06-02-2017, 01:11 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 6,769
|
Setting up a small indoor enclosure
As I am setting up an indoor enclosure, ready for my babies coming out of hibernation later this week, I thought I would post what I have done for any new members ( we have a few) who are new to tortoise keeping. So here goes.
First I have mixed one brick of coco fibre ( one bucket full) and one / two buckets of top soil , I don't add any sand, there is no need, and it can irritate the eyes. I have added a few basic things, food slate ( a tyle) water dish and hide ( upturned plant pot) I have made the hide end nice and deep , so I have pushed the pot nice and deep so they can dig down. For a small set up I prefer to uses and strip uv and ordinary household halogen bulbs for the basking spots. This is just a basic set up, you can add more enrichment. Please add any ideas to this thread, the more the better.
__________________
Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012 |
06-02-2017, 02:43 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 4,186
|
That looks fantastic Suze! Like the stones round the water to try and keep it clean... Great idea to post I think it is very handy! I have recently switched from standard spot bulbs to halogen they are good (and don't fail as often as the cheap spots!)
__________________
1:1:1 Horsfields (Misha, Amber and Teabag) 1:0:0 Dog: Rocco, Rottweiler cross 1 husband (Russ) |
06-02-2017, 03:29 PM | #3 | |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 6,769
|
Quote:
Also Note there is no slate under the basking spots, as this could over heat and burn the tort, I find that my little ones love the warmth from the soil. You can add alsorts of enrichment e.g pebbles, stick bridges ( bendy ) so they could be flat or upright , plants , try to give different textures . Any ideas welcome .
__________________
Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012 |
|
06-02-2017, 03:33 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Devon
Posts: 11,365
|
Nice job, Suze.
When are the babies coming out of their hibernation? Bet you can't wait to see them. x
__________________
Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie |
06-02-2017, 04:05 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 6,769
|
Thanks Emma, I might get them up on Wednesday, just waiting for the top soil to come up to room temp, it's a bit cold as the bag was outside. I am excited, I can't wait any longer . I will post pics once they are up and running ( not literally)
__________________
Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012 |
06-02-2017, 06:25 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Sub Adult
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 1,400
|
I used this type of pen when mine were little.
At one end I put a pieced of hardboard with two holes in the top to thread some string through to loop over the wire. That way they could go behind it - so only went half way across the pen. (Gosh hope that makes sense). I had a large gap in the top too, so it was useful to have a mercury vapour lamp overhead, to one end of the pen. This was recommended by the Tortoise Trust at the time. I'm still a bit confused as to the current thinking on light and heat, but am I right that most people are going for separate heat and UV light now?
__________________
Jan Horsfields - Bertie & Beatrice |
06-02-2017, 09:02 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Devon
Posts: 11,365
|
Great, I'll look forward to seeing them again.
__________________
Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie |
07-02-2017, 07:00 AM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 6,769
|
Quote:
As for a mercury vapour bulb in a small set up, personally I think they can be too hot for small torts in a small set up, I've found this system works better.but I do use MV bulbs for my adults in a bigger set up.
__________________
Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012 |
|
07-02-2017, 10:01 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: West of Scotland
Posts: 4,226
|
A similar idea but I started with a viv and got the toolbox out! There isn't much of the viv left.
I have two 24 watt Arcadia flood lamps in use but one of them isn't putting out a lot of uvb these days. Those are the ones with the tinfoil looking trays. The heat is supplied by a 42 watt spotbulb under the black shade. The other lamp is an arcadia 13 watt Jungle Dawn - no uvb just useful LED white light. The lamps are not all on at the same time but I believe in lots of light. The large slate isn't under the heat source and I've got it propped up at one end so Pumpkin can go under there. He has a couple of other hides and a chunk of wood. It's not as tidy looking as Suze's cage set-up but by using cheap bits of wood and a butchered viv I can change things about easily and drill holes without fear of messing with the appearance...
__________________
Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises Last edited by Ozric Jonathan; 08-02-2017 at 12:20 AM. |
07-02-2017, 10:40 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Devon
Posts: 11,365
|
Pumpkin looks so teeny there, Jonathan.
Clever how you adapted it from a viv. You certainly do like lighting for your enclosures. Shares in the electricity board I presume?
__________________
Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|