Mother_of_Turtle
Member
Hi Everyone,
I'm in the planning stages of upgrading Panda's enclosure. He's currently in a 4ft x 2ft galvanized stock tank and based on his growth rate I'd like to upgrade him later this year/early 2022. He's out of the burrow all day-where am I?!-who are you?!-am I safe? stage, to exploring climbing resting in a different spot everyday, finally using his hide and I even caught him going for an early morning swim in the dark when I went to turn on his fake sun light. I'm building the enclosure with the help of a friend because I havent found what I want online. My initial thought is something reminiscent of a tortoise table-wide, rectangular and long, 18-24in height between 5-6ft length 4-5ft width with a detachable top. Here are my concerns/question would love any feedback. Thank you!
-PVC or treated Wood? His enclosure stays moist all.the.time so I need something that can withstand a constant flow of water. I mist 2+ x day, water the substrate 2x week and he has plants. For either option, how do I prevent leaks? Flex seal?
-Under tank heater for either option? I know these arent a fan favorite with the tort folk but I love them. Panda has two strategically placed under tank heat zones and its been great. Stock tank metal is very cool so having them in places that arent directly under his heat lamps keeps the floor of his enclosure warm.
-Material for detachable top? His fake sun light will be mounted inside the enclosure he currently has clamp lamps. What type of top can we build that will hold in heat/moisture and accommodate heat lamps? He currently has 2 CHEs and 1 60w heat light. The temp is steady between 30-32c and humidity ranges from 50-70%, he also has a heated pool, high is 90.7f water temp never goes below 90f. Will I need to use stands for the heat sources and not clamps?
-Experience, advice, suggestions on a two story enclosure? Thinking of making a loft area he can access by a ladder
-Bioactive enclosure, nothing too fancy, I want to encourage foraging. Thoughts about other live insects attracting who knows what and decay? Should I be concerned about him eating food from the dirt? I know that's what they would do in the wild but him eating dirty food makes me jumpy. Right now he only eats in the water or on a stone saucer.
I'm in the planning stages of upgrading Panda's enclosure. He's currently in a 4ft x 2ft galvanized stock tank and based on his growth rate I'd like to upgrade him later this year/early 2022. He's out of the burrow all day-where am I?!-who are you?!-am I safe? stage, to exploring climbing resting in a different spot everyday, finally using his hide and I even caught him going for an early morning swim in the dark when I went to turn on his fake sun light. I'm building the enclosure with the help of a friend because I havent found what I want online. My initial thought is something reminiscent of a tortoise table-wide, rectangular and long, 18-24in height between 5-6ft length 4-5ft width with a detachable top. Here are my concerns/question would love any feedback. Thank you!
-PVC or treated Wood? His enclosure stays moist all.the.time so I need something that can withstand a constant flow of water. I mist 2+ x day, water the substrate 2x week and he has plants. For either option, how do I prevent leaks? Flex seal?
-Under tank heater for either option? I know these arent a fan favorite with the tort folk but I love them. Panda has two strategically placed under tank heat zones and its been great. Stock tank metal is very cool so having them in places that arent directly under his heat lamps keeps the floor of his enclosure warm.
-Material for detachable top? His fake sun light will be mounted inside the enclosure he currently has clamp lamps. What type of top can we build that will hold in heat/moisture and accommodate heat lamps? He currently has 2 CHEs and 1 60w heat light. The temp is steady between 30-32c and humidity ranges from 50-70%, he also has a heated pool, high is 90.7f water temp never goes below 90f. Will I need to use stands for the heat sources and not clamps?
-Experience, advice, suggestions on a two story enclosure? Thinking of making a loft area he can access by a ladder
-Bioactive enclosure, nothing too fancy, I want to encourage foraging. Thoughts about other live insects attracting who knows what and decay? Should I be concerned about him eating food from the dirt? I know that's what they would do in the wild but him eating dirty food makes me jumpy. Right now he only eats in the water or on a stone saucer.