- Joined
- Oct 25, 2009
- Messages
- 16
Hello! I'm new to the forums but I've had my 3 Redfoots for 8 months. They are amazing creatures and keep me entertained. I have an Environmental Design degree in Landscape Architecture so I wouldn't feel right with a boring enclosure for my guys.
The tortoise table is built out of 3/4" ply, sealed and painted black with a 1/8" plexi front. The plexi front has a black window frame trim to cover all seams and screws. I had extra wood so I built a matching pendant hung from the ceiling. Painted white inside, black outside.
The substrate is a blend of 40% spagnum moss and 60% spagnum soil. The moss alone didn't retain moisture and irritated their eyes. The soil retains moisture and nutrients for the vegetation, and the moss prevents soil compaction. There is a plastic barrier between soil and wood.
Lighting and heat is built into the hanging pendant. 2x 24w CFL's 3400k and 6500k and 2x 75w ceramic heat emitters on dimmers. A timer/power supply automates 12hr light cycle and the heat emitters stay on 24-7.
Humidity was a constant battle so there is a quart size plant pot towards the back of the terrarium that holds an ultra sonic reptile fogger set at 45 minute intervals 7 times each day. It needs to be refilled daily. Its really hard to tell from the photos but their is a back to front slope in the landscape so the fog doesn't just pool up it travels towards the front. There is a clear plastic tent between the hanging pendant and table to retain moisture and keep temps stable. I also supplement their moisture with a humidifier that sits below the table and is fed with 2" pvc plumbing which is turned on for a few minutes while I watch them eat.
I almost forgot! Their names are Larry David, Baby Bowser and Moe. They like to sleep a lot but aren't afraid of the light or me. I gave them plenty of shaded areas to make it a more natural "rainforesty" environment. They like to burrow under their slate rock to sleep and bask under the light on top of their den. About the clear front view, they don't give a 2nd glance to the other side of the glass. I have changed their landscape twice and they seem very curious of their habitat. Once a week I don't feed them and they get grumpy and chomp on their planted vegetation. They don't eat the ferns or selloum, but love succulents EDIT: Apparently they love to eat things bad for them (Pothos). I would post more auction shots of the Torts but this is an "Enclosures" section.
[IMG=http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1994/dsc0002mr.th.jpg][/IMG]
The tortoise table is built out of 3/4" ply, sealed and painted black with a 1/8" plexi front. The plexi front has a black window frame trim to cover all seams and screws. I had extra wood so I built a matching pendant hung from the ceiling. Painted white inside, black outside.
The substrate is a blend of 40% spagnum moss and 60% spagnum soil. The moss alone didn't retain moisture and irritated their eyes. The soil retains moisture and nutrients for the vegetation, and the moss prevents soil compaction. There is a plastic barrier between soil and wood.
Lighting and heat is built into the hanging pendant. 2x 24w CFL's 3400k and 6500k and 2x 75w ceramic heat emitters on dimmers. A timer/power supply automates 12hr light cycle and the heat emitters stay on 24-7.
Humidity was a constant battle so there is a quart size plant pot towards the back of the terrarium that holds an ultra sonic reptile fogger set at 45 minute intervals 7 times each day. It needs to be refilled daily. Its really hard to tell from the photos but their is a back to front slope in the landscape so the fog doesn't just pool up it travels towards the front. There is a clear plastic tent between the hanging pendant and table to retain moisture and keep temps stable. I also supplement their moisture with a humidifier that sits below the table and is fed with 2" pvc plumbing which is turned on for a few minutes while I watch them eat.
I almost forgot! Their names are Larry David, Baby Bowser and Moe. They like to sleep a lot but aren't afraid of the light or me. I gave them plenty of shaded areas to make it a more natural "rainforesty" environment. They like to burrow under their slate rock to sleep and bask under the light on top of their den. About the clear front view, they don't give a 2nd glance to the other side of the glass. I have changed their landscape twice and they seem very curious of their habitat. Once a week I don't feed them and they get grumpy and chomp on their planted vegetation. They don't eat the ferns or selloum, but love succulents EDIT: Apparently they love to eat things bad for them (Pothos). I would post more auction shots of the Torts but this is an "Enclosures" section.
[IMG=http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1994/dsc0002mr.th.jpg][/IMG]
