Emwolfoh
New Member
- Joined
- May 9, 2017
- Messages
- 6
Hello other tortoise lovers,
Just wanted to show the tortoise table I have made for my yellow foot. I got him about a year ago his name is Link. He has been in his new home for about 3 months now. He seems too be enjoying it. I made the table out of an old desk we had it is the bottom base(very thick and strong wood). The sides are out of a plywood piece. I sanded down everything then I got some paint that would be ok when humidity is high. I did not have much money at the time of building this so I had to get it cheep I went to my local hardware store and got a gallon of the gray paint on a sales rack for $9.00. I tried to make sure it did not have anything harmful in it...but its paint..I let it dry for about 3 to 4 days.
I started to put it together. I mounted ~1inch block wood (not sure what it is called) for the corners (also painted those with water resistant paint) to keep close as possible (I also messed up measuring so it fixed some issues I had).
For the front piece I cut out a spot to put a piece of Plexiglas I had from a previous project and screwed the Plexiglas to the wood by pre drilling the Plexiglas and wood then screwing (wood self tapping screws) it in to the wood by hand being sure not to crack it. After getting all the sides on I then had to come up with a way to mount the light.
Again not having much money I got some other wood pieces I had from gathering. I then drilled the back piece that would be the support for the light to the back side panel I had to make sure to mount it far enough down so the beam piece with the light on it would not topple over or put so much stress on the back panel that the screws would pull out. Then for the UVB light I placed another wood piece across on the support and placed screws for the light. I had to take the case apart a bit to place the screws in the tightened the light case back up.
With the light done I the put a plastic down that is used for weeds outside i had gotton from my parents (used a staple gun to mount it). I am using it for extra protection for the wood. Also if I put to much water it does not leak onto the floor. I then get 100% organic cocofiber from my local hardware store I don't recall the actual amount but I am going to say $10.00 for 2 big bricks of it. (So much cheaper then a pet store). I also picked up a piece of tile for about 80 cents. I went to the dollar store and picked up a basket that was round so i could cut it and make a water dish out of it. I burned the edges so its not sharp.
For the top I used mesh that my in-laws had for there screen doors or windows.(helps to keep flies out of his home) I then placed thin wood pieces as weights to hold it down to keep it from sagging into Link's home. I used clothes pins to create a pocket for the wood to sit in. I went all around the tortoise table with it.
Like a wise tortoise once "There are no accidents" -Master Oogway. My miss measurement came in handy I was thinking I would have to make a whole for the humidifier whole to go threw, but there was a big enough gap that the hose can sit in and not fall out of in the back. I had cut the hose previously to fit Link's old tank so it was a little short now but i had kept the part I cut off and used a metal binder clip and some duck tape to connect it back on.
Currently attempting to grow live plants.I am growing a patch of Bermuda grass for the second time...and growing Pansies so far this bunch has made it the farthest before he has eaten them. I also put some in a pot for them to grow and then I will try to move them when fully grown. Thinking of looking into other organic soles for the plants to grow in better. Just wanted to show the tortoise table I have made for my yellow foot. I got him about a year ago his name is Link. He has been in his new home for about 3 months now. He seems too be enjoying it. I made the table out of an old desk we had it is the bottom base(very thick and strong wood). The sides are out of a plywood piece. I sanded down everything then I got some paint that would be ok when humidity is high. I did not have much money at the time of building this so I had to get it cheep I went to my local hardware store and got a gallon of the gray paint on a sales rack for $9.00. I tried to make sure it did not have anything harmful in it...but its paint..I let it dry for about 3 to 4 days.
I started to put it together. I mounted ~1inch block wood (not sure what it is called) for the corners (also painted those with water resistant paint) to keep close as possible (I also messed up measuring so it fixed some issues I had).
For the front piece I cut out a spot to put a piece of Plexiglas I had from a previous project and screwed the Plexiglas to the wood by pre drilling the Plexiglas and wood then screwing (wood self tapping screws) it in to the wood by hand being sure not to crack it. After getting all the sides on I then had to come up with a way to mount the light.
Again not having much money I got some other wood pieces I had from gathering. I then drilled the back piece that would be the support for the light to the back side panel I had to make sure to mount it far enough down so the beam piece with the light on it would not topple over or put so much stress on the back panel that the screws would pull out. Then for the UVB light I placed another wood piece across on the support and placed screws for the light. I had to take the case apart a bit to place the screws in the tightened the light case back up.
With the light done I the put a plastic down that is used for weeds outside i had gotton from my parents (used a staple gun to mount it). I am using it for extra protection for the wood. Also if I put to much water it does not leak onto the floor. I then get 100% organic cocofiber from my local hardware store I don't recall the actual amount but I am going to say $10.00 for 2 big bricks of it. (So much cheaper then a pet store). I also picked up a piece of tile for about 80 cents. I went to the dollar store and picked up a basket that was round so i could cut it and make a water dish out of it. I burned the edges so its not sharp.
For the top I used mesh that my in-laws had for there screen doors or windows.(helps to keep flies out of his home) I then placed thin wood pieces as weights to hold it down to keep it from sagging into Link's home. I used clothes pins to create a pocket for the wood to sit in. I went all around the tortoise table with it.
Like a wise tortoise once "There are no accidents" -Master Oogway. My miss measurement came in handy I was thinking I would have to make a whole for the humidifier whole to go threw, but there was a big enough gap that the hose can sit in and not fall out of in the back. I had cut the hose previously to fit Link's old tank so it was a little short now but i had kept the part I cut off and used a metal binder clip and some duck tape to connect it back on.
Dimensions: 40 inchs Length
30 inches Wide
~ 9 inches tall
30 inches Wide
~ 9 inches tall
