Astrid37
Member
Hello, I'm looking into building my own 3-tier wood indoor enclosure for my baby Russian tortoise that will be able to carry him or her into adulthood. Apologies in advance for the very long post, but I want to do this right.
Once baby reaches adulthood, I plan to keep adult outside in a safe enclosure as much as temperatures in northern Virginia allow. Recognizing that adult will need a minimum of 32sq feet of space when they are inside, I am looking at building a 3 tier plywood enclosure. The first (bottom) tier will be 65x30x30. This is where baby will live. It will be an enclosed chamber to allow for the appropriate lighting, UVB, temperature, humidity etc... I have read (and re-read and then re-read some more) the "Best Way to Raise a Temperate Tortoise" and am keen to follow it to the letter. The second and third tiers will both be 65x30x12. The only environmental addition on the 2nd and 3rd tiers will be LED lights plus substrate and tortoise-safe plants. Baby will not have access to those tiers until an adult, as there will be a trapdoor in the ceiling preventing movement up there. The ramp will be there with railing to prevent falling of both baby and adult. So, baby will grow up only on the first tier with all of the appropriate temperature gradients, basking, humidity, humid hide with CHE over it etc... As an adult, they will have all of that on the first floor and then the choice of where to go when they are inside, as the 2nd and 3rd tiers with only LED lights will also be open to them, as it seems that lack of additional heat- and humidity-producing equipment is not necessary on those tiers as long as they have them on the bottom tier. Our home is kept at about 66-68 degrees year-round. As an enclosed chamber, I am guessing that some heat from the incandescent bulb and CHE on the bottom will rise to the 2nd and 3rd tiers, which may keep it warmer than the house. Also, if necessary, I will be putting some kind of barrier TBD on the floor of the 2nd tier to prevent any heat burns to the tortoise were they to bury themselves on the 2nd tier directly above the incandescent bulb or CHE on the 1st tier. The fixtures for these bulbs will be on chains that are on hooks screwed into the ceiling of the 1st tier. The ramp will need to avoid getting too close to the fixtures, too. The fronts of all three tiers will have sliding glass/plexiglass/acrylic doors. Substrate on all three levels will be orchid bark with a little garden soil (vermiculite, perlite, and fertilizer-free).
A few questions:
1. I realize that this will be very heavy if built with wood but for reasons too long to get into here, it needs to be wood and not pvc or epvc (husband requirement). It also needs to look very nice, like a piece of furniture (husband requirement), and be super resistant to moisture/mold while being constructed of materials that are 100% tortoise-safe.
I am considering one of these as the plywood to use. Do you see any safety concerns with any of these from a chemical perspective? Would one be better than the other?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbi...-ft-PureBond-Red-Oak-Plywood-165956/100046409 or https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbi...-8-ft-PureBond-Maple-Plywood-263012/100548908
2. If I use this in the corners: https://www.homedepot.com/p/FLEX-SE...berized-Waterproof-Tape-TFSBLKR0405/302634866
one of these to cover the inside of all three tiers: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pond-Ar...-Clear-Non-Toxic-Epoxy-SKU-CLEAR-GA/203886519 or
and use stain + polyeurethane to cover the outside of the enclosure, would all of this be safe?
3. I will be including a plastic resin sliding open/close vent on all three tiers in case they ever becomes necessary. Should I be including anything else from a structural/environmental perspective that needs to be built in that I am forgetting?
Many thanks in advance to anyone who made it this far in the post and for any help you can provide.
Once baby reaches adulthood, I plan to keep adult outside in a safe enclosure as much as temperatures in northern Virginia allow. Recognizing that adult will need a minimum of 32sq feet of space when they are inside, I am looking at building a 3 tier plywood enclosure. The first (bottom) tier will be 65x30x30. This is where baby will live. It will be an enclosed chamber to allow for the appropriate lighting, UVB, temperature, humidity etc... I have read (and re-read and then re-read some more) the "Best Way to Raise a Temperate Tortoise" and am keen to follow it to the letter. The second and third tiers will both be 65x30x12. The only environmental addition on the 2nd and 3rd tiers will be LED lights plus substrate and tortoise-safe plants. Baby will not have access to those tiers until an adult, as there will be a trapdoor in the ceiling preventing movement up there. The ramp will be there with railing to prevent falling of both baby and adult. So, baby will grow up only on the first tier with all of the appropriate temperature gradients, basking, humidity, humid hide with CHE over it etc... As an adult, they will have all of that on the first floor and then the choice of where to go when they are inside, as the 2nd and 3rd tiers with only LED lights will also be open to them, as it seems that lack of additional heat- and humidity-producing equipment is not necessary on those tiers as long as they have them on the bottom tier. Our home is kept at about 66-68 degrees year-round. As an enclosed chamber, I am guessing that some heat from the incandescent bulb and CHE on the bottom will rise to the 2nd and 3rd tiers, which may keep it warmer than the house. Also, if necessary, I will be putting some kind of barrier TBD on the floor of the 2nd tier to prevent any heat burns to the tortoise were they to bury themselves on the 2nd tier directly above the incandescent bulb or CHE on the 1st tier. The fixtures for these bulbs will be on chains that are on hooks screwed into the ceiling of the 1st tier. The ramp will need to avoid getting too close to the fixtures, too. The fronts of all three tiers will have sliding glass/plexiglass/acrylic doors. Substrate on all three levels will be orchid bark with a little garden soil (vermiculite, perlite, and fertilizer-free).
A few questions:
1. I realize that this will be very heavy if built with wood but for reasons too long to get into here, it needs to be wood and not pvc or epvc (husband requirement). It also needs to look very nice, like a piece of furniture (husband requirement), and be super resistant to moisture/mold while being constructed of materials that are 100% tortoise-safe.
I am considering one of these as the plywood to use. Do you see any safety concerns with any of these from a chemical perspective? Would one be better than the other?
3/4 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. AB Marine-Grade Plywood 726540 - The Home Depot
The Panel is sanded on both faces. The maximum core-gap size permitted is 1/8 inch. Its exposure durability rating is EXTERIOR and the glue used is a water resistant structural adhesive. It is considered
www.homedepot.com
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbi...-ft-PureBond-Red-Oak-Plywood-165956/100046409 or https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbi...-8-ft-PureBond-Maple-Plywood-263012/100548908
2. If I use this in the corners: https://www.homedepot.com/p/FLEX-SE...berized-Waterproof-Tape-TFSBLKR0405/302634866
one of these to cover the inside of all three tiers: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pond-Ar...-Clear-Non-Toxic-Epoxy-SKU-CLEAR-GA/203886519 or
FLEX SEAL FAMILY OF PRODUCTS Flex Seal Liquid Black 32 Oz. Liquid Rubber Sealant Coating LFSBLKR32 - The Home Depot
Flex Seal Liquid is actually liquid rubberized coating in a can. Similar to our Flex Seal Spray, but now you can brush it, roll it, dip it or pour it anywhere you need a watertight, flexible coating or
www.homedepot.com
and use stain + polyeurethane to cover the outside of the enclosure, would all of this be safe?
3. I will be including a plastic resin sliding open/close vent on all three tiers in case they ever becomes necessary. Should I be including anything else from a structural/environmental perspective that needs to be built in that I am forgetting?
Many thanks in advance to anyone who made it this far in the post and for any help you can provide.