Is Stewie's Vivarium a bad idea?

[Ch+Stewie]

Hi,

I bought Stewie just over 2 weeks ago. He is a 1 yr old Hermanns Tortoise and he's lovely

He's living in a home made vivarium, which looks amazing I must admit. It's 4.5ft long by 2ft wide and about 2ft tall. It has a glass front and a lid to open it. I hear that a tortoise table was best due to airflow, but we have two cats so wanted to ensure Stewie's safety by keeping him in a vivarium.

To solve the air problem my boyfriend has fitted two computer fans on either end of the vivarium. One sucks air from outside in, and the other blows the old air out. They're about 4inches square and give a good amount of air into the vivarium.

Do you think this would be adequate air for my little guy? When I open the lid to say hello it doesn't seem at all stuffy in there, and no different from the outside world.

The heat also seems decent. He has a warm end where he basks and the other end doesn't seem anywhere near as warm and there is a noticeable difference. He also has a house which he can go into to which is in the cooler area.

I've heard so much about keeping tortoises in tables, but in my (inexperienced!) opinion this seems like a good compromise seeing as I want him to be safe from naughty kitties.

What do you guys think?

 

[dreadyA]

Hi,

I bought Stewie just over 2 weeks ago. He is a 1 yr old Hermanns Tortoise and he's lovely

He's living in a home made vivarium, which looks amazing I must admit. It's 4.5ft long by 2ft wide and about 2ft tall. It has a glass front and a lid to open it. I hear that a tortoise table was best due to airflow, but we have two cats so wanted to ensure Stewie's safety by keeping him in a vivarium.

To solve the air problem my boyfriend has fitted two computer fans on either end of the vivarium. One sucks air from outside in, and the other blows the old air out. They're about 4inches square and give a good amount of air into the vivarium.

Do you think this would be adequate air for my little guy? When I open the lid to say hello it doesn't seem at all stuffy in there, and no different from the outside world.

The heat also seems decent. He has a warm end where he basks and the other end doesn't seem anywhere near as warm and there is a noticeable difference. He also has a house which he can go into to which is in the cooler area.

I've heard so much about keeping tortoises in tables, but in my (inexperienced!) opinion this seems like a good compromise seeing as I want him to be safe from naughty kitties.

What do you guys think?

Hello and welcome! From what you've said, it sounds great! But it would be cool if you could post pics. I'm not a herman keeper so I don't have much to say, but a herman specialist is bound to help! We've got great peeps here. Looking foward to those Pics pics pics!

 

[Madkins007]

I suspect you don't need both fans- just the 'blowing out' one would probably do it. The only things I would be worried about is making too much of a breeze in there and/or making it too dry.

 

[terryo]

I keep my boxies and Cherry Head in planted vivariums. They hold the humidity great and the screen top is open for plenty of air flow. I don't know anything about the needs of a Hermanns though.

 

[Yvonne G]

I can't speak to a Hermann's tortoise's requirements, but from what you've said, Stewie's habitat sounds pretty darned nice. Is the air flow too much so that it cools the temp down inside? Post a picture, I'd love to see it...and:

to the forum!!

Yvonne

 

[Ch+Stewie]

I dont have any pics on my works laptop, but here is a link to it on you tube )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQMsyUqInCk

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Ch (?):

I think your tortoise habitat is great. I like that the lights are in the ceiling and it seems plenty big enough. I'm hot sure about the substrate, though. It looks a little too sandy for my taste.

Yvonne

 

[Ch+Stewie]

Hi Yvonne,

Ch = Charlotte )

Yes I agree with the sand.. Stewie's eye has got a little sticky and I have read that this might be due to it being too dusty. I have bought a bag of top soil and will be mixing it up with this tonight. Hopefully this will help!

 

[Yvonne G]

And try to keep it a little moist.

Yvonne

 

[jobeanator]

hey i love your setup! the only thing that worried me was how close your basking light was to the ground. make sure its at least 12 inches from the ground i wouldnt want your tortoise to get burned!

 

[alfiethetortoise]

I have Afie in a vivarium now for winter. He is an 18 months old herman and his vivarium is 2.5 length, 1 ft width and 1.5 height. Like you, alfie is in a vivarium for his own safety. My 18 month old daughter would very much like to pick up alfie on her own and drop things onto his table yet she also likes to be able to see him so the vivarium seemed like the best comprimise. He will however, be outside once weather permits. Have you thought about getting some rocks for climbing on? Alfie has a hide, stones, fake plant, water bowl, slate and cuttle bone in his. His basking lamp is on one side to produce a heat gradium. He is 50/50 playsand and organic soil mix, and i add 8floz of water every couple of days to keep it moist. I find that there is enought airflow in his vivarium (there is ventilation through the back) but i like to get him out for a run around most days, give him a bath every other day and in the evening i like to open the glass when my daughter is in bed. If your worried about ventilation you could have the lid opened when you are there to stop the cats? What do you have in the hide? I use a little Aspen bedding on top of the soil/sand, and find that Alfie will dig himself a hole and retire for the evening!

 

[Ch+Stewie]

well, i've adapted Stewie's viv now!

The warm area is on the other side of the viv now, and the cooler area is where the air is blowing in through the fans.. I think I have perfect temps now. 85 in the warm end and between 70-75 in the cool end.

I've also mixed his sand with soil and added a plant pot tunnel. I've also made a little love heart rockery for him )

I am now very pleased with his viv! I think it's ideal for him... and goes to show that you can have good temps and airflow in a vivarium.

I'd add some pics but i'm having problems attaching them (

 

[Ch+Stewie]

YAY i figured out how to get some pics up...

check out the link..

http://s665.photobucket.com/albums/vv11/Ch12345_2009/

)

 

[Livingstone]

In this picture

Are all those whites lumps fertilizer??? If so I would change that ASAP!!

 

[Ch+Stewie]

No no... they're little blobs of calcium. They came in the tortoise sand I originally had him in. I just mixed the soil with the sand I already have.

 

[Livingstone]

OK cool. Just wanted to make sure.