Recent content by Carl StarTortoise

Thanks guys!

Hi! I got 4 hatchling radiated tortoises a couple years ago. They all hatched in November or December of 2022, so they are ~2.5 years old. One of the four has always been a tank and is just significantly larger than the other three. They are together in a 8x4 PVC enclosure but spend the day...

Thanks so much! I have been doing as Yvonne suggested. I will start to treat with Lotrimin and replace the substrate with new as well. Thanks again!

Hi y'all! I have 4 radiated tortoises that I keep together in an 8x4 PVC enclosure (humidity always 75% and radiated heat panels set to 86 during day and 78 F at night). They get several hours of outdoor time in when temperatures are appropriate. They all are a little over 2 years old and have...

Thank you for this! My babies have way too pretty of shells to risk it loosing their patterns. I went w wood.

That is a good point! We never hear from the HOA but I would be salty if I built the enclosure and then have them make me redo it. I won't use the house or privacy fence for a border. I am just going to go with pressure treated 2"x8"s for the perimeter. My buddy is a welder and is going to make...

Thanks!

Thank you all for your input! This info makes me even more indecisive on what to use for the enclosure. ha. Another question, would it be okay to use the back of our condo (it is brick) as one of the borders? I am considering bricks or concrete for the entire border so didn't think there would...

Thanks for the reply! I am still nervous enough not to use cedar or to butt up my enclosure next to the cedar fence, but I won't be too worrisome with my enclosure being semi close to the fence with a barrier between. I had improperly cared for tortoises in the passed before I found this wealth...

Thank you for the heads up, and I am sorry to hear about your snake. I will move the enclosure a foot or so away from the fence and make an impermeable barrier between the fence and enclosure so stormwater from the fence will not make it to the enclosure. Does that sound safe?

Pressure treated 2'x8's would be way cheaper than the other options, but I feel like any wood other than cedar would rot rather quickly out in the elements? If this isn't your experience I may go that route since it won't need to last more than a year or so. Thank you, I will utilize all of...

Thanks for your concern for my babies! I am going to make a mesh top so birds and opossums can't get them. I think the dogs keep predators from coming to close to us (the habitat will be right up against the back of our condo) but they are so small predator protection must be installed.

oof, I didn't know cedar was toxic. I was double checking on using the picket fence because it is pressure treated. So glad I asked before using. Thanks so much, Tom! You are always so hopefully. I owe you many beers. Can I ask how big is your enclosure for your adult radiata is (or atleast how...

Hi! I’m planning to build an outdoor tortoise habitat and was curious if it’s safe to use cedar fence picket as the perimeter of the enclosure? It’s for baby radiated tortoises so it doesn’t need to be too strong. Other options would be non pressure treated cedar 2”x8”boards, landscaping...

Thanks! I ended up just using screws again (I sealed w marine caulk after). It turned out much better than my previous build and holds humidity well. Now I just need to make an outdoor habitat for my clan..... Thanks again for the reply and have a great day!