Just built my first tortoise enclosure!

[Crush da Baum]

I have two little Russians and I have had them for almost a year. I am only a teenager so I do not have much say in buying things and my parents thought they should go in a really small 40 gallon tank. They were there for only a couple months until I convinced them to let me use a big plastic bin, which they were in for about 5 months, but it was still pretty small. Only 3 and a half by 1 or 2 foot. Me and my dad just built a nice large tortoise table for them to live in for the next 5 years and they are loving it! It is 6 by 3 foot.

 

[1289Gabe]

I have two little Russians and I have had them for almost a year. I am only a teenager so I do not have much say in buying things and my parents thought they should go in a really small 40 gallon tank. They were there for only a couple months until I convinced them to let me use a big plastic bin, which they were in for about 5 months, but it was still pretty small. Only 3 and a half by 1 or 2 foot. Me and my dad just built a nice large tortoise table for them to live in for the next 5 years and they are loving it! It is 6 by 3 foot.View attachment 288403

Looks cool! Where’d you get the supplies, inspiration, design etc.

 

[Crush da Baum]

Wood, mulch, and rocks all from Lowe's. The wood is pressure treated and I put like a water proof tarp on the bottom to keep it from rotting. You can't really see cause I took this picture from my chrome book but I have like two hills for them to climb on and their half log in between for like a miniature valley hide and bridge. I put a potted plant they can eat on the top of the smaller hill to give them something to climb for and their basking and water bowl is in the front under their lights. They love their half log and they love to burrow and sleep in their timothy hay so I put a bunch in their hide house in the back.

 

[1289Gabe]

Wood, mulch, and rocks all from Lowe's. The wood is pressure treated and I put like a water proof tarp on the bottom to keep it from rotting. You can't really see cause I took this picture from my chrome book but I have like two hills for them to climb on and their half log in between for like a miniature valley hide and bridge. I put a potted plant they can eat on the top of the smaller hill to give them something to climb for and their basking and water bowl is in the front under their lights. They love their half log and they love to burrow and sleep in their timothy hay so I put a bunch in their hide house in the back.

Cool.

 

[Crush da Baum]

Looks cool! Where’d you get the supplies, inspiration, design etc.

I also had a question. They spend most of their time under their basking lamp. The cage is like 75 to 80 degrees and when I put the little zoo med thermometer thing under their basking it says 120 degrees which can't be right because it is not that hot when I put my hand under it for a while. Is this normal do you think?

 

[1289Gabe]

I also had a question. They spend most of their time under their basking lamp. The cage is like 75 to 80 degrees and when I put the little zoo med thermometer thing under their basking it says 120 degrees which can't be right because it is not that hot when I put my hand under it for a while. Is this normal do you think?

The zoomed thermometers aren’t that reliable. Try another one you have around the house and point it at the substrate, or whatever he basks on.

 

[Crush da Baum]

Ok

 

[1289Gabe]

Ok

So what was the measurement?

 

[1289Gabe]

I also had a question. They spend most of their time under their basking lamp. The cage is like 75 to 80 degrees and when I put the little zoo med thermometer thing under their basking it says 120 degrees which can't be right because it is not that hot when I put my hand under it for a while. Is this normal do you think?

Also, you might want to check out this thread for some tips:Why not to keep 2 tortoises together - a lesson learned the hard way

 

[Crush da Baum]

I saw that. I don't know what to do about that, I can't really separate them because I can not build another enclosure but they seem to get along fine. They have never bobbed their heads, head butted, bit or showed any other sign of aggression. They were living together when I got them (both from the same place) and I was just hoping they liked each other. They have lived happily together for a year. What do you think I should do?

 

[MichaelL]

I saw that. I don't know what to do about that, I can't really separate them because I can not build another enclosure but they seem to get along fine. They have never bobbed their heads, head butted, bit or showed any other sign of aggression. They were living together when I got them (both from the same place) and I was just hoping they liked each other. They have lived happily together for a year. What do you think I should do?

If they're both female, you could get another female or male. If you have one female and one male, you could get another female. If you have two males, better just separating them and not buying another.

Basically you could get another one to make it a group to keep the bullying down (even though it isn't happening now, better safe than sorry and it may happen in the future.) or you could split the pen in half to keep them separate. You probably don't have to do it right away, but be prepared to do it if you do see bullying. I'm not really 100% sure on what to do in this situation when they aren't having issues, but what an experienced person would say is separate them or make a group

Im also a teenager, and had two. I ended up getting a third to make it two females and one male.

 

[Crush da Baum]

If they're both female, you could get another female or male. If you have one female and one male, you could get another female. If you have two males, better just separating them and not buying another.

Basically you could get another one to make it a group to keep the bullying down (even though it isn't happening now, better safe than sorry and it may happen in the future.) or you could split the pen in half to keep them separate. You probably don't have to do it right away, but be prepared to do it if you do see bullying. I'm not really 100% sure on what to do in this situation when they aren't having issues, but what an experienced person would say is separate them or make a group

Im also a teenager, and had two. I ended up getting a third to make it two females and one male.

Well, they won't live their whole life together, only for the next 5 years. They are both male, I think but I am not sure.

 

[bouaboua]

Looks very nice. And you are getting good advise above. Russian tortoise is better to have their own enclosure or one male and at less two female in one enclosure but more female are better. Then you would need to have even larger enclosure to housing them.