MIReptilian
Member
I have been researching, reading, and trying to figure out my best case scenario for an enclosure for 3 baby Hermanns I have coming in the next month or so. I'm all over the map with this stuff and super indecisive. Initially I was going to build a closed chamber, then I thought about buying a closed chamber, then I was going to build a smaller one and a lager one making them modular and able to connect to one another... Use the smaller one to house the babies and then connect the larger and smaller one together when they need more space. I think I have finally decided on what I'm doing and think it's going to work awesome
My problem is that I'm in MI and there is really no way the tortoises can stay outside (full time) from October until April. I will need a comfortable indoor solution for the torts. A closed chamber seemed to make the most sense, but in order to build a big enough closed chamber, it would be costly and still not offer enough room IMO. The Large closed chamber would also take a bit of time to design and build. I don't have a ton of time right now and need something that will be ready when the tortoises arrive in the beginning of September.
The tortoises will live in my 2000sf basement with an ambient temp 65 degrees. This is also an issue and why I was considering a closed chamber in the first place. Being mostly concrete, the basement is cool and remains that way throughout the year. But it does have two things going for it. It's very large and has 10 foot ceilings!
I started thinking outside the box and determined that I could easily set up a small greenhouse in my basement that would be easy to heat and humidity could be monitored with no issues. . So I started searching and found a suitable Greenhouse on craigslist for a good price.
I found the above greenhouse, new in box, for $300.00. I pick it up tomorrow morning and will start assembling it in the coming days.
Ideally, I would like to either build or buy something for the greenhouse to sit on. The basement floor is concrete and will suck the heat out of the greenhouse pretty easily. I was thinking about a sub floor made out 2x4s and plywood, but I'm not sure that I have the time to build it. Then I was thinking about thick rubber "stall" mats that are used for horses but those aren't cheap either at $35.00 a piece for 6'x4" (I would need 4). I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to use as an insulating barrier.. Rubber backed area rugs? .. Suggestions welcome.
The plan is to build an L-shaped tortoise table that fits inside the greenhouse or rather, that the greenhouse is built around. Something that's approximately 4 foot wide and then follows the perimeter side wall and back wall. So approximately 8-10 foot long on one side and 6- 8 foot long on the back wall by 4 foot wide to form an L. I'll put a divider in the table to make a smaller area for the torts while they're babies and then pull the divider out when they're juveniles. The divider could also be used if I need to separate any of the tortoises due to fighting, bullying etc.
My only concern with this design is spending a small fortune on proper lighting for a table so large. Also, i'm debating how the greenhouse would be heated. Initially I was thinking of an oil filled radiator type space heater but then was considering several CHEs, Still not sure on this either. Suggestions welcome! Is there something else I should consider?
Do I need UVB for the entire length of the table and will two large Florescent fixtures hung at the proper height above the table be enough for a table of this size? I plan on growing plants in the tortoise table so I will want daylight bulbs as well. I noticed that there are several fixtures available that have dual bulbs (one 12% UVB next to a 6500k daylight tube). Any issues with these? Again, trying to light and heat this enclosure by means that are as cost effective as possible.
I will update this thread with photos and commentary as I build this greenhouse and huge tortoise table.
stay tuned.
any and all opinions, advice, suggestions are welcomed!
Sorry for being so long winded.
Jeff
My problem is that I'm in MI and there is really no way the tortoises can stay outside (full time) from October until April. I will need a comfortable indoor solution for the torts. A closed chamber seemed to make the most sense, but in order to build a big enough closed chamber, it would be costly and still not offer enough room IMO. The Large closed chamber would also take a bit of time to design and build. I don't have a ton of time right now and need something that will be ready when the tortoises arrive in the beginning of September.
The tortoises will live in my 2000sf basement with an ambient temp 65 degrees. This is also an issue and why I was considering a closed chamber in the first place. Being mostly concrete, the basement is cool and remains that way throughout the year. But it does have two things going for it. It's very large and has 10 foot ceilings!
I started thinking outside the box and determined that I could easily set up a small greenhouse in my basement that would be easy to heat and humidity could be monitored with no issues. . So I started searching and found a suitable Greenhouse on craigslist for a good price.
I found the above greenhouse, new in box, for $300.00. I pick it up tomorrow morning and will start assembling it in the coming days.
Ideally, I would like to either build or buy something for the greenhouse to sit on. The basement floor is concrete and will suck the heat out of the greenhouse pretty easily. I was thinking about a sub floor made out 2x4s and plywood, but I'm not sure that I have the time to build it. Then I was thinking about thick rubber "stall" mats that are used for horses but those aren't cheap either at $35.00 a piece for 6'x4" (I would need 4). I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to use as an insulating barrier.. Rubber backed area rugs? .. Suggestions welcome.
The plan is to build an L-shaped tortoise table that fits inside the greenhouse or rather, that the greenhouse is built around. Something that's approximately 4 foot wide and then follows the perimeter side wall and back wall. So approximately 8-10 foot long on one side and 6- 8 foot long on the back wall by 4 foot wide to form an L. I'll put a divider in the table to make a smaller area for the torts while they're babies and then pull the divider out when they're juveniles. The divider could also be used if I need to separate any of the tortoises due to fighting, bullying etc.
My only concern with this design is spending a small fortune on proper lighting for a table so large. Also, i'm debating how the greenhouse would be heated. Initially I was thinking of an oil filled radiator type space heater but then was considering several CHEs, Still not sure on this either. Suggestions welcome! Is there something else I should consider?
Do I need UVB for the entire length of the table and will two large Florescent fixtures hung at the proper height above the table be enough for a table of this size? I plan on growing plants in the tortoise table so I will want daylight bulbs as well. I noticed that there are several fixtures available that have dual bulbs (one 12% UVB next to a 6500k daylight tube). Any issues with these? Again, trying to light and heat this enclosure by means that are as cost effective as possible.
I will update this thread with photos and commentary as I build this greenhouse and huge tortoise table.
stay tuned.
any and all opinions, advice, suggestions are welcomed!
Sorry for being so long winded.
Jeff