I recently added another closed chamber enclosure to my collection. This closed chamber is specifically being used to house Mickey, my SA Leopard Tortoise. Mickey, was temporarily sharing a closed chamber with Mio, my Babcocki Leopard before having purchased this enclosure. The purpose of this enclosure was to separate the species of Leopards, not having them as a pair and for my main concern growth. Mickey, is growing FAST and I knew that the glass aquarium closed chamber wouldn't suffice. I purchased this 4'x2'x2' "Critter Condo" with a 24" fluorescent strip light and a ceramic fixture already installed from "Spidey's Reptiles" out in Alhambra, California for $195. This was worth the 11 hour drive from Las Vegas and back. I'd do anything to provide the best for my tortoises.
I did some modifications myself, I took Tom's advice and added 10 inches of 4mm plastic sheeting (6mm only came in bulk) and stapled only the top parts and corners to the walls. I couldn't find a replacement for the round soffit vent louvers, so I cut three 4"x4" heavy duty aluminum foil squares and layered all weatherproof PVC pipe tape over the back of each vent. I pre drilled a shallow hole and screwed a white vinyl coated steel cup hook to the center of the chamber to hold an extra fixture I had boxed up in my closet.
A lot of the equipment I'm using are the same ones I've used in my glass aquarium closed chamber, they work phenomenally and are inexpensive. I added live succulents (Elephant Bush and Jade Plant) in Mickey's, simply because there's room. I bought two Arcadia reflectors for each chamber a 18" and 24". I'm using a 24" ReptiSun T8 10.0 fluorescent tube, GE Reveal 40W incandescent for my basking source and a 100W CHE for my ambient heat set up to a thermostat for 85 degrees. Humidity has never been this easy to maintain. I honestly thought I'd have a hard time doing so, but I literally didn't have to spray a single drop of water for the humidity to reach up to 90% ambient and 80% under the basking spot. I only spray directly on Mickey's shell when he's out of his humid hide and that's all it takes for ambient AND basking spot humidity to reach 90-99% for a few days. The humidity is NEVER below 95% and the substrate always stays dry.
Here are a few picture I just took while airing out the enclosures during Mio and Mickey's soaking, sunning time outside.
THANKS FOR LOOKING!
I did some modifications myself, I took Tom's advice and added 10 inches of 4mm plastic sheeting (6mm only came in bulk) and stapled only the top parts and corners to the walls. I couldn't find a replacement for the round soffit vent louvers, so I cut three 4"x4" heavy duty aluminum foil squares and layered all weatherproof PVC pipe tape over the back of each vent. I pre drilled a shallow hole and screwed a white vinyl coated steel cup hook to the center of the chamber to hold an extra fixture I had boxed up in my closet.
A lot of the equipment I'm using are the same ones I've used in my glass aquarium closed chamber, they work phenomenally and are inexpensive. I added live succulents (Elephant Bush and Jade Plant) in Mickey's, simply because there's room. I bought two Arcadia reflectors for each chamber a 18" and 24". I'm using a 24" ReptiSun T8 10.0 fluorescent tube, GE Reveal 40W incandescent for my basking source and a 100W CHE for my ambient heat set up to a thermostat for 85 degrees. Humidity has never been this easy to maintain. I honestly thought I'd have a hard time doing so, but I literally didn't have to spray a single drop of water for the humidity to reach up to 90% ambient and 80% under the basking spot. I only spray directly on Mickey's shell when he's out of his humid hide and that's all it takes for ambient AND basking spot humidity to reach 90-99% for a few days. The humidity is NEVER below 95% and the substrate always stays dry.
Here are a few picture I just took while airing out the enclosures during Mio and Mickey's soaking, sunning time outside.
THANKS FOR LOOKING!