Cherryheads Setup

[Redstrike]

Hi All,
Here's a table I've constructed for my two cherryheads. NERD would not approve of the central UVB neon light location...but overall I think it's more than functional. I had to send the light back and it should be returning from Zoo Med shortly. The box is lined with a 2x4' hydroponic flood tray, it was a bit pricy ($60) but I think worth every penny.

The doors are hinged for easier access. I'll eventually build or buy a light stand and be sealing up the top a bit more to help with humidity retention (I'm in NY).

Hide is a kitty-liter box, cut in half with an entrance hole. Painted it brown (after this picture) to absorb incoming light and make things darker on the inside. They seem to enjoy it. The other is your standard half-log (synthetic). I've removed the sphagnum moss as some have had issues with it.

Substrate is cypress mulch.

Hope this helps any future table builders. As this is my first, I'm welcome to suggestions (I'll be placing plants in soon).
-Chris

 

[Jacqui]

Hey, looks like a great work in progress and sounds like they are liking it, which is the key to me. Are you planning on adding some plants (either real or fake)? Might want to sink the water dish in a little. Do they seem to be liking their water dish (just asking as some have some issues it seem in that area with their hatchlings)?

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P.S. With all that natural light, you may end up not needing much for lighting. Is that a sunporch? Just wanting to be sure on really sunny hot days, it doesn't get too warm in there or drafty on cold days.

(sorry, I tend to look for all the possible worse things I can find)

 

[Redstrike]

Hey, looks like a great work in progress and sounds like they are liking it, which is the key to me. Are you planning on adding some plants (either real or fake)? Might want to sink the water dish in a little. Do they seem to be liking their water dish (just asking as some have some issues it seem in that area with their hatchlings)?

---

P.S. With all that natural light, you may end up not needing much for lighting. Is that a sunporch? Just wanting to be sure on really sunny hot days, it doesn't get too warm in there or drafty on cold days.

(sorry, I tend to look for all the possible worse things I can find)[/code]

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Hey Jacqui,
Thanks! I am planning on adding some plants, it's a bit exposed right now and I know that would improve their habitat and, subsequently, their comfort. As for the water dish, I don't think they're making that connection. I'm going to try and bury it more (as you suggested) and maybe place them in it periodically in hopes of increasing their cognizance. Sound good?

It is a sunporch. Most days I open a window or two to be sure that it isn't going to get too warm. Usually ambient is between 80-87. Once late fall and winter arrive, they'll be wheeled into the dining room because it does get very cold out there in the winter!

If any of you have recommendations on plants, I'd love to hear it. I'm likely going to plant some pothos (yep, high oxolates) and I'll likely put in an aloe. They have some small palms that I was interested in, what are your thoughts on those? Any other ideas are welcome!

 

[Jacqui]

I often with new animals, will after I clean their dish so it has fresh warm water, will place them in it. They can get out if they need to and it (in my humble mind) reminds them it's there and it's warm, so nice to soak in. Relieves my mind a bit too, knowing they atleast had a chance to drink. It does seem that they usually choose to stay there for a bit and drink/soak.

Are you going to leave the plants in their pots or directly in the soil. I myself love the pothos. Airplane (spider) plants, violets, hostas, jade, succulents, petunias, just any plant almost that is on the plant lists. I know Terry even plants Althea (Rose of Sharon) seeds in her's. I like using the seeds from the cantaloupe/muskmelons I feed grow. I also buy those 20 cent packages of various greens seeds. Some use bird seed. Raid your yard for plants too. The list is endless.

Thing is you know some will quickly get stomped to death, some will get eaten, and others just are more temporary, because they need more light then you will have in there. You may want to rotate your plants and even start seed trays. My basic advice is, your not going to want to get expensive plants, because they may not live long.

Growing your own or getting starts from neighbors/friends who use no chemicals on their yards and flowers, will mean you won't have to worry about possible chemicals in the plants. Store bought plants may cause problems and many folks will say not to use them for a month or more.

 

[tyler0912]

I suggest a spider plant as they love to hide in them!

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ooppsss...jacqui already suggested a spider plant!

 

[Redstrike]

Thanks Jacqui & Tyler! I will be leaving them in the pots. I'll be asking around for some plants, but I do have a few of my own in our sunporch that are going to be placed in the enclosure later today.

-Chris

 

[tyler0912]

Welcome!

 

[Redstrike]

I've placed 2 Hostas and a Pothos in their enclosure. Also added a place to hang the light versus setting it on the screen-top (my roommate has cats...).

Can't bury the Pothos or the two hatchlings will get in the upper level where the liner and box meet and risk tipping over. I think the pothos will spread out nicely and provide some good cover.

 

[Jacqui]

Looking good! Let me know if your hatchlings actually eat any of either plant type. None of mine have done more then one did a small nibble on the pothos, so am curious about what others find their animals do.

Thinking again about your waterdish, because of the angle in the picture, I can see the steep side. I have one like that, which I did use in a Redfoot youngster's enclosure. Can't recall if mine was bigger at the start of when I began using it or not. I do know, several other members have had issues with that style. The risk could be a small tortoise falling over the edge and ending up on his back in water that maybe a little too deep for an upside down baby.

So gonna shoot you another thought, because these guys are tiny ones right? You may want to take that dish out (for now atleast) and go with something more shallow. Those little terra cotta saucers used under plants to hold water work well, if you can find a small one. Places like WalMart and Lowes have them. At that age of your two Cherryheads, your talking maybe two dollars in cost. I like them because they have a good weight, so they don't tip. There are a wide range of things around the house or trash items you may want to think about using, like a jar lid even. Just a suggestion.

 

[Redstrike]

Hi Jacqui,
I've been thinking similarly, I don't trust that water dish and my two hatchlings, though cute, are not the brightest. I've got some yogurt container tops I can manage with until I can make another trip out for new water dish. The porcelain plant drip trays are probably what I'll get.

Thanks for your continued (and excellent) suggestions.

Looking good! Let me know if your hatchlings actually eat any of either plant type. None of mine have done more then one did a small nibble on the pothos, so am curious about what others find their animals do.

Thinking again about your waterdish, because of the angle in the picture, I can see the steep side. I have one like that, which I did use in a Redfoot youngster's enclosure. Can't recall if mine was bigger at the start of when I began using it or not. I do know, several other members have had issues with that style. The risk could be a small tortoise falling over the edge and ending up on his back in water that maybe a little too deep for an upside down baby.

So gonna shoot you another thought, because these guys are tiny ones right? You may want to take that dish out (for now atleast) and go with something more shallow. Those little terra cotta saucers used under plants to hold water work well, if you can find a small one. Places like WalMart and Lowes have them. At that age of your two Cherryheads, your talking maybe two dollars in cost. I like them because they have a good weight, so they don't tip. There are a wide range of things around the house or trash items you may want to think about using, like a jar lid even. Just a suggestion.

 

[lynnedit]

That looks very nice with the plants! A tweak to the water dish and smart or not, they will be lucky torts.

 

[Redstrike]

I've replaced the water dish with one that is more shallow. I also added a dish near their hides as one of them likes to hang out there.

 

[lynnedit]

It is looking good. I like the pic from the tort's view.

 

[terryo]

You did a great job Chris. Nice and roomy too. One suggestion to save you a little work. If you put some frog moss (or any kind of moss, I get mine in the craft store) around the water dish they won't drag in any of the mulch, and the water will stay cleaner a little bit longer.

 

[Redstrike]

You did a great job Chris. Nice and roomy too. One suggestion to save you a little work. If you put some frog moss (or any kind of moss, I get mine in the craft store) around the water dish they won't drag in any of the mulch, and the water will stay cleaner a little bit longer.

Great tip, Terry!

 

[terryo]

Frog moss stays green as long as you don't put it under direct heat, like a heat emitter. I also use craft moss. That stays green better. This is craft moss. I don't know if that's what you call it. I buy it in the craft store.