Building Tortoise World

ben_e71 · 30-03-2012, 04:44 PM

So in the process of planning and making tortoise land.... for my Herman to be in nice and safe whilst we are at work etc...

My current plan is to build it 3m x 1.8m and .4m deep. I'm going to have a mesh floor with a depth of soil over the top and a padlockable mesh roof to keep cats, foxes and Neds out.

In the run he will have his house and I thought the following:

A hide with a perspex roof for super warmth, some paving stones distributed to allow for basking, an area that has slate chippings as the floor covering an area turned over to weeds.

Then I was thinking flowerpot hides, grasses to add interest and rocks and a shallow water tray ....

What else do I need to add?

kkenny · 30-03-2012, 09:34 PM

Hi, sounds lovely, but 4metres high? wont that block the sun, or is that mesh?

I have 3x Hermanns youngsters and mine will have similar to yours. I will have a shed house with a heater and on cold days the option of switching the D3 Arcadia 100watt on.

You too should consider heat during the wet/cold weather unless you bring them in of an eve.

Paige Lewis · 30-03-2012, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkenny

Hi, sounds lovely, but 4metres high? wont that block the sun, or is that mesh?

I have 3x Hermanns youngsters and mine will have similar to yours. I will have a shed house with a heater and on cold days the option of switching the D3 Arcadia 100watt on.

You too should consider heat during the wet/cold weather unless you bring them in of an eve.

I thought that initially about the height but it actually says .4m lol Sounds great ben_e71, your tort will love all that space!

lynnedit · 31-03-2012, 04:30 AM

Good advice about extra heat and/or UVB. That would mean the hide/hut would need to be tall enough to accommodate them.
Also, consider making the roof a double layer of perspex for extra insulation?
Looking forward to pics.

kreacher · 31-03-2012, 07:26 AM

Perspex roofs, although keep the heat in can also make small spaces way too hot...on a day outside where the weather is around 20c, our conservatory will be up in the mid 30c's so you may want to have two hides. A cool one and a hot one? Don't want your little dude to overheat

30-03-2012, 04:44 PM	#1
ben_e71 Member Incubating Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 144	Building Tortoise World So in the process of planning and making tortoise land.... for my Herman to be in nice and safe whilst we are at work etc... My current plan is to build it 3m x 1.8m and .4m deep. I'm going to have a mesh floor with a depth of soil over the top and a padlockable mesh roof to keep cats, foxes and Neds out. In the run he will have his house and I thought the following: A hide with a perspex roof for super warmth, some paving stones distributed to allow for basking, an area that has slate chippings as the floor covering an area turned over to weeds. Then I was thinking flowerpot hides, grasses to add interest and rocks and a shallow water tray .... What else do I need to add?

30-03-2012, 09:34 PM	#2
kkenny Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 1,303	Hi, sounds lovely, but 4metres high? wont that block the sun, or is that mesh? I have 3x Hermanns youngsters and mine will have similar to yours. I will have a shed house with a heater and on cold days the option of switching the D3 Arcadia 100watt on. You too should consider heat during the wet/cold weather unless you bring them in of an eve. __________________ Karin Spartacus, THB, March 2013 Henry, THB, July 2008

31-03-2012, 04:30 AM	#4
lynnedit Member Hatched Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Washington State, USA Posts: 332	Good advice about extra heat and/or UVB. That would mean the hide/hut would need to be tall enough to accommodate them. Also, consider making the roof a double layer of perspex for extra insulation? Looking forward to pics. __________________ Lynne Horsfields 1.3.0 Ornate box turtle 0.1.0 Pacific NW, US

31-03-2012, 07:26 AM	#5
kreacher Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,718	Perspex roofs, although keep the heat in can also make small spaces way too hot...on a day outside where the weather is around 20c, our conservatory will be up in the mid 30c's so you may want to have two hides. A cool one and a hot one? Don't want your little dude to overheat

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)