Enclosure for a Russian

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Zsolo95

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Hi, I'm new to this forum and to being a tortoise owner. I've been doing my research and reading this forum extensively. I now think that I've gotten to the point where I know what tortoise I want and that it is time to start building an enclosure for the little guy. I have some ideas that I've picked up from other threads, so I'm not taking credit for any of this, but here are my ideas: (by the way I'm interested in buying a russian tortoise)

I'd cut the sides out of four storage bins to make one big enclosure, then line it with a shower curtain. For a substrate, I was thinking coconut coir or aspen wood. For heat/light sources I would put a heater at 90 for the hot spot and a heater at 75 for the cool spot (plus a backup heater connected to a thermostat so if if drops below 70 it automatically turns on). There would also be one or two bulbs set to go on at 6:30 am and off at 8:00 pm. Then I would put in a drinking dish, a piece of slate rocks for it to bask in, and two or three hides. For the hides I think one will be a rocky hide in the cool area, and the other two would be logs. I'd put one log in the hot area and one in between. I was also thinking about putting a few potted plants in that would be edible for my russian tortoise.

Does this sound good? any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thankyou!
 

Paige Lewis

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I think it sounds great and i am looking forward to seeing the finished enclosure and the tort too of course. I don't have a russian so i am not sure but you might want to make the hot spot a little warmer at about 95 but again someone else who has russians wills know better.
 

coreyc

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Welcome to the TFO:) great that you are doing your homework first post some pic's when it is done:D
 

bllauben

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Paige Lewis said:
I think it sounds great and i am looking forward to seeing the finished enclosure and the tort too of course. I don't have a russian so i am not sure but you might want to make the hot spot a little warmer at about 95 but again someone else who has russians wills know better.

For my russians I keep the hot end anywhere from 90 to 100 degrees (depending on if it's winter or summer here. Winter, it's 100. Summer it's at 90). So, 95 sounds about right. Seems like you have a great temperature difference. I like the idea of a back up heater for the cool end!
 

Zsolo95

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bllauben said:
Paige Lewis said:
I think it sounds great and i am looking forward to seeing the finished enclosure and the tort too of course. I don't have a russian so i am not sure but you might want to make the hot spot a little warmer at about 95 but again someone else who has russians wills know better.

For my russians I keep the hot end anywhere from 90 to 100 degrees (depending on if it's winter or summer here. Winter, it's 100. Summer it's at 90). So, 95 sounds about right. Seems like you have a great temperature difference. I like the idea of a back up heater for the cool end!

Thanks guys, i'll make sure i keep the hotspot at 95. You guys have been a real help
 

Sweetpea

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Welcome! Your enclosure sounds great, post pictures while you are building/creating it. I am also tossing around ideas for a new enclosure and will get help in building it. Good Luck ;)
 

Yvonne G

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Hi Zsolo95:

Welcome to the forum!! May we know your name and where you are?

For some reason, rectangular works better than square (don't know why). And if you're using plastic bins, you won't need a shower curtain liner. There's a product called Christmas Tree Storage Bin made by Iris that would work and you wouldn't need to cut and put together several bins:

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/extr...tainers > Holiday Storage&utm_content=VE-175W

I have two of these and I love them:

christmastreebin-1.jpg


Christmastreebin-2.jpg
 

Zsolo95

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emysemys said:
Hi Zsolo95:

Welcome to the forum!! May we know your name and where you are?

For some reason, rectangular works better than square (don't know why). And if you're using plastic bins, you won't need a shower curtain liner. There's a product called Christmas Tree Storage Bin made by Iris that would work and you wouldn't need to cut and put together several bins:

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/extr...tainers > Holiday Storage&utm_content=VE-175W

I have two of these and I love them:

christmastreebin-1.jpg


Christmastreebin-2.jpg

Yes, of course. My name's Zach and I live in Nebraska.
 

Zsolo95

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I also have some other basic questions. Should I keep the substrate moist? And do I need to soak him or her? If so how often?
 

Yvonne G

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Its not as important for a Russian to have a moist substrate. I soak babies every day, juveniles twice a week and adults once a week.
 
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