What do people think of this enclosure i'm thinking of buying?

alex_22 · Mar 15, 2026

Hi everyone,

I'd like to get your opinion about this enclosure from Swell Reptiles.

https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/sw...61#swell-premium-pvc-vivarium-kit-244x61x61cm

I have a 5 yr old Russian Tortoise and I live in the UK so it's been a little difficult to always maintain the correct temp in the winter months. Still hitting the correct temps but keeping it stable can be difficult.

We'd be intending to hang the lamps down through a hole in the top (It doesn't current look like it has a whole but thought I could male one. ) I don't think the lamps are included but we have much better ones anyway.

We use a mix of coco coir and orchid bark for substrate and would probably try to take off the bottom so he can't see out.

I want something somewhat stylish like this that has a clear front. this would basically be a test purchase before we build a custom one to see how hard it is to maintain a larger enclosure with the correct heat / humidity.

If anyone has any links to better enclosures , would be very grateful.

Many thanks

mojo_1 · Mar 15, 2026

You will have to cover up the holes with the lamps in them with something that won't melt or burn. All your heat will go right out the top.

The_Four_Toed_Edward · Mar 15, 2026

Yeah, preferably for heat and humidity you would have the lamps inside the enclosure. I wonder if it is possible in this one.

COmtnLady · Mar 15, 2026

The enclosure is long enough, but only about half the width an adult needs. A good minimum size for an adult tortoise is 4 feet by 8 feet, so your length is good, but is closer to 122cm wide.

Generally, it doesn't matter about the tortoise being able to see out. That is some of the old-style ideology that most of us here no longer believe works. My own tortoise loves to watch us and doesn't seem in the least bit concerned that there is a clear barrier to the larger world outside her chamber.

The location of your lamps depends upon the temperature at tortoise height. If it is 97F/36C directly below the basking lamp at about an inch or two/3-5cm above the surface of the substrate with the lamp outside, then that is great. If you put the lamp inside it still needs to be those temps at that height. Can they do that if they are inside? So - the only way to know is to measure your temp at your tortoise's level.

alex_22 · Mar 16, 2026

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Will keep looking for ones a little larger. Unfortunately it's quite hard to find larger enclosures here in the UK that aren't really tall for snakes and such.

Would be planning to hang the lamps down inside. After doing some research it does seem like people use PVC for enclosures and they are ok at holding heat.

When we get some more money together we plan to have a custom one built.

mojo_1 · Mar 16, 2026

My enclosure is 3 feet tall it keeps my redfoot plenty warm

The_Four_Toed_Edward · Mar 16, 2026

alex_22 said:
Thanks for the advice everyone.

Will keep looking for ones a little larger. Unfortunately it's quite hard to find larger enclosures here in the UK that aren't really tall for snakes and such.

Would be planning to hang the lamps down inside. After doing some research it does seem like people use PVC for enclosures and they are ok at holding heat.

When we get some more money together we plan to have a custom one built.

I wonder if @Alex and the Redfoot can point you to what lamps can be used in enclosures not tall enough for your regular lamps. Basically you want to use UVB lamps with a weaker output and heat lamps with less wattage.

I remmeber @Littleredfootbigredheart recommending Southdown Aquatics, but I don't know if they make PVC enclosures.

Alex and the Redfoot · Mar 16, 2026

I guess, the problem was just the opposite: to find a large vivarium for non-arboreal animals (60-90 cm tall).

I would opt for a 80-90cm (3ft tall), though: Arcadia ProT5 Desert 12% kit needs to be placed at 45-48cm above the tortoise - it's a bit challenging to fit it inside a viv 60cm tall (unless you put it over the mesh).

1. PVC vivariums made of single 1cm sheets don't hold heat well (considerably better than glass terrariums, though). An easy fix is to add 2-3 cm thick foam insulation sheets all around. This makes a huge difference during cold seasons. Insulation can be removed in summer.

2. White PVC has much better light dispersal than black. It's important for sun-loving species.

3. Keeping ambient temperature stable is not very hard with radiant heat panels. When planning heating/lightning layout, shift heating a bit closer to the glass doors: it's the main source of heat loss (in well insulated and sealed enclosures).

4. Maybe you can contact Viperia ( https://viperia.co.uk/ ) about custom build enclosure.

mojo_1 · Mar 16, 2026

In my 3ft tall enclosure i mounted the uv light to the ceiling and put a 14% Arcadia UVB T5. According to the meter I'm right in the range for Redfoots. So if you need more clearance. If you have the uvb meter to set the height of the light fixture.

Littleredfootbigredheart · Mar 21, 2026

The_Four_Toed_Edward said:
I wonder if @Alex and the Redfoot can point you to what lamps can be used in enclosures not tall enough for your regular lamps. Basically you want to use UVB lamps with a weaker output and heat lamps with less wattage.

I remmeber @Littleredfootbigredheart recommending Southdown Aquatics, but I don't know if they make PVC enclosures.

Sorry I’m late to the replies here! Been so busy lately! But yes we’ve had some discussion on different enclosure options here in the uk, Southdown being one of them

I think the current struggle for @alex_22 is indoor space, I know they eventually want to get something custom built, but are looking for something larger to tire them over for now, that can also maintain heat well in our colder weather.
The main drawback I could see with this one was how the lighting needs to be mounted, and Alex does bring up a good point about the thickness of the pvc with this particular model

alex_22 · Apr 13, 2026

We went with Viperia in the end. They seemed like the bested constructed eclosures. Going to put it together in the coming weeks and will send some pics if anyone is interested.

Alex and the Redfoot · Apr 18, 2026

alex_22 said:
We went with Viperia in the end. They seemed like the bested constructed eclosures. Going to put it together in the coming weeks and will send some pics if anyone is interested.

Sure, please post an update.

Littleredfootbigredheart · Apr 22, 2026

alex_22 said:
We went with Viperia in the end. They seemed like the bested constructed eclosures. Going to put it together in the coming weeks and will send some pics if anyone is interested.

Will love to see this set up!

What do people think of this enclosure i'm thinking of buying?

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