Lids on Enclosures?

[Dianee]

Hi everyone, I’ve seen a lot of people mention putting lids on plastic tote habitats to keep humidity up for their tortoises. I’m a bit confused about how this works—wouldn’t that reduce airflow and risk suffocating the tort? Do you leave the lid slightly open or poke holes in it? And if the lid is on, how do you manage heating and UVB lighting?





Thanks for any clarification!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello! The closed chamber style set up is definitely recommended for younger tortoises, I take it it’s a baby you’re getting?

In terms of air flow no, there’s no risk of suffocation, no enclosure is air tight and you’ll be creating more than enough air exchange when opening it up to do daily husbandries.
You want as few holes/ vents as possible to reduce air exchange, that’s when you’ll be loosing heat and humidity.

The uvb and heating should be inside the chamber itself, perhaps some of the visual examples in here will help you understand how to mount the lighting

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

If you let us know what species you’re looking to get, I can pass on the appropriate care sheets too, they cover bulb heights etcwelcome to the forum!

 

[Dianee]

LHello! The closed chamber style set up is definitely recommended for younger tortoises, I take it it’s a baby you’re getting?

In terms of air flow no, there’s no risk of suffocation, no enclosure is air tight and you’ll be creating more than enough air exchange when opening it up to do daily husbandries.
You want as few holes/ vents as possible to reduce air exchange, that’s when you’ll be loosing heat and humidity.

The uvb and heating should be inside the chamber itself, perhaps some of the visual examples in here will help you understand how to mount the lighting

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

If you let us know what species you’re looking to get, I can pass on the appropriate care sheets too, they cover bulb heights etcwelcome to the forum!

Thank you so much for your reply—it was really helpful! I’ll be getting a baby Leopard and a Hermann’s this week, and I was feeling anxious about the risk of them suffocating. Your information has really put me at ease.
I’ll be keeping up with daily husbandry tasks for their enclosures, but I want to double-check: is it safe to keep the lids closed for several hours at a time, such as overnight? Is there a maximum amount of time the enclosures should stay closed or open?
I’ve been doing a lot of research and have gone through the care sheets, but I just want to make sure their setups are perfect before they arrive. I’ll also check out the visual examples you mentioned. Thank you again!

 

[Tom]

Rather than using an enclosure and putting a lid on it, you should be using large closed chamber type enclosures. There is no lid, there is just a top as the doors open in front.

Unfortunately, most of the info you find for tortoise care and housing from most sources is old, outdated and incorrect. Here is all the correct info. Please read through these threads at least twice BEFORE you bring a tortoise home, and please feel free to ask all of your questions.

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Rather than using an enclosure and putting a lid on it, you should be using large closed chamber type enclosures. There is no lid, there is just a top as the doors open in front.

Unfortunately, most of the info you find for tortoise care and housing from most sources is old, outdated and incorrect. Here is all the correct info. Please read through these threads at least twice BEFORE you bring a tortoise home, and please feel free to ask all of your questions.

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

I think the poster is talking about this type of set up?

How to make a closed-chamber baby habitat out of a 55gal Sterilite bin

Since several folks have asked about how to make a closed chamber baby enclosure out of a 55gal Sterilite tote, here are some pics and description of how I do. This is not the most beautiful option, but since the babies will only be in here for 9-12 months, I'm okay with that. My own Russian...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I think the poster is talking about this type of set up?

How to make a closed-chamber baby habitat out of a 55gal Sterilite bin

Since several folks have asked about how to make a closed chamber baby enclosure out of a 55gal Sterilite tote, here are some pics and description of how I do. This is not the most beautiful option, but since the babies will only be in here for 9-12 months, I'm okay with that. My own Russian...

tortoiseforum.org

That’s what I presumed too. Plus sometimes folks really struggle finding proper closed chambers, depending on their finances or diy skills.
smart enclosures and vivs are definitely the best choice, but many have to get creative, which is definitely better than leaving them open

Thank you so much for your reply—it was really helpful! I’ll be getting a baby Leopard and a Hermann’s this week, and I was feeling anxious about the risk of them suffocating. Your information has really put me at ease.
I’ll be keeping up with daily husbandry tasks for their enclosures, but I want to double-check: is it safe to keep the lids closed for several hours at a time, such as overnight? Is there a maximum amount of time the enclosures should stay closed or open?
I’ve been doing a lot of research and have gone through the care sheets, but I just want to make sure their setups are perfect before they arrive. I’ll also check out the visual examples you mentioned. Thank you again!

Aw how exciting!

Please feel free to check out these links as well as toms above

I made these threads based on the forums care information and added visual aids, it covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, double check your bulb types), correct levels, importance of a closed chamber for younger tortoises(only way to maintain the humidity you need), appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a really handy diet link to check out! I go over a greenhouse style set up, but as mentioned above there’s definitely better options out there!

Housing young Russian/Herman

Hello there! In this thread, I’m going to include some information on an effective way to tackle a starter set up/a way you can build a bigger size once your baby is an adult. I know it looks a lot to go over, I like to make sure all bases are covered, I’m happy to break down any information...

tortoiseforum.org

Leopard/sulcata starter

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information below on how I’d personally tackle an indoor starter set up for a leopard/sulcata until they’re bigger. Hopefully it helps give people some ideas!” I know it looks like a lot to go over, I like to make sure all bases are covered...

tortoiseforum.org

This one is also good to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

You can leave the enclosures closed day&night no problem, you’ll be opening them up to do water changes, spot cleaning etc which is enoughnothing is air tight either

Hope this helps!

 

[Dianee]

Thank you everyone! You all have been beyond helpful. I will be reading all the links sent! I appreciate all of the responses!!!

 

[Dianee]

I think the poster is talking about this type of set up?

How to make a closed-chamber baby habitat out of a 55gal Sterilite bin

Since several folks have asked about how to make a closed chamber baby enclosure out of a 55gal Sterilite tote, here are some pics and description of how I do. This is not the most beautiful option, but since the babies will only be in here for 9-12 months, I'm okay with that. My own Russian...

tortoiseforum.org

This was exactly what I needed, thank you so much!