Shelled Warriors Forums - View Single Post - How I built my indoor hingeback enclosure

Anyfoot · 14-08-2016, 02:56 PM

This is how I built my indoor enclosure for when I had 4 homes hingebacks, I've since upgraded to a much bigger one, but this design could work for a few other species too.
The concept is basically in 2 halves, one side is covered with perspex, this side contains the heat and uvb, its covered so I can keep the heat and humidity levels correct year round. The open side is basically an indoor garden that is open to the natural room temps. This enclosure is about 5x6ft, so not huge but with plenty of outdoor time when possible it works fine.

I started with 2 simple cargo creates I had built(about £50 for both), you could easily do this with 2 old cupboards or chest of drawers laid on there back, we just didn't have any at the time.
Then I cut a hole in each box to act as a doorway between the 2.
Then I lined both boxes with a liner, pond liner will do but they sell a heavy duty liner at B&Q much cheaper, I've known people use shower curtains too, anything that will hold the moist substrate from rotting the wood. As these are a rainforest species they require it extra wet.

Then I put in coco coir for substrate at around 6" deep, followed by plants, hides, dried leaves, cyprus mulch. Basically anything that imitates the forest floor and provides safety for worms, slugs, snails, woodlice and any other bugs that get in there. This helps to create an indoor bio ecosystem.
It worked very well apart form my herd got too big for this enclosure.

You can see where I had to upgrade the fence because these guys are the masters of climbing in the tortoise world.

Anyway, hope it helps someone with ideas.

Then I upgraded the fence

Because this species is a forest dwelling tortoise it doesn't require a basking spot and doesn't like it too bright, so i created a fake vine canopy under the UVB source, So the UVB acts like its dappled through the trees.

Thank you

Craig

14-08-2016, 02:56 PM	#1
Anyfoot Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 198	How I built my indoor hingeback enclosure This is how I built my indoor enclosure for when I had 4 homes hingebacks, I've since upgraded to a much bigger one, but this design could work for a few other species too. The concept is basically in 2 halves, one side is covered with perspex, this side contains the heat and uvb, its covered so I can keep the heat and humidity levels correct year round. The open side is basically an indoor garden that is open to the natural room temps. This enclosure is about 5x6ft, so not huge but with plenty of outdoor time when possible it works fine. I started with 2 simple cargo creates I had built(about £50 for both), you could easily do this with 2 old cupboards or chest of drawers laid on there back, we just didn't have any at the time. Then I cut a hole in each box to act as a doorway between the 2. Then I lined both boxes with a liner, pond liner will do but they sell a heavy duty liner at B&Q much cheaper, I've known people use shower curtains too, anything that will hold the moist substrate from rotting the wood. As these are a rainforest species they require it extra wet. Then I put in coco coir for substrate at around 6" deep, followed by plants, hides, dried leaves, cyprus mulch. Basically anything that imitates the forest floor and provides safety for worms, slugs, snails, woodlice and any other bugs that get in there. This helps to create an indoor bio ecosystem. It worked very well apart form my herd got too big for this enclosure. You can see where I had to upgrade the fence because these guys are the masters of climbing in the tortoise world. Anyway, hope it helps someone with ideas. Then I upgraded the fence Because this species is a forest dwelling tortoise it doesn't require a basking spot and doesn't like it too bright, so i created a fake vine canopy under the UVB source, So the UVB acts like its dappled through the trees. Thank you Craig Last edited by Anyfoot; 14-08-2016 at 03:00 PM.