New Outdoor Reused Bookshelf enclosure

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alysciaingram

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I have a big enclosure for Bowser, but since she's a bit of a bully and doesn't share well, I built a new enclosure for my two little ones to romp around in safely. It's an old bookshelf I found on the side of the road, painted in latex paint to water proof, and then used the shelves as a hide/shade area and the other three to make a hide box. I put hinges on the top so I could easily get them out of the enclosure. A lid is going on as soon as I get to lowes, but here's the enclosure for now! Hopefully my grass grows quickly. All in all it cost about $20 including the topsoil (4 bags of organic at lowes), hinges, and paint.

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alysciaingram

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Thanks guys! So far after Tropical Storm Andrea it's holding up great. Checked it about half way through and after the storm, bone dry inside! Woo hoo!! :)
 

ascott

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What is that white stuff mixed in with the soil? Does the stick thing in there lead to the top/edge?
 

alysciaingram

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The white stuff is wild bird seed and grass seeds I laid down. The stick does lead to the edge, but not high enough to where my little torts will be able to use it as a ladder and kick their up and through the hexagon lid. I'm going to buy some low bushes partial sun later today to plant also.
 

alysciaingram

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Lol no that would defeat the purpose of the outdoor enclosure. It's going to be a hexagonal chicken wire lid on hinges that opens up with a prop, like my larger scale enclosure. We have hawks and ravens that will swoop up a tort quick here in FL.
 

ascott

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How deep is your substrate? Also, remember that when you set a solid object directly on earthen ground---you will end up with ants under that solid surface (cooler, quiet--etc)....you may want to bring it up off of the ground (just the height of a red brick or so)....just saying is all...also, if you get rain and sudden flooding you will want the bottom to not set in standing water....and if it is on the ground and does collect ants under it and then you encounter sudden flooding you will have ants climbing up onto the enclosure to get out of the water....not desirable...
 

alysciaingram

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Oh silly me! I forgot to mention, both hide/shade spots have a shelf underneath, and the bottom is lined with red patio bricks since one of my little guys is a digger. The soil is about 4-5 inches. I've also been treating with DE powder inside and around the enclosure for ants. I buy the bulk food grade bags and treat it in the morning and afternoon around the pens and inside the new one so no colonies get established and comfy.
 

alysciaingram

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Thanks! If it wasn't for this forum is have no idea what I was doing. It's made me quite handy. I need to invest in stocks at lowes or Home Depot though.
 

herbortamus

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alysciaingram said:
Thanks! If it wasn't for this forum is have no idea what I was doing. It's made me quite handy. I need to invest in stocks at lowes or Home Depot though.

LOL, sometimes I think the same thing about Lowes. It's less than 2 miles from my house and my go-to place for all my home projects. Love the bookshelf idea. Looks great!
 

alysciaingram

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Pics of it with grass growing in thanks to all this rain! :)
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alysciaingram

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I know there's no chicken wire on it yet (waiting on amazon!) but here's the lid. There's a lock on one side and hinges on the other. It's so my plants can grow upwards. Chicken wire will be staple gunned to the entire frame.

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cprewitt

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alysciaingram said:
Pics of it with grass growing in thanks to all this rain! :)
Where are you in Florida -- I am in Silver Springs and am designing an outdoor area for a Sulcatta and a Redfoot -- would love some help! I have 6 aquatic turtles but these will be my first torts....have located a 3 inch Sulcatta -- still lookig for the Redfoot. Now I need a home for them. I will send some pics later today and tell you what I am thinking ....would love feedback from you and anyone else who cares to comment....
Cynthia
 

alysciaingram

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You're about two hours north of me. I'm in casselberry, near UCF! I can send you sketches and plans for my enclosures if you'd like.
 

BeckaHammond

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I love this! I have been looking for someone to give a tutorial on how to make an outdoor enclosure!
 

alysciaingram

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Thanks Becka!

The chicken wire finally came in, so here it is all finished!

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