Table for 11 lb. Sulcata: Is it worth doing?

Dave Nagy

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Hi there.

I'd love some specific advice about an indoor habitat for our about 2.5-year-old, 11-pound, male Sulcata. His name is "Gamera". I'm thinking about building him a table to use when he's indoors, but I'm wondering if he's now just too big for such things, and I should instead be concentrating on an outdoor enclosure.

It also should be noted that since our indoor floor space is limited, the interior dimensions of the potential table will (might?) only be about three foot square. Perhaps that's just too small to be workable. I'd love some advice.

I'm actually thinking about building the table "around" a shower base like this. Basically for ease of cleaning and moisture resistance.

A little more info on Gamera's current living arrangements: We live in north Georgia. The weather is tortoise-friendly 8 months of the year, but relatively cold and plantless in the winter. (Highs in the 40's, lows in the 20's. No snow, typically.) To date, Gamera has been indoors only. We'll take him outside for an hour or two, but so far he's "lived" indoors, or spent warm weather days out on our screen porch.

Now that's it's cold out, and he's too big for his tank, he currently spends most of his time loose in our bedroom. He has a favorite "den" under our bed where he naps and sometimes sleeps overnight. There's a heating pad down there. He also still has his outgrown 18" by 36" tank with a UV bulb and heat pad thingie. We only put him in there when he needs to "sun" himself for an hour or three, or overnight to sleep, but it's too small and he will generally demand to be let out if it's light out.

He'll often shower with me in the mornings. If he misses the shower, he'll have a warm soak in the bathtub. After that I'll feed him, outdoors if it's sunny. After he's stretched his legs, nibbled a few weeds, pooped and laid in the sun for a while, I'll bring him back indoors and he will typically retire to under the bed again.

This doesn't seem ideal. ; ) He can't bask when he wants to, and he's not getting any extra humidity aside from his daily showers and soaks. I'd like to build him a table where he'll have a warm "sunny" area and a cooler, darker, more humid area. But again, I'm not sure a 3x3 (ish) table will be big enough for those "micro-climates". Is a small table even worth doing at his age? Would a bigger table be worth doing at his age? Or is he big/old enough that a climate controlled outdoor "building" is where we should be focusing all our efforts? (I'm disabled, and enjoy Gamer's company indoors, so I'm not really looking forward to permanently "banishing" him to the back yard. But I know that day is coming.)

If you folks think an indoor table is still worth doing, I have some lighting/heating/covering questions, but I leave those for later.
 

tortdad

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He's past the point of needing to live outdoors 24/7.

You don't get much colder than I do here in Houston. Check out toms threads on his outdoor heated night box. Your guy needs to be outside for sure.
 

Yvonne G

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Yes, I agree. Instead of thinking about a table, you should figure out a way to heat an outdoor shelter. I have insulated sheds for my large outdoor tortoises. They can come and go on their own. Even if it's cold outside, they come out, graze then go back in when they get cold.
 

Tom

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You need to be thinking MUCH bigger about housing for this tortoise. A tortoise that size would be cramped in a 4x8" indoor enclosure. Once you put in a hide box and a water and food bowl, there wouldn't be any room for the tortoise to move. 3x3' would be fine for a hatchling, but its MUCH too small for an 11 pound tortoise.
 

Levi the Leopard

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I'd build a nice heated tort house and let him live outside full time.
My 5lb. Leopard tortoise lives outside year round and I'm in southern Oregon. This winter my temps have been in the 40s during the day and into the low 30s at night. But my tortoise stays a toasty 80F inside his house. I built a smaller version of Tom's house..you have the link already. Fully insulated, it'll do the job!
 

Yellow Turtle01

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I've got to agree :D You're little guy is growing up fast, and perfectly able to cruise outdoors full time. Spending so much money on big table that'll only last a (year?) would be better spent on working towards outdoors 24/7.
You can successfully house a sully in 40', and it would just be better in the long run to get him outside now before he gets REALLY big. :D
 

Pokeymeg

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That seems much too small for a growing sulcata! My 5" Hermann has a 6x2' enclosure, and that seems too small for HIM! I'd spend your time and energy on a totally rockin outdoor enclosure :)
 

Dave Nagy

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Okay, it sounds unanimous. I'll concentrate my efforts on an outdoor pen/shelter.

I gotta say, my wife and I will be sorry to see him "go". We've gotten pretty used to him being underfoot in the house!
 

Jacqui

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Okay, it sounds unanimous. I'll concentrate my efforts on an outdoor pen/shelter.

I gotta say, my wife and I will be sorry to see him "go". We've gotten pretty used to him being underfoot in the house!

Wrong way to look at, instead thing of this as a reason for you two to start spending more time outside. If your like most of us, you will want to be out there enjoying the peaceful and relaxing time observing Gamera being outside enjoying the more "natural" life. Planting for him plants for shade and to eat will be able to bring in sweet scents floating on the air. You may even find yourself growing enough eatable goodies to enjoy for your own meals and maybe could even improve your diet. ;).Perhaps a running water source for added use for him for water and soaking, may give you as well another way to be able to unwind with that subtle relaxing sound it makes. Things like these plants/flowers/bushes, and water source are all wonderful things that will also attract wildlife to your yard. Butterflies floating on that same wind that is cooling your face, while the birds serenade you with their song are just for starters. Your tortoise is opening you up and giving you the chance to learn what beauty and joy can be found in your own backyard. :)
 

Douglas Yardley

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My 19 lb. Red-foot has the run of my apartment. She likes having room to roam. Her "home base" has a hide box with a warming pad and a heat lamp on a timer. You do know how big sulcatas can get? I've heard stories of them destroying things. You'll need furniture made out of 4X4's.
 
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