Bigger Table

[Joanne]

Hi guys,

we are building a new table for Shermann the Hermann...

Thought you would like to see....

It is twice the size of his current table. The plan is use his current table for some quail I've just hatched...

Then once they have gone in a couple of years, Shermann's current table will be used as a second storey.

We have yet to sand, seal, paint and varnish this one like his current one.

It is made out of some crates (luckily for me - my dad has a pallet yard) the base is 16mm plywood. Some 3 x 2 batons have been used as supporting struts on the top. Roof battoning has been used to keep the planks of the side together. I wanted it to be quite high and then I can fill it deep.

I will update this thread with pictures to maybe give people inspiration for creating their own tables.

I can't wait for it to be finished then I can furnish it!

 

[bouaboua]

Looking forward to the completion of your new table. So where is the Shermann the Hermann now?

 

[Joanne]

He's in his current table...

Can't wait to get him in the bigger one! This current one will then sit on top of half of the new one (hence the middle strut).

Hopefully it will last him a couple of years. He's just the right size for his ramp at the moment. Won't be too long until he won't be able to turn around on it.

 

[bouaboua]

Shermann do need to have larger table, even he got a second floor.

He is lucky to have a owner like you.

 

[Joanne]

So here Pete has filled the gaps with decorators caulk...

I really can't take credit - I've done nothing!!

Thanks bouaboua. If we didn't do the bigger table now, we'd have to do it in 6 months or so. Now is a good time to be building because we are off work.

First coat of paint is going on now. More pictures when that is done.

 

[bouaboua]

It is taking shape to become a great enclosure looks like. Looking forward to see the photo of the completion of next stage.

 

[Yvonne G]

Pete is doing a great job on the new table. I love these progression type threads.

 

[lynnedit]

Me too. Looks great! Keep them coming!

 

[Joanne]

Thanks guys.

Progressed an awful lot today...

Painted and varnished...

Then we put some clear plastic sheeting in the bottom before the substrate - because when we moved his last table, water had penetrated the varnish and caulk.

Top half is coco coir, bottom left are "pennine pebbles" and bottom right is orchid bark.

Here it is with all the bits in. We still have the plastic to trim down yet...

We are really pleased with how it has turned out. Thinking of getting a UV strip light to help the MVB along....

One thing that has concerned me is that Shermann spent a while trying to chomp on the pebbles. I'm pretty sure they are too big to fit in his mouth... but there could be some small ones. Is he just testing them to see what they are?

 

[Jlant85]

SO COOL! >.< I wish i had tool... I use my grandpa's tools to build something like this but they... well... are ancient! lol.....

 

[Tom]

One thing that has concerned me is that Shermann spent a while trying to chomp on the pebbles. I'm pretty sure they are too big to fit in his mouth... but there could be some small ones. Is he just testing them to see what they are?

Do you feed a lot of grocery store greens? What is your supplement routine?

He might be trying to compensate for a calcium or mineral deficiency. I have had good results using a product called "MinerAll" for this. Its made by a company called "Sticky Tongue Farms". Give it a try. It couldn't hurt.

Personally, I would not use something like that for indoor substrate.

 

[Joanne]

I am doing at the moment because winter is a harsh mistresses! he gets a calcium and d3 supplement every other day, he has a cuttle bone too. I did a bit of a search on here about the pebble eating and I saw that you had mentioned miner-all. Doesn't look like I can get it over here in the UK, so will have to get some shipped over.

I've covered them the best I can with a flat stone and slate. They are slowly getting covered with coir, so should be ok. Might end up scooping them out and getting more orchid bark.

 

[WillTort2]

I'm wondering if the plastic has any risk of being ingested by the tortoise? I've used both a vinyl kitchen like flooring in some of my enclosures and a brush on sealer on others but the idea of loose plastic around animals that eat like Russians always gives me some concern.

Just a thought. I do not have any experience with the plastic.

 

[Joanne]

it's going to be stapled to the sides and cut down. I don't think he would be able to bite through it even if he wanted to... it's quite thick

 

[bouaboua]

Thank you for the update. Nice to see how it come to.

 

[Joanne]

OK, so final picture... Pete has stapled the plastic to the sides and cut it down so it is nice and neat.

We bought a staple gun especially, it cost around £27 for the gun and extra staples. Altogether the table has cost us less than £40, because we used things we already had and I got the wood for free!

Hope it can inspire people into building bigger and better tables for their tortoises.

I have noticed that Shermann is a lot more active patrolling his new digs!

 

[bouaboua]

OK, so final picture... Pete has stapled the plastic to the sides and cut it down so it is nice and neat.

We bought a staple gun especially, it cost around £27 for the gun and extra staples. Altogether the table has cost us less than £40, because we used things we already had and I got the wood for free!

Hope it can inspire people into building bigger and better tables for their tortoises.

I have noticed that Shermann is a lot more active patrolling his new digs!

Finally!!!!

Home sweet home for Shermann. Great job. Thank you very much for sharing.

 

[Joanne]

Finally... furnished with many plants. I checked all of them on www.thetortoisetable.org.uk and they are all tort safe. Shermann enjoys stomping on them all.

I got a lot of grasses, they look nice and overhang.

I got a couple of pots too. One for a big plant I got and one for Shermann to go in, although not seen him explore it yet...

Finally one of the grumpster himself...

 

[Saleama]

I'm wondering if the plastic has any risk of being ingested by the tortoise? I've used both a vinyl kitchen like flooring in some of my enclosures and a brush on sealer on others but the idea of loose plastic around animals that eat like Russians always gives me some concern.

Just a thought. I do not have any experience with the plastic.

My first Russian table (it is now a juvenile box turtle table) had loose plastic in it because they always dug it up. Not once in the year they were in there did they ever take a bite of it. The box turtles prefer to hide in it instead of the plants I have in with them and have also never taken a bite out of it. It is possible they have tasted it and found it rather bland and not bothered to actually rip a piece off, but there is no sign that that has happened either.

Nice table by the way!