size of indoor enclosures...

Hurley · 19-02-2008, 05:43 PM

Just wondering how big people's indoor enclosures are, I have an 18 month old hermanns who lives in a 24inch square enclosure. Recently he has been flipping himself over a lot, at least once a day for the past week. I watched him and he seems to climb against the wall, gets stuck and tips over. He's never done this before and always seemed quite happy in his enclosure. Should I start thinking of a bigger enclosure?
Enclosure: 24" by 24" and 8 inches deep.

And, Hurley climbing...before falling and getting angry!

sandy · 19-02-2008, 06:53 PM

I hate to say this, but I think the enclosure is a little small, he cant find a cooler end to go to.
So is trying to escape.
I would say the house is too near the heat, needs to be bottom right.

KayMarie · 19-02-2008, 08:19 PM

Yeah, I think its a bit too small for him, could you not add on to it? An cut a hole so he could walk through? Wouldn't take much to do this, some extra wood and some screes and viola

My inside table is roughly 5' by 4' and I have an 8cm long horsfield, I'm not saying it has to be this big but she enjoys it

Lots of variation and places to hide etc..

Hurley · 19-02-2008, 08:36 PM

I feared that response...my OH will do his nut!

I've been looking at the tortoise tables on ebay, they don't seem any bigger just more rectangular in shape.
There is quite a temp. drop in his little house bit but obviously not enough...I did have soil in the enclosure too but he didn't seem too fussed with it and never went near so I took it out
I'll start looking at getting a bigger table...
Thanks guys!

Hurley · 19-02-2008, 08:57 PM

Just been reading some other posts, would a large storage box do for now as a temporary solution? How big would a suitable size...I thought I'd got all this sussed, so many questions and queries now!!

Dazza · 19-02-2008, 09:26 PM

A good guide is a table no smaller than 4ft x 2ft - lamp at one end then you will provide a good temp gradient

Another tip have the basking lamp facing down from above - it can be uncomfortable for the torotise to have this light glaring at it from the side where as from above its not constantly shining in its eyes !!

Dazza

sandy · 19-02-2008, 09:37 PM

I have used joined carboard boxes before now as a temporary thing. Especially when they
all start waking up. I like to keep them indoors until they are warmed through and eating.
So disposable boxes are ideal.

ME SHELL · 20-02-2008, 01:14 AM

I'm using a bookcase without the shelves. You can get them in all different sizes. I had mine from Ikea for £19.99 and it is really big.

Hurley · 20-02-2008, 10:44 AM

Thanks for all your help! Will get cracking on it, will post pics when it's done!

dizzywend · 20-02-2008, 09:18 PM

The school I work in provides lots of opportunities for ready built tort tables. Bookcases, cupboards etc they are always changing them!

I have 2 in my garden now waiting for the tip!

Worth asking them!

Wendy

19-02-2008, 05:43 PM	#1
Hurley Member Hatched Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Richmond, North Yorkshire Posts: 323	size of indoor enclosures... Just wondering how big people's indoor enclosures are, I have an 18 month old hermanns who lives in a 24inch square enclosure. Recently he has been flipping himself over a lot, at least once a day for the past week. I watched him and he seems to climb against the wall, gets stuck and tips over. He's never done this before and always seemed quite happy in his enclosure. Should I start thinking of a bigger enclosure? Enclosure: 24" by 24" and 8 inches deep. And, Hurley climbing...before falling and getting angry! __________________ Zabi xx Mummy to Hurley (18 month old Hermanns) & a tiny little baby girl

19-02-2008, 06:53 PM	#2
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	I hate to say this, but I think the enclosure is a little small, he cant find a cooler end to go to. So is trying to escape. I would say the house is too near the heat, needs to be bottom right. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

19-02-2008, 08:36 PM	#4
Hurley Member Hatched Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Richmond, North Yorkshire Posts: 323	I feared that response...my OH will do his nut! I've been looking at the tortoise tables on ebay, they don't seem any bigger just more rectangular in shape. There is quite a temp. drop in his little house bit but obviously not enough...I did have soil in the enclosure too but he didn't seem too fussed with it and never went near so I took it out I'll start looking at getting a bigger table... Thanks guys! __________________ Zabi xx Mummy to Hurley (18 month old Hermanns) & a tiny little baby girl

19-02-2008, 08:57 PM	#5
Hurley Member Hatched Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Richmond, North Yorkshire Posts: 323	Just been reading some other posts, would a large storage box do for now as a temporary solution? How big would a suitable size...I thought I'd got all this sussed, so many questions and queries now!! __________________ Zabi xx Mummy to Hurley (18 month old Hermanns) & a tiny little baby girl

19-02-2008, 09:26 PM	#6
Dazza Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,486	A good guide is a table no smaller than 4ft x 2ft - lamp at one end then you will provide a good temp gradient Another tip have the basking lamp facing down from above - it can be uncomfortable for the torotise to have this light glaring at it from the side where as from above its not constantly shining in its eyes !! Dazza __________________ www.inkaproducts.co.uk www.megaray.co.uk

19-02-2008, 08:19 PM	#3
KayMarie Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire :D Posts: 1,252	Yeah, I think its a bit too small for him, could you not add on to it? An cut a hole so he could walk through? Wouldn't take much to do this, some extra wood and some screes and viola My inside table is roughly 5' by 4' and I have an 8cm long horsfield, I'm not saying it has to be this big but she enjoys it Lots of variation and places to hide etc..

19-02-2008, 09:37 PM	#7
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	I have used joined carboard boxes before now as a temporary thing. Especially when they all start waking up. I like to keep them indoors until they are warmed through and eating. So disposable boxes are ideal. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

20-02-2008, 01:14 AM	#8
ME SHELL Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,484	I'm using a bookcase without the shelves. You can get them in all different sizes. I had mine from Ikea for £19.99 and it is really big.

20-02-2008, 10:44 AM	#9
Hurley Member Hatched Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Richmond, North Yorkshire Posts: 323	Thanks for all your help! Will get cracking on it, will post pics when it's done! __________________ Zabi xx Mummy to Hurley (18 month old Hermanns) & a tiny little baby girl

20-02-2008, 09:18 PM	#10
dizzywend Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: North West Posts: 1,678	The school I work in provides lots of opportunities for ready built tort tables. Bookcases, cupboards etc they are always changing them! I have 2 in my garden now waiting for the tip! Worth asking them! Wendy

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