When I make my liners I usually do the bottom and about 5 inches up the side of the walls, but my enclosure is made of expanded pvc because of it being heat and water resistant. If my enclosure was made of wood I would go higher. I use a pressure sprayer to hose down the substrate everyday and the spray splashes up quite a bit on the walls above the 5 inches. Probably 10 inches up the walls would be sufficient.
Thank you Krista!
That dog run sounds awesome. That's a great size. If it has a chain link type roof, I don't think you need any cover over it at all. Let the sun through and have shade plants and various hides for your tortoise to escape the summer heat and sun. I would put a 12 inch visual barrier around the bottom. You can get 32 linear feet from one sheet of plywood if you cut it into 12 inch strips. They will cut it for you at Home Depot. Put the plywood on the inside and screw into 12 inch tall sections of 2x4 on the outside of the enclosure, like so:
Good idea with the plywood and 2x4, will steal it for sure!
I don't think you need additional UVB as long as the tortoise goes up there sometimes. I do thing you need an additional basking spot on the lower level and abundant LED lighting all around.
Anything in particular with the “abundant LED”? Or will a “normal” LED screw socket bulb do the trick?
The screw socket types work just fine. I like to use the "globe" type in those, but that is not "required". The under cabinet mount types work well too. They sell one of those at Walmart that is easy to use and install for about $35.
Brilliant, I’ll get the ambient light sorted out. Thinking a floor stand light with directional heads, similar to the photo I’ve attached. Please let me know if you see a flaw with this plan, will get one with shades that direct the light “down” and not all over the place… if that makes any sense at all LOL.
Found fir bark in bulk about 2 miles from home. $5.99 for 2 cubic feet, will return what I ordered once it arrives…. $200 savings!!!
I asked before I bought it and was told it’s fir. They bag it from the large bulk piles. See photo - let me know what you think.
Looks like fine grade fir bark to me.
If there’s pine in my bark, what are the health symptoms I should watch for?
It smells...
Just did a quick google search and several articles indicate that fir bark also has a smell.
It's the aromatic oils that are harmful to, especially young, tortoises.
