11

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I've been doing this with my boxie's for thirty years Tom, and with Pio and Solo since they were both hatchlings, with great results. Nothing new here for me..........
014-41.jpg
Hey terryo, I'm curious as to what kind of plant set up you have in there and what wattage bulbs you have?
 

terryo

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I have two 100 wt. CHE...one on each side and in the middle a long 5.0 UVB light. I think that's Solo's tank....a 95 gal. There is a screen top with the two heat emitters coming through a hole and the long tube 5.0 on top of the screen. The screen is covered with clear wrapping tape with a long hole for the UVB. There was a natural hide with plants on top and a few plants throughout the tank. The substrate was soil, mixed with coco coir and in the hide was long fiber moss. I wet it with hot water and squeezed it out and fluffed it up twice a week. I didn't keep the substrate wet, I only watered the plants which were in little pots. I misted the tank once a day. I had them since they were a month old and now at 4 and 6 years they are smooth and beautiful. I never really checked the humidity, but it stayed up there. Of course I had to change the set up every Fall when they came in,100_8224(600x800).jpg
 

cmacusa3

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@Tom it looks like you have just one heat lamp inside here, what is it and does it provide all the UV's needed and then the others are CHE's? I'm finishing up my new enclosure and want to set it up much like yours.
 

Jeff9241170

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Hi all! Ive changed my setup and started using aquariums instead of the low bins ive had before

Ive been able to keep the necessary temps inside and the humidity, but Im a bit concerned about air circulation.

I have 2 tanks, 1 20 gallon for a sulcata hatchling, and 1 40 gallon for 2 rfs. having a closed chamber makes it so much easier to achieve the necessary temps, however, the only time I open the enclosures are when its getting cleaned/ theyre getting fed (lasts roughly 5-10 mins max)

Is this enough time for proper airflow/ circulation inside? Or is it essential to have little holes on the side for regular airflow?

Thanks!
 

John84

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Does any oneine have specs on their enclosures? I currently still have my little guy in a 40 gal breeder tank. He's about 3 or maybe 4 inches and I would like to have a lager space for him by the time winter comes around. I have profected the the temps and humidity levels in his current space thanks to @Tom advice, but it's time to start building and regulating it's future home. Also, would it be ok to keep in the garage once the enclosure is done or will it harm the little guy?
 

Tom

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Does any oneine have specs on their enclosures? I currently still have my little guy in a 40 gal breeder tank. He's about 3 or maybe 4 inches and I would like to have a lager space for him by the time winter comes around. I have profected the the temps and humidity levels in his current space thanks to @Tom advice, but it's time to start building and regulating it's future home. Also, would it be ok to keep in the garage once the enclosure is done or will it harm the little guy?


I like 4x8. It works great due to the sizes of commonly available lumber, and its suits the tortoise well.

I have two 4x8s in my garage. If your garage gets cold, insulate them. If your garage gets hot in summer, be very careful and monitor temps.
 

John84

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I like 4x8. It works great due to the sizes of commonly available lumber, and its suits the tortoise well.

I have two 4x8s in my garage. If your garage gets cold, insulate them. If your garage gets hot in summer, be very careful and monitor temps.
Sweet. Should I install any vents for air if so how many and how big? Also how do you get the glass to slide from one side to the other in the front?
 
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