Indoor habitats

[gep0322]

Hello everyone, I think it would be good if everyone with indoor habitats to post photos and descriptions of what they made it out of. With general overview about it. Including lighting, heat source and water.
I think this would be helpful to other members and we can all learn from each other.
And of course tell us about your turtle 🐢.
Thanks, Gerry

Attached is photo of my habitat I built for Max, a three toed box turtle I found when he was not much bigger than a quarter, in October 2021. His habitat is built out of 1x 6, two high, 3 ft x 4 ft. I casted his water pool out of cement and sealed it and the inside of his habitat with marine epoxy, several heavy coats. The pool is heated with a submergible aquarium heater, that keeps the water between 87 & 88 degrees.The substrate is a mix of Coca Coir and Reptile Bark. A raised section for foraging, with a mix of good topsoil and Coca Coir, I keep it stocked with pill bugs and worms. A heated section that includes a shallow water pool I ground sloping down to about one inch deep, out of a natural rock. The area is heated by a 250 watt ceramic heating element and controlled temperature of 88 degrees. A center section with live plants, he loves to hide in, he also loves to hide under the ramp going up to the foraging section. Lighting is a 36 inch Zoo Med ReptiSun UVA - UVB Terrarium Hood. I also have a LED Grow Light for the live plants. Lighting is controlled 12 hours on 12 hours off.

 

[DoubleD1996!]

This looks phenomenal. Definitely inspirational.

 

[jeff kushner]

Is that a photo of........come on, wait for it......................


THE MAX-well HOUSE?




"NO photos!" was the answer from the homes owner in my room......besides, she's moving out this w/e......she bitched at me.....twice!


LOL

 

[wellington]

We do have a section to post enclosures in but I don't think there are many posted.
This is a really nice enclosure.
But just incase you were never told, you should have never taken the boxie out of the wild.

 

[gep0322]

We do have a section to post enclosures in but I don't think there are many posted.
This is a really nice enclosure.
But just incase you were never told, you should have never taken the boxie out of the wild.

Thanks for the compliment on the enclosure.
Yes I understand your concern about taking Max out of the wild. But for me in Max’s case it was a decision I made based on what I considered to be the likelihood that he wouldn’t have survived. I found him on my driveway, out in the sun. There are a lot of predators in my area. Including raccoons, opossums, coyotes, hawks, owls, crows, snakes and other possible hazards that put the odds against him.
I have also found what possibly was one of Max’s siblings upside down and dead. It was about the size Max was when I found him, a little larger than a quarter.
So for me it was a easy decision.

What kind of turtle do you have and where did you get it.
Some pictures of your turtle and your enclosure would be nice to see.
Thank you, Gerry

 

[wellington]

I don't have turtles I have tortoises that i bought and or rescued from an owner that wasn't caring for them the right way.

 

[gep0322]

I don't have turtles I have tortoises that i bought and or rescued from an owner that wasn't caring for them the right way.

Don’t you think they should have all been left in there natural environment. Did they all come from breeders?

 

[wellington]

Don’t you think they should have all been left in there natural environment. Did they all come from breeders?

Yes! Not one did I take from the wild.
Two Rescued from previous owners and one captive bred from a breeder.
Not sure where you are trying to go with this? I didn't take from the wild, you did and shouldn't have! End of story!

 

[gep0322]

Yes! Not one did I take from the wild.
Two Rescued from previous owners and one captive bred from a breeder.
Not sure where you are trying to go with this? I didn't take from the wild, you did and shouldn't have! End of story!

I don’t see it as end of story. Breeders are in it for the money. They sell their products for a profit. Does any of that money go back into conservation and preserving natural environment of wildlife. Maybe in some cases. At some point there breeder stock were removed from the wild.
I’m not trying to put you down, I don’t know you. I just don’t think it’s your place to advise me on my decision to take Max from the wild, when you didn’t know any of the circumstances of my decision. I respect wild life and try my best to protect it.
I’m sure we are both on the same wavelength and if we knew each other better we could be best friends.
Have a great day Mr. Wellington
Gerry 👍

 

[Yvonne G]

I don’t see it as end of story. Breeders are in it for the money. They sell their products for a profit. Does any of that money go back into conservation and preserving natural environment of wildlife. Maybe in some cases. At some point there breeder stock were removed from the wild.
I’m not trying to put you down, I don’t know you. I just don’t think it’s your place to advise me on my decision to take Max from the wild, when you didn’t know any of the circumstances of my decision. I respect wild life and try my best to protect it.
I’m sure we are both on the same wavelength and if we knew each other better we could be best friends.
Have a great day Mr. Wellington
Gerry 👍

LOL! "Mr. Wellington"s name is Barbara.

It costs too much to breed, raise and care for tortoises. There's not much left over to donate. However, I have signed up on Amazon Smile for a percentage of my purchase money to be contributed to the Turtle Survival Alliance

 

[gep0322]

LOL! "Mr. Wellington"s name is Barbara.

It costs too much to breed, raise and care for tortoises. There's not much left over to donate. However, I have signed up on Amazon Smile for a percentage of my purchase money to be contributed to the Turtle Survival Alliance

In that case I’m sure we would be best friends.
Sorry Ms. Barbara
I buy a lot of merchandise from Amazon. I will be looking into Turtle Survival Alliance.
Thanks Gerry

 

[wellington]

In that case I’m sure we would be best friends.
Sorry Ms. Barbara
I buy a lot of merchandise from Amazon. I will be looking into Turtle Survival Alliance.
Thanks Gerry

You aren't the first one to not only think my name is Wellington but to think I'm a Mr. I'm sure you won't be the last lol. It's not a problem
And yes it is our duty as tortoise and turtle lovers to inform people that the wild need to stay in the wild. In fact most states have laws about taking turtles from the wild. The only time it should be done is if the turtle is injured and wouldn't survive without assistance or is not native to the area its found. A healthy baby can do just fine on it's own. Yes some will not as in all walks of life.
As for what I said, it was done in a very nice way.
I know you think the situation was right for you to take him, but in fact it wasn't.
Moving on, what's done is done and you look like you gave it a great home.
Oh, I do understand your heart was in the right place.

 

[jeff kushner]

Life is fun to watch unfold........


I was gonna warn you Gerry.....don't mess with the girls here......they are tough like nails & smart too.....AND some have camouflaged screen names....we just can't win brother but you are spot on, we're all friends!

 

[gep0322]

You aren't the first one to not only think my name is Wellington but to think I'm a Mr. I'm sure you won't be the last lol. It's not a problem
And yes it is our duty as tortoise and turtle lovers to inform people that the wild need to stay in the wild. In fact most states have laws about taking turtles from the wild. The only time it should be done is if the turtle is injured and wouldn't survive without assistance or is not native to the area its found. A healthy baby can do just fine on it's own. Yes some will not as in all walks of life.
As for what I said, it was done in a very nice way.
I know you think the situation was right for you to take him, but in fact it wasn't.
Moving on, what's done is done and you look like you gave it a great home.
Oh, I do understand your heart was in the right place.

Thank you,
Alabama law allows residence to have one box turtle. I checked that law when I first got Max.

Jeff says he was going to warn me. Lol
I think he was setting back laughing, just letting me get in up to my neck. I think he’s like that, he enjoyed seeing me get beat up. But this time the joke is on him. What do you think, my new friend Ms. Barbara?

 

[gep0322]

This looks phenomenal. Definitely inspirational.

Happy birthday 🎉🎂🎈

 

[wellington]

Thank you,
Alabama law allows residence to have one box turtle. I checked that law when I first got Max.

Jeff says he was going to warn me. Lol
I think he was setting back laughing, just letting me get in up to my neck. I think he’s like that, he enjoyed seeing me get beat up. But this time the joke is on him. What do you think, my new friend Ms. Barbara?

I think you are right. He did sit back just long enough to see how far you were going to get in lol.
I was never going to beat you up, just give ya a couple pokes lol.

 

[Yvonne G]

In that case I’m sure we would be best friends.
Sorry Ms. Barbara
I buy a lot of merchandise from Amazon. I will be looking into Turtle Survival Alliance.
Thanks Gerry

No, you go to smile.amazon.com and sign up to donate to any charity YOU want. My choice is TSA.

 

[DoubleD1996!]

Happy birthday 🎉🎂🎈

Thanks man!

 

[Yvonne G]

I had three different species of baby box turtles I found in my box turtle yards that I had to keep indoors over the winter. Here's where I kept them:

 

[Yvonne G]

Other indoor enclosures: