Coffee table enclosure

[Linneke]

Hi

I built this enclosure from a cheap IKEA coffee table (upside down) for my Russian Tortoise. I am pretty happy with it, but need to get a second one asap for a second tortoise.
I turned the tabel upside down and made 3 walls of pvc-plating and the back wall is actually the shelf that was under the table. I hope to built a small extra platform so there is some climbing possibilities.

Any suggestions on how to make it better?

 

[Ddflinn]

I LIKE IT. BE READY. THE SUGGESTIONS WILL BE COVER IT FOR HUMIDITY

 

[Linneke]

I have a cover

 

[Yossarian]

Looks nice, the MVB isnt great they can be very dessicating and suspicion that they contribute to pyramiddal growth, T5 flouro would be better, but what is in the bowl that looks like dog food?

For reference, the current up to date care sheet.
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise | Tortoise Forum

 

[Linneke]

What is MVB and T5 flouro? (not native English speaker)
The bowl are small compressed cubes of dried herbs specially for tortoises. I saw something simular here on the forum.

 

[Yossarian]

Mercury vapour bulb and T5 Fluorescent uv tubes

 

[Lyn W]

The T5 fixtures and tubes seem more popular now for UVB, but NO curly or cfl types as they can damage tort eyes.

Mercury Vapor Balanced bulbs (MVB) which give heat light and UVB are convenient but they have been found to dry and damage shells.
Do you have night heat for them? A Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) run through a thermostat is a good option as it gives heat but not light because torts need darkness to sleep.

As a teacher myself I know how cold classrooms get overnight and at weekends. I am actually surprised your school lets you keep them because of the possible fire hazard with heating needing to be on day and night.

While you are making improvements you could also replace the water bowls with terracotta plant saucers -they are cheaper and much safer and easier for the torts to access especially if sunk level with the substrate. The one you have is quite steep sided and could cause the torts to tip backwards. and if they get stuck on their back they could drown.
Russians love to dig and climb but I think the rock is rather steep for little torts - if they fall off and get stuck on their back for any length of time they could die and if they are being left in school overnight and weekends that could easily happen so I would move or change anything that they could climb on.

Read the caresheet I linked earlier to see if there are any other changes you could make - maybe with the substrate and make sure your temps are high enough.

The thermometer you have isn't a very reliable type. Most of use digital thermometers/hygrometers with probes at tort level and a digital temp gun is great for spot checking temps in the different areas.

I hope that with a few changes and a place of his own your little tort will soon be better.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

So I've been searching for a tank stand for my 40 gallon breeder with no luck. I want something that looks somewhat nice, is fairly inexpensive, and is low set so it's easy to do maintenance from above. I've realized that coffee tables fit all those parameters.

Would there be any issue with using a coffee table as a tank stand? Any styles/materials that would be stronger? Any materials to avoid?

For a 40 gallon tank a coffee table should work but some of them are flimsy. Cheap IKEA tables and TV stands are okay if you don't put more than 50 pounds on it and don't plan to move it around. Warehouse shelving units are good alternative but don't look that nice