Leopard Tortoise | Stunted Growth, Bad Diet, Need Help

Srmcclure

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What a great idea! Could you explain the modifications you made in order to make it work? Thanks!
Sure thing. I was super smart and bought the first one without a window so I had to sew one in lol, but if you buy one with one already you don't have to mess with that ?
I just turned it on its side, pulled the strings tight to close off the vents for the air ducts, and taped a thicker liner in there to make it able to hold the water for humidity. Heres pic that kinda shows a bit of it.
20200703_170826.jpg
Then I have a liner on the outside too because im paranoid lol.

The tents usually come with extra bars to hold grow lights so i use them to hang my lights instead. You can see it in the right side of the pic. Its holding my basking flood light. The ports for the ducts are where I have my cords leave the enclosure.
20200601_125102.jpg
Underneath it I have some of those insulation foam boards because my tent sits on a marble table and I was worried about how marble likes to stay cold and keeping the bottom too chilly. Probably me over thinking like I normally do...

I really like how these work though!
My leo's has his rhp, but my redfoots has the che still as of now. I just use zip ties to hold the UVB strips where I want them. Small chain works too, I just have a lot of zip ties lol
20200622_133139.jpg
 

Srmcclure

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You need to do a bit more mods if you want a rhp though, just a heads up. All easy, just a few extra steps.
 
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Amazing! I am definitely going to set this up for my hatchlings. Thank you so much for sharing ?? I appreciate you taking the time to share pictures as well. The ones I am finding seem to have just a small window to peek in..you were able to find one with a clear side already built in? I apologize...this is off topic from the original thread. I hope it was helpful for more than just myself.
 

Srmcclure

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Amazing! I am definitely going to set this up for my hatchlings. Thank you so much for sharing ?? I appreciate you taking the time to share pictures as well. The ones I am finding seem to have just a small window to peek in..you were able to find one with a clear side already built in? I apologize...this is off topic from the original thread. I hope it was helpful for more than just myself.
I think there are some, but I had to sew the large window in because I didn't pay enough attention lol
 

BIllia

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Joined
Nov 10, 2017
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So many great suggestions!

Here's an update on Fump:
1. He's not really eating the tortoise diet much. I've offered it every day mixed with some spring mix and he just picks out the spring mix, leaving the tortoise food.
2. I got him a cuttlebone and he was already nibbling on it a bit today
3. I am soaking him for 30 mins daily now and making sure the humidity in his enclosure is much higher. Right now its resting around 40-50% but I haven't got his enclosure sealed up yet.
4. I recently started to get into hydroponics so I can grow some fresh food for him and for me. I haven't had much luck yet, but I ordered some grassland seeds that I plan to grow and trim for him to eat every now and then. Hopefully I can get a few trays going regularly so that I can just replace his food with actual grasses with occasional supplements.

Still working on getting him the best life.
 

BIllia

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Okay, time for another update!

»Fump has slowly started to eat more of the tortoise diet.
»I still give him spring mix once a week to use it up and also to ease the transition.
»I bought some cactus pads and I am also introducing those into his diet.
»His SolarGlo Mercury Vapor Bulb died today, so seems like the perfect time to get the right lighting situation.
»I found this hood. Hoping someone will let me know if this is the right way to go. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M9ONY1W/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
»The grassland seed mix has come in and I will be getting some potting soil to plant it in. I have a few grow lights set up from my experiments with growing lettuce and spinach in doors. I plan on cycling a couple of tray of grass so that I can try and have a decent supply freshly grown and harvested for him to eat.
»Still looking at getting him the right amount of space and the right substrate. The biggest problem with the enclosure I am having is the indoor space. Trying to make room for him.

If anyone has had any success or tips and tricks I am very happy to see them!
 

Srmcclure

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Joined
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Location (City and/or State)
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Okay, time for another update!

»Fump has slowly started to eat more of the tortoise diet.
»I still give him spring mix once a week to use it up and also to ease the transition.
»I bought some cactus pads and I am also introducing those into his diet.
»His SolarGlo Mercury Vapor Bulb died today, so seems like the perfect time to get the right lighting situation.
»I found this hood. Hoping someone will let me know if this is the right way to go. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M9ONY1W/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
»The grassland seed mix has come in and I will be getting some potting soil to plant it in. I have a few grow lights set up from my experiments with growing lettuce and spinach in doors. I plan on cycling a couple of tray of grass so that I can try and have a decent supply freshly grown and harvested for him to eat.
»Still looking at getting him the right amount of space and the right substrate. The biggest problem with the enclosure I am having is the indoor space. Trying to make room for him.

If anyone has had any success or tips and tricks I am very happy to see them!

That light looks like it should be ok. It does say its a HO so thats good. Cypress seems to be easier for me to get and it works really well for my babies. I get it at home depot for like $4 for a big bag.
You should also look at Kapidolo Farms to add more variety in the food if you haven't already. They are great! Its good your doing the seeds too! Mine really likes it.
What I would do if possible, is find a way to combine furniture maybe? Like maybe make an encloser than can double as a TV stand or a shelving unit? Since we are shooting for a closed chamber a wood frame could work... just throwing out ideas so you can use space efficiently. I'm all about tetris-ing

Screenshot_20200713-115252_Google.jpgScreenshot_20200713-115434_Google.jpg
 

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