Planning new indoor enclosure

[Jay Bagley]

Thanks Jay [emoji846] this is the first thing I've ever built aside from software [emoji16]

I'm excited to get it ready for moving day. Still hoping that will happen this month.

You are very welcome. It is quite an accomplishment for your first build, it should serve your tortoise well.

 

[Melis]

Wow! Looks great!

 

[vladimir]

I'll post a proper update soon, but so far Vlad approves [emoji16]

 

[Jay Bagley]

Vlad is looking great!!

 

[daniellenc]

I wish you lived in Maryland Vlads going to love it!

 

[SULCY]

Looks great Very nice build.

 

[vladimir]

thanks everyone!

Some more pics:


Box before the door was attached:



Painting and putting up some basic rails:


I overlooked the wiring for inside the box and had to drill through the frame up top to get power in there. I went with the tiny Optimus oil filled heater that Tom recommends. I took some Rubbermaid closet shelf brackets to mount some sheet metal about an inch away from the walls to try to make a makeshift heat shield. Not sure how effective it is:




I also decided to use some of the extra wood to make a little bench for us to use while watching Vlad


It's resting on the roof of the box in that pic.

 

[vladimir]

I tried making little steps on the ramp for him, but it didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. Here's that under construction:



Power inside the box:


Vlad took a sneak peak after we started putting mulch in:

 

[vladimir]

Checking out the box: (you can see the cage I fashioned around the radiator area here)



Outside with the walls up and the freezer curtain / car wash flaps installed:


I haven't gotten to painting them yet

Added some orchid bark inside the box and testing the heater out:

 

[vladimir]

Testing out the door flaps!

 

[vladimir]

another view, showing the space underneath the "porch" - the Kane heat mat is down there on top of some flat blocks

 

[Jay Bagley]

another view, showing the space underneath the "porch" - the Kane heat mat is down there on top of some flat blocks
View attachment 238254

Looking good. Vlad is a lucky tort.

 

[SULCY]

Nice work looks great mine doesn't look that good

 

[vladimir]

Nice work looks great mine doesn't look that good

Thanks @SULCY! Do you have any pics of your sulcata's indoor enclosure?

 

[madbad]

Awesome!

 

[SULCY]

I am going to try I am lucky I can post I am a little computer illiterate lol. Tried a couple of times will have to ask my kids.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Awesome thread, can't wait to see end result. Vlad is a lucky guy! I'm going to be attempting something similar in my basement this summer.

 

[vladimir]

Thanks @Jay Bagley for reminding me to update These pics are several weeks behind.

Started adding substrate:


Underneath the box / porch I mounted the Reptile Basics RHP and Kane heat mat, placed on top of some blocks. Here's Vlad testing it out:



Here's a shot with the substrate in place:



He seems to enjoy having several options for basking. Sometimes he'll just move from one spot to the other every few hours.

I'll add more shots of the build process, but here's a recent panoramic of the entire ground level:

 

[vladimir]

 

[Jay Bagley]

Thanks @Jay Bagley for reminding me to update These pics are several weeks behind.

Started adding substrate:
View attachment 241069

Underneath the box / porch I mounted the Reptile Basics RHP and Kane heat mat, placed on top of some blocks. Here's Vlad testing it out:

View attachment 241074

Here's a shot with the substrate in place:

View attachment 241075

He seems to enjoy having several options for basking. Sometimes he'll just move from one spot to the other every few hours.

I'll add more shots of the build process, but here's a recent panoramic of the entire ground level:

Your enclosure is huge, Vlad is probably such a happy boy. Nice work man. Thank you for posting the pictures.