It took us longer than expected to get this put together, and there is one more thing I need to do before I'll consider it done, but the girls have been enjoying it for a week now and we're all really happy with it.
Heat: I followed Madkins directions for installing heat cable under the substrate, and that is keeping the temps throughout the enclosure in the 80 degree range. The only spot where it gets cooler (mid 70s) is on the right end where the substrate is built up around the plants. I did not put cable under the center area, as the MVB keeps that warm during the day, the CHE at night. Other than a nine inch strip of hardware cloth in the center, the top is tightly covered with acrylic at all times.
Humidity: I keep both far ends really wet, and there are 8 or so nightcrawlers living in the enclosure. I also dump water in the center section, where there's no heat cable, to help moderate the heat from the MVB. I spray the moss on top of, inside of, and in front of the humid hide each morning and evening. The readings are 99% in the corners, furthest from the MVB, all the time. The reading halfway between the MVB and the corners runs in the 60s. I checked inside the humid hide this afternoon, and it was 88% in there, 9 hours after the last spraying.
Hides: The humid hide in on the left side, an old piece of cottonwood bark propped up on two peices of rock, and covered with frog moss. The frog moss has been thus installed for 6 weeks and seems happy. The torts use this hide often, and usually sleep there at night. They also like to hang out some in the spaces I allowed between the plants and the ends of the enclosure, also covered in frog moss. Very private.
This enclosure has been a big improvement for the girls. In their previous place, they didn't like their humid hide, and they tended not to bask, either. Now they spend lots of time in the hide, and begin each day with a nice sunbath.
Safety: the wire screen was removed for the first two photos, but is now wired to the red plastic lid of the Christmas tree box. The lights in turn have small holes drilled in their lips and are secured to the wire screen.
Left end of enclosure, showing plants and humid hide.
Right end of enclosure, showing plants and worm habitat.
Front of enclosure.
Heat: I followed Madkins directions for installing heat cable under the substrate, and that is keeping the temps throughout the enclosure in the 80 degree range. The only spot where it gets cooler (mid 70s) is on the right end where the substrate is built up around the plants. I did not put cable under the center area, as the MVB keeps that warm during the day, the CHE at night. Other than a nine inch strip of hardware cloth in the center, the top is tightly covered with acrylic at all times.
Humidity: I keep both far ends really wet, and there are 8 or so nightcrawlers living in the enclosure. I also dump water in the center section, where there's no heat cable, to help moderate the heat from the MVB. I spray the moss on top of, inside of, and in front of the humid hide each morning and evening. The readings are 99% in the corners, furthest from the MVB, all the time. The reading halfway between the MVB and the corners runs in the 60s. I checked inside the humid hide this afternoon, and it was 88% in there, 9 hours after the last spraying.
Hides: The humid hide in on the left side, an old piece of cottonwood bark propped up on two peices of rock, and covered with frog moss. The frog moss has been thus installed for 6 weeks and seems happy. The torts use this hide often, and usually sleep there at night. They also like to hang out some in the spaces I allowed between the plants and the ends of the enclosure, also covered in frog moss. Very private.
This enclosure has been a big improvement for the girls. In their previous place, they didn't like their humid hide, and they tended not to bask, either. Now they spend lots of time in the hide, and begin each day with a nice sunbath.
Safety: the wire screen was removed for the first two photos, but is now wired to the red plastic lid of the Christmas tree box. The lights in turn have small holes drilled in their lips and are secured to the wire screen.
Left end of enclosure, showing plants and humid hide.
Right end of enclosure, showing plants and worm habitat.
Front of enclosure.
