Outdoor houses

[Kim's petunia]

Hi ,my three-year-old leopard needs to go outside. I need to make her a house, one of the internet channels , a woman made a house ,out of the Rubbermaid garbage can shed. She insulated it and put a heater in it. Looked good too me. I found a large Rubbermaid shed for garbage cans on sale. So I purchased it but, I am second guessing that idea. In a couple of years as a tortoises( I also have babies, like potato chips you need more than one) grow I have a very large shed that will be made in there home. For now , I like to keep an eye on her so I just need to make a house for during the day , with heat if she needs she can go in. She has a 4x8 table in side, at night.

 

[Tom]

I used two different Rubbermade type sheds in the past. They don't work well. Too tall inside and much too drafty. By the time you modify, seal, and insulate one, you'd be better off building one that is properly designed and functions perfectly for tortoises.

Here are two different designs with different heating strategies. In your area, you might not need the extra humidity inside the box.

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Here is the 4x8 rendering of Tom's Night Box. With Exploded view.

This is a rendering I did based off of @Tom 's heated night box enclosure. Its probably not a 100% accurate. Door is offset to one side for my personal needs but can easily be moved. Let me know if you see any issues with it. Feed back appreciated. High res renderings can be downloaded here...

tortoiseforum.org

What You'll Need to Build A Night Box

I just typed up a list of the needed supplies to build a night box and thought I'd copy paste it here: For sulcatas, I make the doors 26x16". This will fit all but the largest of large males for their entire life. If you end up with one of the giants, you will eventually have to make another...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Kim's petunia]

I used two different Rubbermade type sheds in the past. They don't work well. Too tall inside and much too drafty. By the time you modify, seal, and insulate one, you'd be better off building one that is properly designed and functions perfectly for tortoises.

Here are two different designs with different heating strategies. In your area, you might not need the extra humidity inside the box.

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Here is the 4x8 rendering of Tom's Night Box. With Exploded view.

This is a rendering I did based off of @Tom 's heated night box enclosure. Its probably not a 100% accurate. Door is offset to one side for my personal needs but can easily be moved. Let me know if you see any issues with it. Feed back appreciated. High res renderings can be downloaded here...

tortoiseforum.org

What You'll Need to Build A Night Box

I just typed up a list of the needed supplies to build a night box and thought I'd copy paste it here: For sulcatas, I make the doors 26x16". This will fit all but the largest of large males for their entire life. If you end up with one of the giants, you will eventually have to make another...

tortoiseforum.org

Well thank you very much, I did take the easy way out and I'm having somebody build it for me.

 

[Tom]

Well thank you very much, I did take the easy way out and I'm having somebody build it for me.

All those threads I linked will help them understand how it needs to be built and insulated. The one with the exploded view really helps.

 

[Kim's petunia]

That did
help, they are doing the small one, I will need a few more, this will be a model for me. I have 5 all to getter. I hope they are all girls. And get along. ?

 

[Blackdog1714]

That did
help, they are doing the small one, I will need a few more, this will be a model for me. I have 5 all to getter. I hope they are all girls. And get along. ?

I am jealous-finding good and available contractors in Richmond is well like looking for a silver needle in a nickel needle stack !!!