Pearly's 40 gal tank- covered top

Pearly

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Hi Guys, I'm making this thread for the new members, ones who like myself before, search for ways to keep their hatchlings warm and humid. Hopefully my pictures will give people some alternatives. My phone memory including pictures will need to be purged soon and I thought before I do that, I'd record of fruitful sleeples nights of a brand new owner of baby tortoise for the newcomers out there who still struggle with keeping their baby torts warm, humid or both. ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459534010.533667.jpg started with pretty barren 40 gal tank, covered with the framed reptile terrarium screen with hinges in the middle so that 1/2 of the top can be lifted for easy access all the time. I liked the idea of that screen, it's large gauge, designed for the heat and UV light domes to sit on it which solved one of my many dilemmas ("how to secure the lights? It's ELECTRICITY! And will get HOT!") It worked fairly well on warm day but with room temps fluctuating I was constantly trying to fix/adjust things. Ended up with 7 different temp/humidity gages for closer monitioring and still it was way too dependent of air conditions of the room where the tank was. It became clear to me that even this 40 gal enclosure would need to be covered and I started searching for the ways to replicate Tom's closed chambers, only with Pearly's lack of "handy/crafty talents" as well as "poor man's budget". Fyi aluminum foil did not work! ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459537073.197390.jpg I hated trying to cover around the lamps. It may work better for people who have side entry to their terraria. Mine is from the top and has to be moved all the time. I needed something fixed to both sides of the screen top. The foil was a pain in my butt to deal with it every time I needed to open the 1/2 top to get to the babies. After many trips to Home Depot and Lowes I finally found what seemed to be safe enough to use around heat and electricity! Reflectix in construcion/insulation section ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459535144.278947.jpg, just cut it to shape of the screen top 1/2's and secure edges with this tape (also found in the insulation area of Home Depot) ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459535278.699679.jpg . Then cut openings for the light domesImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459535384.069056.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459535449.901843.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459535516.125099.jpg I switch between the 2 round lights day/night. One is CHE the other is daylightImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459535619.191030.jpg my gun thermometer reading from the inside of hide on warm side. Temp of the substrate is consistent 79F humidity in low 80's. I no longer have to worry about a/c being on etc... ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459536715.397873.jpg I'm having to change plants all the time now. The babies are bigger and getting more distructive. This set up has worked as full time enclosure for 2 RF hatchlings for about a year. At this point the babies are spending more time outside and this summer will be moving to their outdoor pen during a day only. Will keep this terrarium for their nightime dwelling until they outgrow it and ready for their outdoor heated house. I hope this helps someone out there.
 

spud's_mum

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Oh my gosh! They're beautiful!
I just wish I could do that but I am not very good at decorating and spud eats the moss :(
 

Tort1419

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I understand your problem with the plants, but I only use a few. Great looking enclosure though
 

NDevon

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I vote for this to be a pinned topic! I too worried I got it wrong and changed things several times to get it right, with lots of tips from Pearly and seeing how her enclosures worked. It's hard being new to tortoise keeping with all the advice out there.
 

spud's_mum

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What miss is that in your second enclosure pic? I would really love to do something like that in spuds enclosure. Also, have you ever had any problems with torts eating the moss?

Sorry for all the questions.
 

Pearly

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I vote for this to be a pinned topic! I too worried I got it wrong and changed things several times to get it right, with lots of tips from Pearly and seeing how her enclosures worked. It's hard being new to tortoise keeping with all the advice out there.
Hahaha! thank you, but this is not about recognition and notoriety for me. I've just spent so much time searching for the stuff that WORKS, that it would make me feel good, like all that time was not wasted if helping others, saving them time and money
 

Pearly

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What miss is that in your second enclosure pic? I would really love to do something like that in spuds enclosure. Also, have you ever had any problems with torts eating the moss?

Sorry for all the questions.
Babies don't eat it. I use mainly sheet moss to cover flat surfaces and Frog Moss to create little soft hills in the terrarium babies love uneven surfaces and climbing. And ask any questions you have! This is why I decided to make this tread, to help the newbies who still struggle like I did last year
 

Levi the Leopard

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l like it. :cool:

I also used a 40 gallon (for baby leopards) and covered the screen with cut out light holes. But your material looks much nicer ;)

Are you still using analog hydrometers or did you switch to digital?

Do you find that the humidifier tube is still needed even though it's covered?
 

Pearly

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l like it. :cool:

I also used a 40 gallon (for baby leopards) and covered the screen with cut out light holes. But your material looks much nicer ;)

Are you still using analog hydrometers or did you switch to digital?

Do you find that the humidifier tube is still needed even though it's covered?
Thanks! The analog ones were my original pre-forum purchase and I just never took them off. Once on TFO I got digital therm-hygro with probes and 2 digital freestanding ones, plus the "gun" so I have pretty good idea what things are like inside. The humidifier is great. We run it for just few minutes at feeding time. The babies love it. At least I think they do, bcs they stick their heads towards the vapor outlet when it runs as in getting an inhalation treatment
 

Pearly

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ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459776849.701509.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459776866.735951.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459776879.400975.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459776895.303674.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459776916.449747.jpg hi guys, just wanted to show you few changes I did this w/e. Since my babies are becoming little bulldozers and destroy all my pretty plants, I decided to try more natural greenery: weeds from my garden! ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1459777066.776515.jpgthe violet and moss are the only things that would now upset me (tiny bit!) if destroyed:) the only problem with this I anticipate is dragging bugs from the garden into my house... Till now it's been very well controlled... Will see, I'll keep record of it for those of you guys who are interested
 

NDevon

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Looking really good Pearly! Maybe pin up a list of rules -

If you make a mess you tidy it
Don't drag your food through your water

:D
 

Pearly

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Looking really good Pearly! Maybe pin up a list of rules -

If you make a mess you tidy it
Don't drag your food through your water

:D
Yeah right??!!!! Those babies are turning into little bulldozers! I had to take out all the pretty plants! Shellie started just climbing in the middle and "nesting" in them totally destroying pretty foliage:) not to mention water dish... Ayyyy!!! When they were smaller and less bold (sleeping/hiding more) once a day water change was plenty, and now..... Gotta check them all the time. Outside they'll have few water sources. The terrarium floor space is too small for more than one bowl
 

NDevon

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They just don't care do they! I put their food in, for reasons I don't understand I spend ages making it look nice (as if they care!) and they just go and sit in it then drag it round the vivarium. No manners, I'm sure they do it to annoy me!
 

Pearly

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They just don't care do they! I put their food in, for reasons I don't understand I spend ages making it look nice (as if they care!) and they just go and sit in it then drag it round the vivarium. No manners, I'm sure they do it to annoy me!
Hahah! Yeap! They definitely need remedial Savoir Vivre education:)
 

spud's_mum

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Do you mind if I use a pic for the tortoise forum Instagram? Your enclosures are so beautiful.

Also, do you know if frog miss is safe for hermanns? If so, do you think I should get more sphagnum moss if frog moss. Thank you!!!
 

Amron

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View attachment 169416View attachment 169417View attachment 169418View attachment 169419View attachment 169420 hi guys, just wanted to show you few changes I did this w/e. Since my babies are becoming little bulldozers and destroy all my pretty plants, I decided to try more natural greenery: weeds from my garden! View attachment 169421the violet and moss are the only things that would now upset me (tiny bit!) if destroyed:) the only problem with this I anticipate is dragging bugs from the garden into my house... Till now it's been very well controlled... Will see, I'll keep record of it for those of you guys who are interested
What a fabulous set up, it's stunning. It's lovely reading your posts. Thank you
 

kathyth

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I think your set up is extremely efficient and darn beautiful! Guaranteed to help many people, new and old. It's just great!
:)
 

Pearly

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Do you mind if I use a pic for the tortoise forum Instagram? Your enclosures are so beautiful.

Also, do you know if frog miss is safe for hermanns? If so, do you think I should get more sphagnum moss if frog moss. Thank you!!!
Sweetie, I'll be honored if you use any of my images. Go aheadthis a very sweet compliment. Any type of natural moss should be ok for any tort as it grows in nature, is harvested and dried up without being altered in any way. The only reason some keepers hesitate about it at times is torts ingesting it. Mine have never showed any interest in eating moss whatsoever.
I like frog/mood/sheet moss because it comes in solid size chunks and There is no mess. My sphagnum is still in sealed bag untracked. I think I may try it at some point just inside the hides.
 

Pearly

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I think your set up is extremely efficient and darn beautiful! Guaranteed to help many people, new and old. It's just great!
:)
Thank you! Yes it was intended to help people who struggle with keeping tens/humidity at desired levels. Was also hoping to save some folks some time/work and money on trying things that end up not working out that great. It took me lots of thinking about it and MANY trips to pet stores, garden centers, hardware and construction supply stores before I nailed it down. I'd love for all that "blood & sweat" to be of service to some members. Again, thank you for the kudos. Much appreciated
 

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