Vivarium height

I am getting my handy other half to build a new vivarium as my tort is steadily out growing his old one. I dont have the option of a permanent outdoor enclosure as I live in Ireland and anyone who has visited knows it can be cold and wet but we have been very lucky this summer. Any who, I have convinced the other half that our tort can have the empty spare room it's going to be 7ft x 4ft. My question is how high should it be? With substrate and the tortoise on top I am wondering about the height as I would need to make sure the heat lamps are not too close

What kind of tortoise and don't forget about adding a level to increase space maybe just for the food and hide? Lucky you that you admit you have a handy other half. MIne says I am possibly useful!

Greetings.

Id take a look at the enclosures here at Animal Plastics https://apcages.com/ and look at what dimensions they have worked out as optimal. Don’t invent the wheel. I know many keepers here on TFO use these enclosures with success and praise. @Tom of course uses this type.

Many look to be 24 inches high.


Ps - I’m guessing you have a Redfoot since it’s under this section?

Good luck.

Sorry hes a red foot. Yeah I cant wait for it to be built!

Maro2Bear said:

Greetings.

Id take a look at the enclosures here at Animal Plastics https://apcages.com/ and look at what dimensions they have worked out as optimal. Don’t invent the wheel. I know many keepers here on TFO use these enclosures with success and praise. @Tom of course uses this type.

Many look to be 24 inches high.


Ps - I’m guessing you have a Redfoot since it’s under this section?

Good luck.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!

I seem to remember that for the strip florescent 5.0 lamps that I recommend for Redfoot the height needed is about 12".
(From the tortoise)
So youd have to figure in the added height of your substrate and the depth of the light fixture if you mount it INSIDE the enclosure. Attached to the underside of the top.
Also what I recommend.
Anything with more space would be less effective. But you could make up for it by then suspending the light on tiny chains, etc.
The part about my recommendation things is from my own trial and error and from other posts.
Remember to NOT use a lot of bright lighting for your RF.
The strip UV will provide the UV and sufficient lighting without making the RF uncomfortable.
For heat you can use a few CHEs. They give off warmth without any light at all. Day and night. Redfoot dislike harsh lights and heat bulbs don't heat as evenly either.
I reccomend not using any heatlamps for your RF at all.
You probably already know a lot of this. I just mentioned a lot of it for any new members reading this post.

I find 24" to be the best height for an indoor closed chamber. 18" can work, and I wouldn't go higher than 30".

Thanks guys! x

My husband built my torts 4’x3’ enclosure and we have it at 24 inches high with the heat lamps just above it set into the lid on top. I have roughly 4-5 inches of substrate so about 20 inches of clearance between substrate and heat lamps.