NEW INDOOR ENCLOSURE

mikeylazer

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2015
Messages
310
I just finished up my new indoor enclosure for Simon. It is 2ft by 4ft which i know is not a forever home, but for his tiny size I thought anything bigger would make him look tinier than he already does. It holds humidity at 87% consistently even with the tent cracked to let some air in.

The Build:
Let me start by saying I should have taken pics along the way to more easily convey how this was made, but hopefully I will be able to explain it just as clearly.

Materials:
-2x 1x4 (by 6ft) cheap pine wood
(8$)
-1x approx 24"x48" plywood
(5$)
-1x zenport mini greenhouse 48"x24"
(37$)

Build total = 50$

I started by building the wooden base. This consists of 2 48" long pieces of 1x4x6 pine on each side lengthwise, and 2 24" pieces of pine on each of the ends. I then cut a piece of cheap plywood to fit along the base of the wood and screwed all of these pieces together.

To "weatherproof" or in this case "waterproof" the wood from the substrate that would be on it, i purchased a plastic dropcloth 2mm thick. I folded it in half so it would be 4mm thick across the base, lined the base and sides with it and stapled the edges on the wood outside of the enclosure with a staple gun.

To make the enclosure hold high humidity and keep it escape proof, I purchased a Zenport 2'x4'x2' mini greenhouse tent i placed the tent snuggly into the base I created. I wrapped my mvb around the upper bar as well as my che which are on at opposite times.

The substrate consists of cypress, organic potting soil, coco coir, sphagnum moss, and rocks surronding the water dish. The water and food dishes are both terra cotta plant dishes and right now I have on fake plant in the enclosure. I have a humidi hide made out of a bin in the corner and is filled with moss.

I hope you guys enjoy it! Please feel free to ask me questions I would love to answer any and all of them!

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1432831312.415265.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1432831339.796436.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1432831380.912861.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1432831421.545646.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1432831465.879438.jpg
 

Careym13

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2015
Messages
1,604
Location (City and/or State)
Northern Virginia
That looks great, nice job! I recently ordered a mini greenhouse myself to use for my leopard's indoor enclosure. It is basically a raised garden bed like I have out on my balcony to grow their food in but comes with a tent very similar to the one you used. Has the bar across the top of the tent been sturdy enough to support your light fixtures so far? I had been using plexiglass for a cover but its starting to crack and in order to get into their enclosure I have to take everything apart and move the lights and all that so its very inconvenient for me and the torts.
 

gbuiting

New Member
Joined
May 17, 2015
Messages
12
That's a very nice home for him/her! I am wanting to do something very similar. Does the heat and humidity stay pretty consistent inside and is it easy to regulate?
 

mikeylazer

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2015
Messages
310
That's a very nice home for him/her! I am wanting to do something very similar. Does the heat and humidity stay pretty consistent inside and is it easy to regulate?
Yes! It is so much easier than my old bin closed chamber i tried. I have the mercury vapor bulb about 10 inches from the substrate on the right side, and I leave it on 12 hours a day. On the other side I have a CHE that i leave on the other 12 hours at night, and about a foot from the substrate. The humidity is always between 87% and 93%, and the temperature day and night is anywhere from 80-86 on the cool side, 90-96 on the warm side and about 105-107 basking.
 

gbuiting

New Member
Joined
May 17, 2015
Messages
12
Yes! It is so much easier than my old bin closed chamber i tried. I have the mercury vapor bulb about 10 inches from the substrate on the right side, and I leave it on 12 hours a day. On the other side I have a CHE that i leave on the other 12 hours at night, and about a foot from the substrate. The humidity is always between 87% and 93%, and the temperature day and night is anywhere from 80-86 on the cool side, 90-96 on the warm side and about 105-107 basking.
That is awesome! I love it and am now 100% convinced that i am building this! Excellent idea!!! Where did you get the greenhouse for such a good price?
 

Lexiii

Active Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
204
Location (City and/or State)
CT
Thanks! I just ordered one from Wayfair for 30.00 shipped.


It will be nice to actually see my little guy instead of having him under a pile of tin foil.
 

Barbaraella

New Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2015
Messages
16
I just finished up my new indoor enclosure for Simon. It is 2ft by 4ft which i know is not a forever home, but for his tiny size I thought anything bigger would make him look tinier than he already does. It holds humidity at 87% consistently even with the tent cracked to let some air in.

The Build:
Let me start by saying I should have taken pics along the way to more easily convey how this was made, but hopefully I will be able to explain it just as clearly.

Materials:
-2x 1x4 (by 6ft) cheap pine wood
(8$)
-1x approx 24"x48" plywood
(5$)
-1x zenport mini greenhouse 48"x24"
(37$)

Build total = 50$

I started by building the wooden base. This consists of 2 48" long pieces of 1x4x6 pine on each side lengthwise, and 2 24" pieces of pine on each of the ends. I then cut a piece of cheap plywood to fit along the base of the wood and screwed all of these pieces together.

To "weatherproof" or in this case "waterproof" the wood from the substrate that would be on it, i purchased a plastic dropcloth 2mm thick. I folded it in half so it would be 4mm thick across the base, lined the base and sides with it and stapled the edges on the wood outside of the enclosure with a staple gun.

To make the enclosure hold high humidity and keep it escape proof, I purchased a Zenport 2'x4'x2' mini greenhouse tent i placed the tent snuggly into the base I created. I wrapped my mvb around the upper bar as well as my che which are on at opposite times.

The substrate consists of cypress, organic potting soil, coco coir, sphagnum moss, and rocks surronding the water dish. The water and food dishes are both terra cotta plant dishes and right now I have on fake plant in the enclosure. I have a humidi hide made out of a bin in the corner and is filled with moss.

I hope you guys enjoy it! Please feel free to ask me questions I would love to answer any and all of them!

View attachment 131853View attachment 131854View attachment 131857View attachment 131858View attachment 131859
I just finished up my new indoor enclosure for Simon. It is 2ft by 4ft which i know is not a forever home, but for his tiny size I thought anything bigger would make him look tinier than he already does. It holds humidity at 87% consistently even with the tent cracked to let some air in.

The Build:
Let me start by saying I should have taken pics along the way to more easily convey how this was made, but hopefully I will be able to explain it just as clearly.

Materials:
-2x 1x4 (by 6ft) cheap pine wood
(8$)
-1x approx 24"x48" plywood
(5$)
-1x zenport mini greenhouse 48"x24"
(37$)

Build total = 50$

I started by building the wooden base. This consists of 2 48" long pieces of 1x4x6 pine on each side lengthwise, and 2 24" pieces of pine on each of the ends. I then cut a piece of cheap plywood to fit along the base of the wood and screwed all of these pieces together.

To "weatherproof" or in this case "waterproof" the wood from the substrate that would be on it, i purchased a plastic dropcloth 2mm thick. I folded it in half so it would be 4mm thick across the base, lined the base and sides with it and stapled the edges on the wood outside of the enclosure with a staple gun.

To make the enclosure hold high humidity and keep it escape proof, I purchased a Zenport 2'x4'x2' mini greenhouse tent i placed the tent snuggly into the base I created. I wrapped my mvb around the upper bar as well as my che which are on at opposite times.

The substrate consists of cypress, organic potting soil, coco coir, sphagnum moss, and rocks surronding the water dish. The water and food dishes are both terra cotta plant dishes and right now I have on fake plant in the enclosure. I have a humidi hide made out of a bin in the corner and is filled with moss.

I hope you guys enjoy it! Please feel free to ask me questions I would love to answer any and all of them!

View attachment 131853View attachment 131854View attachment 131857View attachment 131858View attachment 131859
 

Barbaraella

New Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2015
Messages
16
Hello Mike,

I am building this enclosure also as I think it is a great idea. I have a question on the substrate. I see that you are using many different items. Do you mix them all together?

Thank you in advance for your reply.
 

Foursteels

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
238
Location (City and/or State)
South Florida
The enclosure looks like a great idea, but I was wondering if either of you had an issue with the heat vs. the plastic cover. Does the cover get really hot?....I would be a little concerned about it being a fire hazard. If it has worked well for both of you, I would try it as well.

Thanks,
Linda
 

David Harmon

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2015
Messages
186
Location (City and/or State)
Liverpool
Hi how do you control your
Yes! It is so much easier than my old bin closed chamber i tried. I have the mercury vapor bulb about 10 inches from the substrate on the right side, and I leave it on 12 hours a day. On the other side I have a CHE that i leave on the other 12 hours at night, and about a foot from the substrate. The humidity is always between 87% and 93%, and the temperature day and night is anywhere from 80-86 on the cool side, 90-96 on the warm side and about 105-107 basking.

Hi I was wondering what Mercury vapor bulb your using? And how you control the temperature on this? Also looks a great setup!
 

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