Is this a good tortoise enclosure? What to add or remove

Yvonne G

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I don't trust the clamp part of your light fixture. Hanging the lights is much safer.
The cardboard hiding places can't stand up to the moisture required in your substrate. I've used plastic dish pans with a door cut in.

The light on the right looks awfully close to the floor. It shouldn't be closer than 12" from the TORTOISE'S back.

I think the enclosure is a bit small for a full size russian. We recommend at least 4' x 8'
 

daniellakatie12

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I don't trust the clamp part of your light fixture. Hanging the lights is much safer.
The cardboard hiding places can't stand up to the moisture required in your substrate. I've used plastic dish pans with a door cut in.

The light on the right looks awfully close to the floor. It shouldn't be closer than 12" from the TORTOISE'S back.

I think the enclosure is a bit small for a full size russian. We recommend at least 4' x 8'
Thanks so much for your help!
Is that four feet length by 8 feet width?
 

Tom

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Any help would be appreciated!
I agree with Yvonne's assessment:
  • Its too small.
  • Its too dry.
  • Needs a hide that can hold humidity and not rot.
  • What is in the two light hood? If the one is a cfl type UV bulb, you shouldn't use those. They sometimes burn the tortoises eyes, and they are ineffective as UV sources.
  • Those clamps always fail and cannot be trusted.
 

daniellakatie12

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I agree with Yvonne's assessment:
  • Its too small.
  • Its too dry.
  • Needs a hide that can hold humidity and not rot.
  • What is in the two light hood? If the one is a cfl type UV bulb, you shouldn't use those. They sometimes burn the tortoises eyes, and they are ineffective as UV sources.
  • Those clamps always fail and cannot be trusted.
Would this be better?
 

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daniellakatie12

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Joined
Apr 4, 2020
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Location (City and/or State)
Syracuse NY
I agree with Yvonne's assessment:
  • Its too small.
  • Its too dry.
  • Needs a hide that can hold humidity and not rot.
  • What is in the two light hood? If the one is a cfl type UV bulb, you shouldn't use those. They sometimes burn the tortoises eyes, and they are ineffective as UV sources.
  • Those clamps always fail and cannot be trusted.

What can I do to make it moist? Do I use a spray bottle for the humidity. And what kind of light fixtures are best? It is a ZOOMED UVB bulb and the other is a 75 watt heat lamp
 

Tom

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What can I do to make it moist? Do I use a spray bottle for the humidity. And what kind of light fixtures are best? It is a ZOOMED UVB bulb and the other is a 75 watt heat lamp
Your fixtures are fine, but the cfl type screw in bulbs are not effective as UV sources, and some of them burn tortoise eyes. You need a tube type bulb for UV, in addition to the basking bulb.

Spraying the surface doesn't do anything. You need a much thicker layer of substrate and you need to dump water into it. How much water and how often varies with each enclosure, and you'll have to make your adjustments by feel.
 
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