Building an Enclosure for a Baby Redfoot

Michelle D

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Oct 9, 2015
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79
Thanks guys! It's been an adventure so far, that's for sure.

I did consider using Drylok but wasn't sure if I should since it was all marked for use on masonry and not wood. Now I feel dumb that that's what I was supposed to get. Whoops! At this point, I'd have to sand off the polyurethane, at least on the parts that hold the substrate.

By the way, the cat in my avatar is Lemmy, the one who broke the lid on the other enclosure. :mad: Very bad cat!
Lemmy is such a cutie! :)
 

LemmyBites

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Jul 20, 2015
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I ended up swapping out the door hinges for better ones. The doors now close fully and stay shut. I also caulked and added weatherstripping around the lid. I think I failed to mention before that the lid and bottom are insulated with a layer of foam. I'm hoping this enclosure will be much less drafty and more energy efficient.

Next up: finish installing lights, CHEs, and MVBs, second coat of paint on the doors, attach plexiglass windows. Then we're ready to move him in! Wednesday will probably be moving day.
 

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Michelle D

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2015
Messages
79
I ended up swapping out the door hinges for better ones. The doors now close fully and stay shut. I also caulked and added weatherstripping around the lid. I think I failed to mention before that the lid and bottom are insulated with a layer of foam. I'm hoping this enclosure will be much less drafty and more energy efficient.

Next up: finish installing lights, CHEs, and MVBs, second coat of paint on the doors, attach plexiglass windows. Then we're ready to move him in! Wednesday will probably be moving day.
Looks great! Keep the info coming! I liked your new design so we are trying to build it too. Appreciate you sharing your journey! :) the insulation is a great idea!
 

LemmyBites

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Jul 20, 2015
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Thanks Michelle! Hope your build goes well.

Today I finished the doors and added some el cheapo knobs I found. Well, I sort of finished the doors. Somehow I only got four 11x14 sheets of plexi when I needed 8, so I get to make another run to the hardware store :mad:

Next I installed the light (24" 2xT12 fluorescent), the CHE and rheostat (controller is hidden on the left side), and the MVB on the upper level. I can't install the 48" fluorescent strip, MVB, and CHE on the bottom level until we move Troggy! His new plants are squished into his current enclosure, which is apparent cramping his style.

That's it for today! Tomorrow I might post about a fun related side project, if I'm far enough along with it.
 

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LemmyBites

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Jul 20, 2015
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Also forgot to mention that the whole thing is on 5 casters so we can get to the cords and outlets behind it, or to clean. You can't really tell from the photos.
 

Michelle D

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Oct 9, 2015
Messages
79
Thanks Michelle! Hope your build goes well.

Today I finished the doors and added some el cheapo knobs I found. Well, I sort of finished the doors. Somehow I only got four 11x14 sheets of plexi when I needed 8, so I get to make another run to the hardware store :mad:

Next I installed the light (24" 2xT12 fluorescent), the CHE and rheostat (controller is hidden on the left side), and the MVB on the upper level. I can't install the 48" fluorescent strip, MVB, and CHE on the bottom level until we move Troggy! His new plants are squished into his current enclosure, which is apparent cramping his style.

That's it for today! Tomorrow I might post about a fun related side project, if I'm far enough along with it.
Thank you, thank you! Those close up pics help a lot! Do your doors stay closed good? I was wondering if I needed a latch or something. Understand what you mean about having to pick up more at the hardware store. We continually have do do this, with each project! :)
 

LemmyBites

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Jul 20, 2015
Messages
34
Yes, the doors stay closed pretty tightly. I used overlay cabinet hinges that have a bit of spring to them. They were $12 for a 10 pack, I think.
 

LadyKraken

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Joined
Nov 15, 2015
Messages
43
We added some coco coir substrate (need more), plants, a ramp, and a wall to prevent the little guy from tumbling. The wall is made of branches and is well secured with wood glue and several dozen wooden dowels drilled through the pieces and into the plywood. Plants so far include lamium, mondo grass, and small hostas. I'm hoping to add moss or another trailing plant the wood wall.

We also added lighting. We've got two T8 lights for the plants and a MVB on the top basking area. Now we need to add enough coco and sphagnum moss to plant the plants! Also a hide for the back corner. Temp is 82 this morning and humidity is at 85% on the bottom level.

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What plants did you got
 

Michelle D

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Joined
Oct 9, 2015
Messages
79
The Great Fat Cat Incid

ent of 2015 resulted in a new and improved build. It's 24W x 72L x 42H with a pair of ramps connecting the 2 floors. Troggy loves climbing the ramp in his current enclosure, so I think he'll enjoy his little landing area between the two ramps. It's 8x10 so plenty of room to turn.

Since it's bigger than his current enclosure, and we're already having trouble keeping the back corners above 80, we got another CHE, as well as another UVB basking lamp, so he'll have one of each per floor. I also got more plants (jmbamboo seller on Amazon is awesome, lots of tort safe plants) and a second fluorescent strip light to keep them growing. No more lights on top of the enclosure--it'll all be inside this time.

The inside wood is sealed with 2 coats of water based polyurethane, and we will line it with shower curtains. I ditched the rock walls. I love them, but it's too much work to do again!

That's it so far. Tomorrow I'll paint, attach the doors, and then we give it a week to air out and cure before the big move.

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Can you please tell me how you built the ramp? Did you use a hinge to attach them so you can lift them to clean?
 

LemmyBites

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Jul 20, 2015
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No hinge, though that's a great idea! I just measures, cut, and attached the ramps to the sides with deck screws. Both ramps also have foot hold "steps" and I mixed in sand with the wood sealant to make them grippier for little tort feet.
 

Michelle D

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Joined
Oct 9, 2015
Messages
79
No hinge, though that's a great idea! I just measures, cut, and attached the ramps to the sides with deck screws. Both ramps also have foot hold "steps" and I mixed in sand with the wood sealant to make them grippier for little tort feet.
Ohh like the sand idea!!
 

LemmyBites

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Jul 20, 2015
Messages
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Here's the side project I mentioned: a plaque for Trogdor's enclosure featuring a redfoot version of his namesake! This part was a lot of fun.

Looks like Thursday will be moving day now.
 

LemmyBites

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Jul 20, 2015
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Moving day is here! We moved the CHE, MVB, and fluorescent lights from the old enclosure, installed them on the first level, and put all the plants and substrate in. Trogdor is currently exploring his new home.
 

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Michelle D

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Oct 9, 2015
Messages
79
Moving day is here! We moved the CHE, MVB, and fluorescent lights from the old enclosure, installed them on the first level, and put all the plants and substrate in. Trogdor is currently exploring his new home.
It looks AMAZING!! Great job! The big boy looks very happy in his new place. :) That plaque fits perfect. Thanks for posting!
 

LemmyBites

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Jul 20, 2015
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Thank you! I do need to modify the upper ramp. He had trouble climbing up because it's a bit too slick with the wood sealant, even with the sand in it. So I'll probably glue some rubber strips to it or something.The temps are rising from the low 80s at the moment. I think it's taking a bit of time for the substrate to fully warm up. Otherwise, he's a bit nervous but is tromping around and exploring. He already found some hiding spots he likes.

Here are a few more shots of the two basking areas, equipment, and a super secret undercover tortoise.

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