New enclosure for leopard tort

Kupcake

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I just bought this table that I want to convert to my indoor enclosure. It’s 3’x3’x2’h inside and is only until my tort is old enough to be outside full time (about 10” I’m guessing.

1. Is it big enough? If not, then when should I move my tort to a bigger enclosure, or what would you recommend?

2. What is the best way to waterproof wood? I’m going to make a drawer of plywood and was going to cover with tarp, but if there is paint or something else I would like to know.

3. I was thinking of putting a couple of wooden beams inside to mount lights inside, do you see any problem with this or have any input to do it better?

4. Any other tips?

Thanks in advance!
 

Cheryl Hills

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What kind of tort do you have. A 3 x 3 is really small for any tort unless it is a hatchling. Then it would have to be transferred to another enclosure Farley shortly after. Sorry Lepard tort is in the title. Yes that would be way to small.
 

Kupcake

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Thanks for the replies. How big of an enclosure would I need for say a 5” leopard? 8”? I’m not looking for minimums...i mean a good size to keep them healthy and happy. I live in sunny and hot Las Vegas so they will be spending hours outside every day until they are 8”or so and spending all day outside. I read somewhere that a 10 square foot enclosure would be good until 10”...and this is 9 square feet. I guess I read wrong? Tips would be appreciated. If I was building how big should I go? I don’t want to build something and have to upgrade in 6 months...I want what I start with for a hatchling to last for a couple years.
 

Cheryl Hills

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I am not so sure about the Lepard but, a Russian needs a minimum of a 4x 8 and they don’t get as big as the leos
 

baldegale

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Thanks for the replies. How big of an enclosure would I need for say a 5” leopard? 8”? I’m not looking for minimums...i mean a good size to keep them healthy and happy. I live in sunny and hot Las Vegas so they will be spending hours outside every day until they are 8”or so and spending all day outside. I read somewhere that a 10 square foot enclosure would be good until 10”...and this is 9 square feet. I guess I read wrong? Tips would be appreciated. If I was building how big should I go? I don’t want to build something and have to upgrade in 6 months...I want what I start with for a hatchling to last for a couple years.

IMG_7893.JPG this a 4x2 its tiny, a 3x3 is small too. im building a 3x8 this summer. you can go to tractor supply or something of the like an get a trough if you dont want to build something, but itll cost you more. building a decent sized enclosure will cost $100-$150 for the materials. what gets expensive are the lights and bedding and waterproofing
 

Kupcake

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The care sheet on leopards says 4x8 would last about 3 years, that’s 12 sq feet and I’m making 9sq feet. Would you think 9sq feet would last a couple years?

Probably by 3 years old my tort will be outside 9months-12 months out of the year...if they grow 2-3” a year (and that is low from what I have read). I’m just looking for something to last a couple years because it would be pointless to upgrade in a year.
 

Kupcake

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View attachment 227731 this a 4x2 its tiny, a 3x3 is small too. im building a 3x8 this summer. you can go to tractor supply or something of the like an get a trough if you dont want to build something, but itll cost you more. building a decent sized enclosure will cost $100-$150 for the materials. what gets expensive are the lights and bedding and waterproofing

How big is the tort you keep in your 4x2 right now?
 

baldegale

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realistically, i would go with the biggest you can do. theyll be a lot happier in the long run if you can keep humidity and temps proper.
 
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