Pancake table design.. is this ok?

[Alan1]

there's not a lot of heat comes off a tube, hardly any, I really meant the heat from the basking bulb would get trapped and build up particularly if under the stairs. it is vitally important to have a temperature gradient from the hot end to the cool end. It is a great idea as I say but I would be inclined to go for just a single level

[pwinkie03]

Originally Posted by caledonia

there's not a lot of heat comes off a tube, hardly any, I really meant the heat from the basking bulb would get trapped and build up particularly if under the stairs. it is vitally important to have a temperature gradient from the hot end to the cool end. It is a great idea as I say but I would be inclined to go for just a single level

i don't think it will be an issue, the whole top is open and there are no other heat sources anywhere near where the table will be. unfortunately having a single level table is not an option as we just do not have enough space, building up means we can double the space. i guess i wont know until its been made and i test it.. if it does get too hot i will have to rethink the positioning of the bulbs, and maybe put the basking area right at the top and make a hide at the bottom.. its gonna be a bit of trial and error but i'm determined to make it work! and i have some time as haven't got the torts yet so can afford to spend time getting it right i do appreciate what you are saying though!

Louise

[lynnedit]

I think it looks very creative. Another option is to keep the UV tubes where you had them (since they don't give off much heat), and make the basking lamp a UV/heat combo like an Arcadia?

[pwinkie03]

Originally Posted by lynnedit

I think it looks very creative. Another option is to keep the UV tubes where you had them (since they don't give off much heat), and make the basking lamp a UV/heat combo like an Arcadia?

another useful tip! thanks, the more options i have, the more likely one of them will work!! Louise

[Catwoman63]

You could just have 2 levels, bottom for basking etc and top for feeding and hiding x

[Alan1]

Torts when indoors tend not to travel far from the heat source.

If you are definitley going to get pancake torts you might want to get some advice from Henry-Flash (Peter) who is a member on here and keeps pancakes. I've no idea how difficult they are to keep or how different from Med torts their requirements are but I have seen at least one other member on here whose pancakes died for whatever reason

[Pussygalore]

I don't know anything about pancakes either but don't they get quite big? and wouldn't the same apply as to other species in that you may need to separate them when they get older depending on their sexes?. I to can see the heat and himidity from spraying building up in an enclosed area so you may need some sort of vent/fan built in.

[pwinkie03]

pancakes reach a maximum of 6-7 inches, so no not very big! the reason i've planned to put it on castors is so that it can easily be moved, the table will not be in the space under the stairs constantly, actually for 95% of the time the bulbs are on it will actually be pulled out to allow for more ventilation. i just cant leave it out permanently because it would obstruct our dining table.

i have done a lot of research into keeping pancakes, and have spoken to several keepers from various sources, thanks for the advice about who to contact on here.

i still don't think personally heat or humidity will be an issue, but like i said before, we wont know till i've tested it, and i don't have a tort right now so i have the time to run the setup and check temps and readjust as necessary. it might mean only having 2 floors, it might mean changing the layout but i wont know that until we do it. i wont be bringing a tort home until i am 100% happy with the conditions of the table, i want to get it right first.

as for separation of sexes, yes it is a possibility, though pancakes thrive better in groups and shouldn't be kept alone which is why i'm getting 2. ill have to wait and see. i'm looking forward to getting it built and giving it a test run in the next few weeks!

Louise

[pagan queen]

Could you drill holes at the top of the plexi glass, just under the floor of the next level, so the heat and humidity can escape?

[Alan1]

Originally Posted by pwinkie03

as for separation of sexes, yes it is a possibility, though pancakes thrive better in groups and shouldn't be kept alone which is why i'm getting 2. ill have to wait and see. i'm looking forward to getting it built and giving it a test run in the next few weeks!

Louise

Kept in a group means more than two, possibly one male to three females, if you have only two they may have to be separated and if you have no other space what would you do?

Sorry to have to keep pointing things out but you did ask for opinions in your first post and I see lots of people go ahead and get more torts than they have space for (I personally don't think a 4ft table is big enough for two torts when they get to 7 inches) and then they end up on those gumtree and preloved sites