Help with indoor enclosure and a few other things

[Tortmomma2]

I am preparing an indoor enclosure for my 16 month old tort Tank. Currently it is a 3'x4' enclosure with a lid. I have 2 pictures attached which give a basic idea of my start. I currently have a organic soil @Tom recommended in order to grow tort friendly food. I will be adding the coco coir substrate too. I have a small pot of tort seed that grew fast from www.sulcatafood.com
He is currently in his 4'x8' outdoor enclosure from 8am to 8pm. But with cooler temps and rain coming (I live in so cal desert) I need something indoor too. The 3rd picture is the idea I was thinking of doing for his top with a cutout for his light and che lamps and laying it flat not exactly as shown. Do you think this would be good? And should I cover the entire top or leave a small section uncovered with his hide in the covered huimd area and his basking spot under the open side? As long as the outside temps during the day don't go below 60 degrees he will still get natural sun in his outdoor enclosure. Any feedback is appreciated or suggestions. This is a work in progress and we will add length after this winter. This enclosure is only for super cold and rainy weather. He loves his outdoor enclosure.
The 4th pic is a partial of his outdoor without his cover. I dug all it up a reseeded it with a tortoise blend seed I bought from the above referenced website. I will do the other half with other stuff and leave some areas with just substrate soil.

**Lastly his size I am a little worried about. The 5th and 6th pic shows him as of today, 9/2/14 (sorry for lighter reference). He was born in May 2013 and the dumb butt who I saved him from had him in a dry area with sand. I got him in end of July 2013. I do mot have a weight as of right now my 6 year old thought she could weigh herself on it. I do soak him 2x a week currently (7th pic w/ Snuggies supervising). I have been reading about offering Mazuri and will start this week to help add weight. I love and pet his belly and top of shell and talk to him and he sticks head out as far as he can so I can rub his head and neck areas. **

Ask questions and leave feedback. Thank you all for you vast knowledge and help.

 

[Tortmomma2]

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/98261/

This is the beginning stage of the outdoor with a few modifications. Burlap over part, water dishes in 3 areas, a cool hide he digs under and sleeps, and the newly seeded grass from above picture

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

That looks nice! I bet he's one happy tort...

 

[Tortmomma2]

That looks nice! I bet he's one happy tort...

He seems to be but I just over worry that I am doing something wrong. These torts can be harder than my 3 girls and 2 dogs and 3 cats combined. Lol But I just want to ensure he is happy and healthy. And his size worries me.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I actually think he looks like a great size... he is a little over a year old, and he looks great..

 

[Tortmomma2]

So I added corrugated plastic to the top, a electronic guage for temp and humidity, and I mounted the light inside. I will be adding another lamp for the che near his hide. I will also adding potted plants this weekend. Amd I will also be adding some coco coir to the current substrate in order to add moisture to the hair. Currently I am at high 60% range for humidty. From yesterday to today small changes have made good progress.

My issue is with the light I have attached a picture. How much distance is appropriate between tje ground and light? The current light is a zoo med halogen 100 watt basking light. Feedback appreciated

 

[Clamhandsmcgee]

I would be careful about the heat in a enclosed box (heat doesn't escape as easy.) It might fluctuate as the house temperature changes. I would definitely keep an eye on it especially with che's. I like a partially covered enclosure, because it gives a bigger range for them to thermoregulate. That way it still gives a higher humidity level on one side and less chance of the tortoise "cooking."
That's just my opinion, maybe someone with more experience will chime in.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

M

My sulcata in his outdoor home. In it he has various grasses and weeds to munch on through out the day, a little pool, and a burrow where he can escape the sun.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

 

[Clamhandsmcgee]

Me too, I was referring to hatchlings.

 

[Tortmomma2]

I would be careful about the heat in a enclosed box (heat doesn't escape as easy.) It might fluctuate as the house temperature changes. I would definitely keep an eye on it especially with che's. I like a partially covered enclosure, because it gives a bigger range for them to thermoregulate. That way it still gives a higher humidity level on one side and less chance of the tortoise "cooking."
That's just my opinion, maybe someone with more experience will chime in.

I usually don't put a che in till temps go under 70 degrees at night. Then once that happens I do have it connected to a thermostat. The corrugated plastic does have notches along the sides to allow air in and out. I was thinking about drilling a few holes on the light side which is opposite his hide side. I figured keep his hide side humid and have the che their for when we hit winter and the basking light on the opposite side with maybe a few holes drilled into the corrugated plastic. What do you think?

 

[Tortmomma2]

MView attachment 94698

My sulcata in his outdoor home. In it he has various grasses and weeds to munch on through out the day, a little pool, and a burrow where he can escape the sun.View attachment 94699

Very nice enclosure. I had a chicken wire top for the indoor enclosure but couldn't control temps or humidity. I am still tweaking it . I am trying to have it ready for when temps get low.

 

[Tortmomma2]

Me too, I was referring to hatchlings.

Tank is currently between 15 and 16 months old

 

[Clamhandsmcgee]

Oh, I thought he younger. He still isn't big enough to be outside 24/7, but I'm sure it won't be long.

 

[Tortmomma2]

Oh, I thought he younger. He still isn't big enough to be outside 24/7, but I'm sure it won't be long.

He is outside about 10 hrs a day in a well covered and protected 4'x8' enclosure. Moist substrate and a hide he digs down in plus grass he walks in and seed I grew for him to eat.