Closed Chamber Indoor Enclosure

[Aalgaard]

I'm very excited about this new enclosure me and my boyfriend have been working on! We have a 4 inch sulcata that is almost 5 months old. He's very happy and healthy!
I want to give this little one the best life I can I've done so much research on here and I think I will have the right set up. I bought a green house on Walmart.com that is 6x3
My boyfriend built a wooden box that fits perfectly inside the greenhouse out of 2x12 wood and a 1/2 inch piece of plywood on the bottom. After it was all put together I bought a gallon of drylok and put two coats on the entire thing.
We silicone caulked all the corners and it's still drying. I'm very impatient with this but it's been outside for a week now to make sure there are no fumes when it goes into the greenhouse.
This is the current set up he's been in for a few days now. The humidity is perfect and the heat stays at the right spot with my thermostat. But I can't wait till I put him into the big set up. I'm very excited!!!
I will set everything up tomorrow ❤️

 

[KevinGG]

Great job. Should hold in humidity very well. I'd mist his carapace every morning to ensure smooth growth as well.

 

[Aalgaard]

Thank you! And I'll make sure of that. I'm also kind of concerned about having his humid hide right under the basking spot. It's a Rubbermaid Tupperware with a hole cut in the side and coco coir all on top where he basks. He's always in there and I'm not too sure if it's because he likes the heat or if he just feels safe in the hide and doesn't want to leave. Is that dangerous at all?

 

[KevinGG]

It may be trying to escape the heat. Generally, you'll want a warm side and a cool side. In your larger enclosure you can put a hide in both areas and let the tort decide where it prefers. The heat lamp shouldn't be over the hide. The basking area should be unobstructed. I imagine the most common design would be hides in both corners against the back of the enclosure, basking area on the warm side toward the front of the enclosure, and water dish and feeding area in middle. But look around and get some design ideas. Attached is Toms young sulcata care sheet.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

 

[Tom]

Wow! That is going to be a great set up! Well done. Well done indeed.

I think both you and your tortoise will be happier with some fine grade orchid bark instead of the coir.

 

[Aalgaard]

I will definitely make sure of all of that when I put the big enclosure together today. Thank you so much for your input I love hearing new things and ideas for it. And thank you tom! That means a lot. And what makes the orchard bark better? Does it hold humidity better or just nicer all around?

 

[Yvonne G]

I really like that little greenhouse and the price is right. Thank you so much for showing us where you got is and how it looks.

 

[Aalgaard]

Thank you!!! So I finished the enclosure today. There are now two hides. I want to add plants to make it look better but I have to find somewhere that doesn't fertilize their plants. He loves the house he's walked around all day looking at everything. I'm so happy with how it turned out! I hope you guys do too.

 

[Alex Z]

Thank you!!! So I finished the enclosure today. There are now two hides. I want to add plants to make it look better but I have to find somewhere that doesn't fertilize their plants. He loves the house he's walked around all day looking at everything. I'm so happy with how it turned out! I hope you guys do too. View attachment 191992View attachment 191993View attachment 191994View attachment 191995View attachment 191996

Its beautiful!! Ty for sharing...because of you finally found the solution to keeping the humidity for our redfoot! Its perfect..m

 

[BILBO-03]

Thank you!!! So I finished the enclosure today. There are now two hides. I want to add plants to make it look better but I have to find somewhere that doesn't fertilize their plants. He loves the house he's walked around all day looking at everything. I'm so happy with how it turned out! I hope you guys do too. View attachment 191992View attachment 191993View attachment 191994View attachment 191995View attachment 191996

That's awesome! You did a great jobcould you share what heating you are using?

 

[Maro2Bear]

Really nice job at creating the perfect biohide_enclosure for your new baby. Keep up the good work, keep up the temps, humidity, soaking and lighting.

 

[Aalgaard]

Thank you guys! It means a lot that you like it and it's helping you. And I'm just using two ceramic heat emitters on a thermostat and a mercury vapor bulb. ☺️

 

[Alex Z]

Thank you guys! It means a lot that you like it and it's helping you. And I'm just using two ceramic heat emitters on a thermostat and a mercury vapor bulb. ☺️

Do you have the reptitimer power surge??

 

[Maro2Bear]

By the way, i showed our Sully your set up, he approves!!