Amazing tortoise enclosure!

FrankiesMom

Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2019
Messages
54
Location (City and/or State)
Tampa, FL
Hello fellow tortoise lovers!

I got Frankie, my adorable leopard tortoise, approximately 14 months ago when he was 3 months old. Before purchasing him, I did research on the internet to find out all about leopards and make sure that I was doing everything right. I found Kamp Kenan and thought he knew everything. He's right here in Florida and seems to be knowledgeable about reptiles -- including tortoises. I watched a ton of his videos and other videos to make sure that I had all of the correct equipment. I bought a tortoise table per his suggestion, set him up with all of the correct lighting, substrate, etc. I knew what to feed and not feed him and I thought that I was going to be the best tortie mom and give him a great life.

A few months after getting Frankie and getting everything set up, I found this forum. I would spend hours on the forum reading all of the different care sheets, following conversations, etc. I soon discovered that I may have Frankie in the wrong kind of enclosure. @Tom kept talking about closed chambers and I would think to myself, where is the fun in putting my new little friend in a closed box where I couldn't see him or interact with him. So I put it off for a while thinking he would be fine since I live in Florida and I can put him outside several times a week and he will get all of the humidity he needs. Well, I started noticing slight pyramiding on Frankie and started to get really nervous. I posted something on this forum and @Tom mentioned enclosures that @Markw84 makes. I reached out to @Markw84 and he sent me information and price lists on the closed chamber enclosures that he created. I will say that they seemed a little expensive, but once we received it and realized the time and effort that went into creating these "smart" enclosures, the price made sense. And it was so worth every penny!! It didn't take my husband and I long to put the double enclosure together. It comes with built in outlets for all of your lights and the lights/outlet can be controlled from a smart app on your phone. I'll admit I am not very tech savvy so I was a little nervous about getting the lighting set up, but @Markw84 was available throughout the entire process to answer my questions. I got it set up with Reptibark and coconut coir. @Markw84 said that plants thrive in the humid closed chamber so I took his advice and planted several plants. Frankie was a little nervous at first and hid for a couple of days, but then started to explore his large new home --- and he seems to love it! It's been a couple of months now and the plants are growing like crazy, the humidity is always around 99%, and Frankie's shell doesn't get dried out looking anymore. I'm positive that this was the best thing for him and his shell will begin to grow correctly going forward.

I'm really happy with the new enclosure and I think it will end up being a great house for Frankie for a long time. Since we live in Florida, he gets to be outside a lot and as he gets bigger, the enclosure will just be a place we put him during the cold season when needed. But since he's still just about 500g, this enclosure is perfect for him! I wanted to share this because I feel like this was a great decision and a great investment into Frankie's health & well being. I'm sure @Markw84 won't mind if I share his email address in case you want to reach out to him directly about these enclosures: [email protected]. Thanks again @Markw84 . The enclosure is great and I really appreciated all of the help you provided along the way!

I have attached a couple of photos -- I hope they come through okay.

enclosure 1.jpgenclosure 2.jpgenclosure 3.jpgenclosure 4.jpgenclosure 5.jpg
 

Krista S

Well-Known Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 4, 2019
Messages
1,364
Location (City and/or State)
Saskatchewan
Wow, that enclosure is incredible!! Your little Frankie should be a happy guy in there for a long time!
 

Srmcclure

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2020
Messages
1,791
Location (City and/or State)
Oklahoma city
That looks amazing!! He looks really happy too!
Mark is who I plan to buy mine from as well and do something very similar once I save up, so it makes me happy to see this! Kinda sorta super jealous hahaha
 

FrankiesMom

Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2019
Messages
54
Location (City and/or State)
Tampa, FL
question though... what is that palm tree truck looking thing in the middle?
Haha! That came in the middle of a pothos plant for use as a trellis I suppose...i liked that it looked somewhat tropical so I left it in there. The pothos plants and spider plants are growing like crazy...it's getting very jungle-like in there. It will be a pain to clean it all out when it comes time. You will love it when you get it...it's super easy to set up and Frankie seems very happy!
 

EllieMay

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2018
Messages
9,603
Location (City and/or State)
East Texas
Haha! That came in the middle of a pothos plant for use as a trellis I suppose...i liked that it looked somewhat tropical so I left it in there. The pothos plants and spider plants are growing like crazy...it's getting very jungle-like in there. It will be a pain to clean it all out when it comes time. You will love it when you get it...it's super easy to set up and Frankie seems very happy!
It looks amazing!!

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
 

Srmcclure

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2020
Messages
1,791
Location (City and/or State)
Oklahoma city
Haha! That came in the middle of a pothos plant for use as a trellis I suppose...i liked that it looked somewhat tropical so I left it in there. The pothos plants and spider plants are growing like crazy...it's getting very jungle-like in there. It will be a pain to clean it all out when it comes time. You will love it when you get it...it's super easy to set up and Frankie seems very happy!
Ah OK! Makes since what that is now lol. I liked it I just couldn't figure it out ?
My pothos LOVES my enclosure so I'm not surprised that in there yours are doing great!
Yea I'm excited for it! I just have to take a little break because I think my husband thinks I'm crazy spending all this money on a 3inch creature lol so I have to space out my purchases lol ? he keeps giving me the look. You know the one, the look when you bring home that new pair of shoes that you totally didn't need ??
 

FrankiesMom

Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2019
Messages
54
Location (City and/or State)
Tampa, FL
Ah OK! Makes since what that is now lol. I liked it I just couldn't figure it out ?
My pothos LOVES my enclosure so I'm not surprised that in there yours are doing great!
Yea I'm excited for it! I just have to take a little break because I think my husband thinks I'm crazy spending all this money on a 3inch creature lol so I have to space out my purchases lol ? he keeps giving me the look. You know the one, the look when you bring home that new pair of shoes that you totally didn't need ??
Lol! Very funny. My husband learned early on that Frankie comes first! Haha! No, but really, he's been super supportive. I wish I had done more research and listened early on about the closed chamber...I wasted so much time & money on tortoise tables. I killed so many plants that couldn't handle the heat without the humidity. Now thry are flourishing...just like Frankie! Good luck with & keep in touch. By the way, where does everyone keep seeing that it's my birthday? Is my DOB somewhere on my profile?
 

Srmcclure

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2020
Messages
1,791
Location (City and/or State)
Oklahoma city
Lol! Very funny. My husband learned early on that Frankie comes first! Haha! No, but really, he's been super supportive. I wish I had done more research and listened early on about the closed chamber...I wasted so much time & money on tortoise tables. I killed so many plants that couldn't handle the heat without the humidity. Now thry are flourishing...just like Frankie! Good luck with & keep in touch. By the way, where does everyone keep seeing that it's my birthday? Is my DOB somewhere on my profile?
Under your name where it says member, in a red box it says today is my birthday! Lol

I did the same. Bought an open top and waisted so much money! My hubs is supportive thankfully too, just likes to give me heck lol ?
 

FrankiesMom

Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2019
Messages
54
Location (City and/or State)
Tampa, FL
That's really funny...and embarrassing about my bday! Ha!!


Under your name where it says member, in a red box it says today is my birthday! Lol

I did the same. Bought an open top and waisted so much money! My hubs is supportive thankfully too, just likes to give me heck lol ?
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,660
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Happy Birthday glad you found us. Stick with the forum. It's probably the only place with the correct info.
Your enclosure looks fantastic and your tort is beautiful.
 
Top