Burmese Star Baby - Thriving in a Humid Enclosure

g4mobile

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2018
Messages
208
Location (City and/or State)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
I purchased a Burmese Star Tortoise from @Tom recently and she/he is really thriving in a humid environment. I am maintaining 88 degree ambient temps with 95 degree basking spot. I have a hide on the cool side of the cage that stays around 80 degrees. Night temps never drop below 80F.

Maintaining these temps and humidity is easy with the enclosure I purchased from Boa Master.
https://www.boamaster.com/product/4ft-high-mel-4-x-24-x-19/

These melamine cages are not as nice as Animal Plastics, as I have one for my bearded dragon, but they are cheap and work very well. I had to wire the incandescent basking bulb and T5 5.0 fluorescent, which was easy.

I caulked the bottom seam with clear aquarium silicone.

Thanks to @Tom and Tortoise Forum for the education on proper temperature and humidity for baby tortoises.

Cage Front - Rainbow.jpg Rainbow - Basking.jpg Rainbow - at dish.jpg
 
Last edited:

Casefresh

New Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2018
Messages
29
Location (City and/or State)
Calgary
I purchased a Burmese Star Tortoise from @Tom recently and she/he is really thriving in a humid environment. I am maintaining 88 degree ambient temps with 95 degree basking spot. I have a hide on the cool side of the cage that stays around 80 degrees. Night temps never drop below 80F.

Maintaining these temps and humidity is easy with the enclosure I purchased from Boa Master.
https://www.boamaster.com/product/4ft-high-mel-4-x-24-x-19/

These melamine cages are not as nice as Animal Plastics, as I have one for my bearded dragon, but they are cheap and work very well. I had to wire the incandescent basking bulb and T5 5.0 fluorescent, which was easy.

I caulked the bottom seam with clear aquarium silicone.

Thanks to @Tom and Tortoise Forum for the education on proper temperature and humidity for baby tortoises.

View attachment 254219 View attachment 254220 View attachment 254221

Hello, how are you maintaining the humidity? Spray bottle and keeping substrate moist?
 

g4mobile

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2018
Messages
208
Location (City and/or State)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Hello, how are you maintaining the humidity? Spray bottle and keeping substrate moist?
I'm misting the enclosure substrate lightly as needed. The melamine enclosure I'm using maintains humidity very easy. I also have a water dish present at all times, which helps.
 

Casefresh

New Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2018
Messages
29
Location (City and/or State)
Calgary
I'm misting the enclosure substrate lightly as needed. The melamine enclosure I'm using maintains humidity very easy. I also have a water dish present at all times, which helps.

Thanks. With the melamine, I am assuming it retains moisture like a sponge compared to glass which helps the humidity? Only difference between your enclosure and mine is mine is glass.

I’m thinking of the eco terra monsoon one mister. Anybody have experience or used one in a enclosure?

Thanks!
 

g4mobile

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2018
Messages
208
Location (City and/or State)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Thanks. With the melamine, I am assuming it retains moisture like a sponge compared to glass which helps the humidity? Only difference between your enclosure and mine is mine is glass.

I’m thinking of the eco terra monsoon one mister. Anybody have experience or used one in a enclosure?

Thanks!
What does your enclosure have for a top?
 

g4mobile

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2018
Messages
208
Location (City and/or State)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Doesn't melamine have formaldehyde in it?

These enclosures have been used for many years with various reptiles. The outer coatings on melamine is actually a fire resistant plastic. So as far as the outer layer goes it is fine for heat and humidity. I'm sure this is a debatable subject, so use your own judgement.
 

drew54

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2018
Messages
903
Location (City and/or State)
Indiana
These enclosures have been used for many years with various reptiles. The outer coatings on melamine is actually a fire resistant plastic. So as far as the outer layer goes it is fine for heat and humidity. I'm sure this is a debatable subject, so use your own judgement.

So, with it being fire proof is it also waterproof?
 

g4mobile

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2018
Messages
208
Location (City and/or State)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
I wanted to attach a picture of the enclosure (inside dimensions: 24" x 48" x 18"h) I have been raising our Burmese Star Tortoise in. Our tortoise is roughly 14 months old now.

We have a Radiant Heat Panel on one side and Zoomed RT-600 thermostat set to never drop below 82 degrees, which keeps the entire enclosure above 80. I have a standard flood bulb for daytime heat on the other end. An Arcadia T5 HO to help with lighting and UVB. I have fake plants as well as a hide and cypress mulch. I use cypress mulch because I'm able to maintain humidity above 80% easier. You can also see from the image I use an AcuRite digital thermometer measuring temp and humidity.

This set up has been working fantastic and our tortoise is growing well and very healthy. Hope this helps anyone looking to set up a new enclosure for their baby or young tortoise.
IMG_1490.jpg
 

ramorningstar

New Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
BOSTON
I purchased a Burmese Star Tortoise from @Tom recently and she/he is really thriving in a humid environment. I am maintaining 88 degree ambient temps with 95 degree basking spot. I have a hide on the cool side of the cage that stays around 80 degrees. Night temps never drop below 80F.

Maintaining these temps and humidity is easy with the enclosure I purchased from Boa Master.
https://www.boamaster.com/product/4ft-high-mel-4-x-24-x-19/

These melamine cages are not as nice as Animal Plastics, as I have one for my bearded dragon, but they are cheap and work very well. I had to wire the incandescent basking bulb and T5 5.0 fluorescent, which was easy.

I caulked the bottom seam with clear aquarium silicone.

Thanks to @Tom and Tortoise Forum for the education on proper temperature and humidity for baby tortoises.

View attachment 254219 View attachment 254220 View attachment 254221

How much for shipping may i ask?
 

g4mobile

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2018
Messages
208
Location (City and/or State)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Christmas Day soak and weighed in at 370 grams. Hatch date is April 2018 according to @Tom

Yellow bands are starting to widen and really stand out. We are really enjoying our tortoise and she/he loves a shell or head scratch!

Rainbow 370gm Christmas 2019.jpg
 

g4mobile

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2018
Messages
208
Location (City and/or State)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
I may have a male tortoise, as it is tucking its tail to the side most times. The overall shape looks female though. It’s 20 months old and close to 400 grams, so maybe still a little early.
 

g4mobile

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2018
Messages
208
Location (City and/or State)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rainbow is now 2yrs old and weighed 500 grams today and fairly certain I have a male. I believe he just flashed, as you can see from the last image. What do the experts think? @Tom?


img_2862 - Copy.jpg img_2865 - Copy.jpgimg_2861 - Copy.jpg
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
I honestly can't tell yet. That shape is right in the middle. The tail doesn't look that big, and that doesn't look like a penis in the pic, so this could be a prolapsing female. I know you care for your tortoise very well, and I'm sure they are well hydrated, so I would expect this, but it can happen.

@Markw84 knows this species well too. Let's see what he thinks.
 

New Posts

Top