Two Story Tortoise Habitat

Ramsey

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2016
Messages
284
Location (City and/or State)
San Diego California
Hello,

This is the latest state of our leopard's home. It started off as an open box design on day one. I then quickly enclosed it when I learned they need 80% humidity. I can show progress pics if somebody needs it for reference.

I've read a few posts where others are wanting to do a similar second story home, so I figured I'd share my pictures. What I did was research what others have done and then took bits from here and there. I got most of the ideas and info from this forum but then Pintrest and basic Google searches helped too.

My approach was to incorporate all of the features that we wanted to see, but then also maintain correct habitat specs and needs for our little guy.

Current Specs:
  • 1st level 4'x3' floor space.
  • 2nd level is 4'x13" floor space.
  • 2nd level remains about 82F 24x7.
  • 1st floor has the basking light at 95F with a thermostat and timer (shared timer with the UVB).
  • It's 80F everywhere else, except beneath the "shelf". I have two heat mats hidden under the substrate and it keeps it 82F 24x7 down there.
  • The CHE is on the right (as you're facing the home) and it's connected to a second thermostat along with the heat-mats, set to about 82.
  • Substrate is coco-coir.
  • UVB is a ZooMed T5HO set at 18" as recommended, we may be adding another.
  • I have a hygrostat that is wired up and ready to connect to a hydroponics system that I may install (I already built it) to auto-regular the humidity. I've held off for now because the coir is pretty stable.
  • Samsung Galaxy phone wired up as a live streaming web-nanny-cam so I can watch him. I actually saw him flip over once and I ran home to right him.

Our little guy loves it and he's always moving about here and there. He alternates sleeping locations each night like clock-work. One night is upstairs, the next is down. Tonight is an upstairs night.

BT1Gy3I.jpg


iOu8Pis.jpg


nX4F8Qa.jpg


TnvDfAl.jpg
 

Blakem

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
2,379
Location (City and/or State)
California
This is a nice setup! Looks like you have the humidity figured out. Great!
 

MJOJO

New Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2018
Messages
4
Location (City and/or State)
Mount Vernon, MO
Hello,

This is the latest state of our leopard's home. It started off as an open box design on day one. I then quickly enclosed it when I learned they need 80% humidity. I can show progress pics if somebody needs it for reference.

I've read a few posts where others are wanting to do a similar second story home, so I figured I'd share my pictures. What I did was research what others have done and then took bits from here and there. I got most of the ideas and info from this forum but then Pintrest and basic Google searches helped too.

My approach was to incorporate all of the features that we wanted to see, but then also maintain correct habitat specs and needs for our little guy.

Current Specs:
  • 1st level 4'x3' floor space.
  • 2nd level is 4'x13" floor space.
  • 2nd level remains about 82F 24x7.
  • 1st floor has the basking light at 95F with a thermostat and timer (shared timer with the UVB).
  • It's 80F everywhere else, except beneath the "shelf". I have two heat mats hidden under the substrate and it keeps it 82F 24x7 down there.
  • The CHE is on the right (as you're facing the home) and it's connected to a second thermostat along with the heat-mats, set to about 82.
  • Substrate is coco-coir.
  • UVB is a ZooMed T5HO set at 18" as recommended, we may be adding another.
  • I have a hygrostat that is wired up and ready to connect to a hydroponics system that I may install (I already built it) to auto-regular the humidity. I've held off for now because the coir is pretty stable.
  • Samsung Galaxy phone wired up as a live streaming web-nanny-cam so I can watch him. I actually saw him flip over once and I ran home to right him.

Our little guy loves it and he's always moving about here and there. He alternates sleeping locations each night like clock-work. One night is upstairs, the next is down. Tonight is an upstairs night.

BT1Gy3I.jpg


iOu8Pis.jpg


nX4F8Qa.jpg


TnvDfAl.jpg


What’s your overall height here?
 

Kaliman1962

Active Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2016
Messages
193
i have always wondered about 2 story habitats. do the tortoises actually climb the ramp & go up & down?
 

Romeo Serback

Active Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
270
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
Hello,

This is the latest state of our leopard's home. It started off as an open box design on day one. I then quickly enclosed it when I learned they need 80% humidity. I can show progress pics if somebody needs it for reference.

I've read a few posts where others are wanting to do a similar second story home, so I figured I'd share my pictures. What I did was research what others have done and then took bits from here and there. I got most of the ideas and info from this forum but then Pintrest and basic Google searches helped too.

My approach was to incorporate all of the features that we wanted to see, but then also maintain correct habitat specs and needs for our little guy.

Current Specs:
  • 1st level 4'x3' floor space.
  • 2nd level is 4'x13" floor space.
  • 2nd level remains about 82F 24x7.
  • 1st floor has the basking light at 95F with a thermostat and timer (shared timer with the UVB).
  • It's 80F everywhere else, except beneath the "shelf". I have two heat mats hidden under the substrate and it keeps it 82F 24x7 down there.
  • The CHE is on the right (as you're facing the home) and it's connected to a second thermostat along with the heat-mats, set to about 82.
  • Substrate is coco-coir.
  • UVB is a ZooMed T5HO set at 18" as recommended, we may be adding another.
  • I have a hygrostat that is wired up and ready to connect to a hydroponics system that I may install (I already built it) to auto-regular the humidity. I've held off for now because the coir is pretty stable.
  • Samsung Galaxy phone wired up as a live streaming web-nanny-cam so I can watch him. I actually saw him flip over once and I ran home to right him.

Our little guy loves it and he's always moving about here and there. He alternates sleeping locations each night like clock-work. One night is upstairs, the next is down. Tonight is an upstairs night.

BT1Gy3I.jpg


iOu8Pis.jpg


nX4F8Qa.jpg


TnvDfAl.jpg
That's an awesome job! Do you have a list of materials used? I would love to "try" and build that or at least something similar.
 

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