Multi-level PVC enclosure for Red Foot

[cwalker1379]

Hi there! I’m considering getting an 8x4 PVC enclosure for my red foot and wanted to see if anyone has had success with a multi-level PVC enclosure. I’d love to see how you set it up and how it’s working as far as maintaining temperatures and humidity. Current setup pictured.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!

Unless you build a "double height" enclosure (e.g. 4-5 ft. tall) large platforms won't work. They will block heat and light and underneath will be cold and gloomy. So, you will need some additional height for a duplicate heat/light setup.

In my enclosure (6x3x2.5) I've tried to make a platform 3x3 but there wasn't enough height to place heat panel and lights, so I've resorted to a "gallery" style: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/ikea-runmaro-enclosure-pains-and-gains.211377/

Here is the planning I like much more:

2 Level PVC enclosure

I splurged and made myself a PVC enclosure. Took months of designing, planning, and getting quotes for the materials and a week to build (with my husband and kids' help). I'm so happy with how it turned out and our little Russian is getting used to his new space.

tortoiseforum.org

And here is another enclosure plan (it's not PVC, but you can imagine the walls easily): https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/enclosure-progress-some-questions-🐢.214180/

 

[cwalker1379]

Hello!

Unless you build a "double height" enclosure (e.g. 4-5 ft. tall) large platforms won't work. They will block heat and light and underneath will be cold and gloomy. So, you will need some additional height for a duplicate heat/light setup.

In my enclosure (6x3x2.5) I've tried to make a platform 3x3 but there wasn't enough height to place heat panel and lights, so I've resorted to a "gallery" style: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/ikea-runmaro-enclosure-pains-and-gains.211377/

Here is the planning I like much more:

2 Level PVC enclosure

I splurged and made myself a PVC enclosure. Took months of designing, planning, and getting quotes for the materials and a week to build (with my husband and kids' help). I'm so happy with how it turned out and our little Russian is getting used to his new space.

tortoiseforum.org

And here is another enclosure plan (it's not PVC, but you can imagine the walls easily): https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/enclosure-progress-some-questions-🐢.214180/

Thank you so much! I am definitely planning for the extra height to have duplicate lighting and heating set up. I thought of doing something similar to what you have done but I want to give him as much room as possible without taking up a huge footprint in my living room. It would probably be around 6 feet tall.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thank you so much! I am definitely planning for the extra height to have duplicate lighting and heating set up. I thought of doing something similar to what you have done but I want to give him as much room as possible without taking up a huge footprint in my living room. It would probably be around 6 feet tall.

6 foot tall - is great. However, it can be a pain to clean daily.
Just a reminder, that PVC is not very hard material (unlike HDPE), so you will need some kind of pillars in the middle.

 

[cwalker1379]

6 foot tall - is great. However, it can be a pain to clean daily.
Just a reminder, that PVC is not very hard material (unlike HDPE), so you will need some kind of pillars in the middle.

Yes, that is true about cleaning. I’m having it designed by Toad Ranch. They do all of Garden State Tortoise’s enclosures. They use HDPE and PVC. I was worried about 6’ being too tall and we may go back and forth on the design a bit but in order to allow enough space for the substrate barrier and doors, the bottom will be about 42” tall (12” substrate barrier) and the top about 35.5” tall. Originally I wanted to do 2.5’ to 3’ tall but if I want a taller substrate barrier, it will need to be a tad taller. So there are a lot of factors to consider. And when I’m spending that much on an enclosure, I want to get it right!