Leopard Tort House

Kapidolo Farms

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That's a great idea. I have many photos saved with something similar in mind. Of course, I would need to win the lottery but a girl can dream...lol

View attachment 147737
@DawnH Is that a picture of your dream, or in your backyard? Looks good either way.
 

DawnH

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@DawnH Is that a picture of your dream, or in your backyard? Looks good either way.

Oh, I wish it was mine! I have a folder of photos "saved" for ideas... that was one of them. I think the same concept could be built on a less grand scale but I do love the look of this particular one!
 

Zamric

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That is a very nice house! Eros and Gaia will be inside for at least one more Winter but next year I'm hoping to move them outside 24/7. Their Summer Home is still that grape covered run and during the Winter, the grapes are cut back and they come inside. I see a house like that in their future! I already have a mini-oil heater like that for WalkingRock's Bunker and it uses MUCH less energy than the closet setup I use for their Winter Home.
 

bethxyz

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Hi Heather, nice tortoise house!! Will this hold them all winter too? What are the winters like for you in Oregon?
 

Levi the Leopard

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Hi Heather, nice tortoise house!! Will this hold them all winter too? What are the winters like for you in Oregon?

I've been in Oregon for 1 winter so far and it worked wonderfully. My temps maintained around 80F day and night with no significant additional electricity costs.

Because my tortoise didn't leave the house as often during the winter, I'd bring him inside the every few days for a warm water soak and Mazuri meal.
 

Siren Nora

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I'm up late tonight stressing about outdoor housing and heating. I recently moved from Az to Ca and boy did my Nommie get BIG here. I'm not handy with tools, is there anyone that can help me? This Tort house is my favorite!
 

Levi the Leopard

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Search for a carpenter though family, friends or on craigslist. You can show them the plans and get a quote. It'll cost more than DIY but if you really can't do it, this type of house is worth it!

Honestly, it's not even hard to build. ;) :cool:
 

sherminator

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Heather, I am going to start purchasing everything to follow what you built for Levi pretty much exactly since I have just 1 leo myself. Here is my question: For my oil space heater do I buy a mini oil space heater that's 500-700 watts that has a min/max turn dial and then plug it into the auto thermometer/temp probe temp sensor like you have? It will turn off and on as needed just like the che's do in his inside enclosure? I am just making sure because unfortunately I am not home at all during the day and work far from home so I can't check on him like you do. (I do plan to set this all up though when my parents are visiting so they can check to make sure its all working okay) I'm a total worry wart and don't want it to catch fire or something. The one I am looking at looks like yours in the pic. Its 15.5in tall and abt 5.5in wide and 700 watts by Optimus. Thanks. PS- I'm also a Heather
 

Levi the Leopard

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Hey Heather#2 ;)

I don't ever have to mess with the heater or thermostat. Like the CHE it turns on/off automatically with the thermostat. I have the oil heater switched on, always and the dial set to medium. The thermostat set to 80F will determine when the heater clicks on or off. Make sense?

Mine is also a mini. $40 or so if I remember correctly.
 

sherminator

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Thank you. Just wanted to make sure I was getting the correct one. Can't wait to get started bldg. Should be very interesting with how well I do with it. So glad you and Tom gave detailed instructions to follow.
 

Levi the Leopard

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@Team Gomberg, what’s the follow up with the growth of your torts after moving outside? Was lack of humidity an issue?

Living outside, my leopard has always had tall grass and weeds to hide in. Plus the heated tort house is keep moderately humid. I haven't seen any growth I'm dissatisfied with from being outside.

The only growth spot I don't like is a single pyramid from a CHE when he was younger. :(
 
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