Planning new indoor enclosure

Markw84

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Just a comment if you don't mind a suggestion...

The way the tortoise is basking here is going to lead to a slow burn on the carapace. Just too much intense IR focused on only a portion of the shell. That central portion will heat too much before the overall body temp tells the tortoise its time to move. IN situations where you have to provide a basking area like that, I prefer to use 3 - lower wattage flood style bulbs all about 8"-12" apart. I like to create as even a heating as possible over an area much larger than the tortoise is. While basking, a tortoise should have its entire body exposed to the same intensity of heat (IR), and not have hot spots focused on just part.
 

vladimir

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Just a comment if you don't mind a suggestion...

The way the tortoise is basking here is going to lead to a slow burn on the carapace. Just too much intense IR focused on only a portion of the shell. That central portion will heat too much before the overall body temp tells the tortoise its time to move. IN situations where you have to provide a basking area like that, I prefer to use 3 - lower wattage flood style bulbs all about 8"-12" apart. I like to create as even a heating as possible over an area much larger than the tortoise is. While basking, a tortoise should have its entire body exposed to the same intensity of heat (IR), and not have hot spots focused on just part.
Thanks for the advice - I definitely appreciate it [emoji846] do you have any pictures illustrating the 3 light setup you mention?
 

vladimir

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It's way past time that I update this thread. Vladimir has been settled in his home quite comfortably. Once it started getting colder, I ended up putting some 2x4s together to make a basic ceiling that I covered with insulation. I also used some of the reflective foil near the radiator, and wrapped the entire thing in plastic to help maintain the temperature.

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Even when the surrounding room drops as low as 60F, I'm able to maintain around 78F inside.

And Vlad has lots of room to party!

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vladimir

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Wow looks really great. With that high ceiling are you able to keep the heat in?

The ceiling is about 66" high, so I can stand in there without having to hunch over too much. There's definitely a difference in temperature between the ground level and the ceiling. I also have a small fan in there connected to the radiator's thermostat to circulate the air when the radiator is running.

The radiator is set at 80F with the probe set about a foot above the substrate. I'll have to check but I'd guess there's about a 5 degree difference between the floor and the top of the enclosure. The plastic does a surprising job of keeping the heat contained inside.
 

waretrop

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So as we talked about the other day here is what Alices condo looks like in the snow storm we are both getting today. @vladimir . What is nice is that they have even more real estate to run in...Alice goes out in the snow if the temp is over 25 degrees and usually she comes back in after 10 minutes...

alice condo1.jpg
alice condo2.jpg
If you look there is a double track window on the top of the ramp so I can lift it up just enough for her to get into the condo. When she is not out there I keep it closed to keep this weather out...
 

Melis

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It's way past time that I update this thread. Vladimir has been settled in his home quite comfortably. Once it started getting colder, I ended up putting some 2x4s together to make a basic ceiling that I covered with insulation. I also used some of the reflective foil near the radiator, and wrapped the entire thing in plastic to help maintain the temperature.

View attachment 263497

View attachment 263498


View attachment 263499

Even when the surrounding room drops as low as 60F, I'm able to maintain around 78F inside.

And Vlad has lots of room to party!

View attachment 263500
Looks great! How often does he venture up the ramp to the top section?
 

vladimir

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Looks great! How often does he venture up the ramp to the top section?

every day, multiple times a day, on a schedule :D

He sleeps in there every night, comes out some time between 5:30 and 7:00 am, has a taste of breakfast, has a nap downstairs, eats more breakfast, then goes back up the ramp and into the box around noon for another nap. He usually ventures out again (down the ramp) for a Mazuri snack after his lunchtime nap, and he'll eventually make his way back up to the box around 4:30pm. Some days he has additional trips up and down the ramp. I've seen him go up the ramp, go into the box, then turn around and come out and go right back down the ramp :rolleyes:

Slight variations in the timing, but that's his basic schedule. It took him about a week to learn to go up and down the ramp by himself. Right now it's 8:30 am, so he's out of box having his initial nap before he starts to devour breakfast

upload_2019-1-30_8-30-2.png
 

waretrop

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@vladimir I see dandelions on the right. What is on the left? Also I use my heat mat with a rheostat and nothing flammable near it. Do you use a rheostat and are you worried about the wood chips getting too warm?
 

vladimir

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@vladimir I see dandelions on the right. What is on the left? Also I use my heat mat with a rheostat and nothing flammable near it. Do you use a rheostat and are you worried about the wood chips getting too warm?

that's chickory on the left. I have the thermostat and a Reptile Basics RHP connected to a thermostat set at 80F. I try to clear off the mat every day but he ends up dragging a little bit of substrate onto it. It doesn't really seem to warm the substrate much.
 

vladimir

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I have a question....so you ever feed mustard greens? Where do you get your greens?
I've tried mustard greens, but most of the time he spits them out. Only a few times has he actually eaten them. Definitely not his favorite.

I get a lot from Produce Junction. http://producejunction.com they have optunia cactus fairly often for about $3 /2 lbs, and good deals on other greens like escarole, chicory, dandelion, etc as well
 

vladimir

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It's currently 3 degrees F outside, 59F in the room his enclosure is in, about 76F inside the enclosure itself, and 82F inside the box. :)
 

waretrop

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We have many heat sources for Alice....I love backups...She has a wall heater that really keeps her room just the right temp..and when it is windy or very cold we have propane heater to keep it warm. Alone with her heat elements and pad it all works..Notice the outside is pick...cause she is a girlie....LOL

alice1.jpg
It we turned all heat sources off the room would be in the TEENS tonight

alice2.jpg
She loves her privacy. The heat pad is screwed down to the trough...The done lights are 2 different size watt.

alice3.jpg ll the lights that you see here are non lighting heat elements.

alice4.jpg Her heat pad in the 100 gallon horse trough on it's side..She can go on one side or the other.

Last winter we had linoleum covering the floor....it was ok but not completely. We will be putting paint of some kind down in spring...

We keep her room at about 75 degrees...even when it is ZERO....if she wants it warmer she goes under the hanging dome light or into the trough..When the hanging heat source is not being used by her the cement heats up nicely for her when she needs it.

Also, Alice does all those greens. She goes through different likes and dislikes so I offer her a little of what she is not eating just for a tester..I also get my cases of foods at Produce Junction. I get a few cases and unbox them and un-rubber band them and put them in a lightly tied plastic bag in a special refrigerator and can keep the greens for 2 weeks if I watch them....Which Junction do you go to??
 

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