Corrugated pipe ramp?

[Tidgy's Dad]

Well, like you say it's not the most beautiful enclosure in the world, but I think it's rather wonderful.
A touch of genius about it, original and practical, a great set up.

 

[Yvonne G]

That's a great way to give your tortoise more space. Have you seen him go up and down the ramps?

Maybe fill in the spaces between the "steps" a little with substrate???

 

[leigti]

Thanks guys. Yes it is not a true close to chamber, the shower curtain is open on both sides and actually I could cover the entire bridge with it but I'm not going to. I like the idea of filling in some of the space between the rungs with substrate. I put her halfway up and then halfway down and she was able to climb both ways. But when I put her on the top she doesn't quite know what to do. So I'm just going to leave her alone for a while. I guess I should've taken pictures while I was constructing it, too late now I'm not going to take it apart here's a closer picture of the Rose and here is the underside, I used a door hinge and screws to attach them. So the angle can be changed to a certain degree. Are used spare material from a garage I had built this year.

 

[Russianuncletwo]

Thanks guys. Yes it is not a true close to chamber, the shower curtain is open on both sides and actually I could cover the entire bridge with it but I'm not going to. I like the idea of filling in some of the space between the rungs with substrate. I put her halfway up and then halfway down and she was able to climb both ways. But when I put her on the top she doesn't quite know what to do. So I'm just going to leave her alone for a while. I guess I should've taken pictures while I was constructing it, too late now I'm not going to take it apart View attachment 152999View attachment 153000 here's a closer picture of the Rose and here is the underside, I used a door hinge and screws to attach them. So the angle can be changed to a certain degree. Are used spare material from a garage I had built this year.

I think my reply didn't post a few minuts ago but I was curious about traction and you are giving me an idea to lay reptile carpet over little "steps" like you have

 

[leigti]

I put the traction tape down first and then I glued little dowels on top of it. But doing it the other way could work also. I don't know much about reptile carpet but it would probably work. I just put substrate between the rungs and across the bridge part like Yvonne suggested and my tortoise does seem to like it a little better.

 

[leigti]

Yay! She just went down an entire side all by herself. OK no more play-by-play I just got excited there.

 

[Russianuncletwo]

I put the traction tape down first and then I glued little dowels on top of it. But doing it the other way could work also. I don't know much about reptile carpet but it would probably work. I just put substrate between the rungs and across the bridge part like Yvonne suggested and my tortoise does seem to like it a little better.

great! It didn't look like substrate would have worked but that's the best solution-also "familiar substance" to them as well!!

 

[Russianuncletwo]

Your success reminds me of the other day when i put a temporary "bridge" up-Luna went to top 3 times, then on 4th try decided he could do it safely and walked down to his favorite area--all by himself! The comfort zone showed on him that there was actually a safe connection between two of his little indoor "worlds".

 

[leigti]

Yeah, pure substrate wouldn't have worked but when you add it to the rungs it works pretty well it is steeper than it should be but it's what I had to do. Somebody with real carpentry skills and more money could make this very nicely. I could paint it and all to try to make it look nicer but oh well. It actually works pretty well for the purely functional theme I have going here.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Yeah, pure substrate wouldn't have worked but when you add it to the rungs it works pretty well it is steeper than it should be but it's what I had to do. Somebody with real carpentry skills and more money could make this very nicely. I could paint it and all to try to make it look nicer but oh well. It actually works pretty well for the purely functional theme I have going here.

The substrate idea was good and seems to have done the trick!
Sorted, I hope!

 

[Anyfoot]

Yeah, pure substrate wouldn't have worked but when you add it to the rungs it works pretty well it is steeper than it should be but it's what I had to do. Somebody with real carpentry skills and more money could make this very nicely. I could paint it and all to try to make it look nicer but oh well. It actually works pretty well for the purely functional theme I have going here.

I must have spent 20 minutes looking at your enclosure. I couldn't work out where the steps were. I'm a bit fik at times. Lol.
Looks good. How have you secured the plastic sheet to the underneath of the 2 desks.
Your going to have to remind me, what species do you have?

 

[Jodie]

Very clever! I think that will keep her busy. Is it as steep as it looks? Is she going down it ok? I think that absolutely works. Good job!

 

[leigti]

I have a Russian in this enclosure. Those are stock tanks that I am using. I didn't want to cut a hole in them because then they would be ruined for any other purpose. So I built the bridge. I just use Basic little clips like this to secure the plastic. before I used the plastic it would take to 125 W bulbs for one enclosure just to keep it warm in the winter. Now it only takes one bulb per enclosure. And the humidity stays up easier. If it gets a little too hot or humid I just opened up the plastic a little. It's not super secure anyway. Interestingly, even though it is open across the little bridge it is warm on that bridge.

 

[leigti]

Very clever! I think that will keep her busy. Is it as steep as it looks? Is she going down it ok? I think that absolutely works. Good job!

Yeah, she goes down fine. I think it is a little better now that I put the substrate between the rungs. Now she's just sitting under the lamp resting. She's had a hard day with me putting this up all around her. I feel better now that she has more room.

 

[Russianuncletwo]

what's nice about your stock tanks is they have some curved edges, not sharp corners; as far as the reptile carpet I referenced before' it's the rolled up green material,, very thin and washable, that most pet stores sells-either ZooMed or ExoTerra make the most common one. No need to beautify your ne setup-it works! Also if you modify, things look better if raw/unpainted to begin with.

 

[leigti]

I liked the stock tanks because of the taller edges. I felt like I could make a more interesting environment for my tortoise. Hills etc. They don't have as much floor space as a rectangle shape but it's OK. It took me a while to figure out the lighting and heat and the problems were solved mostly with the shower curtain. After I got my first couple electric bills that winter I had to do something. The top edge of the tank is also not sharp which is nice. They are actually pretty versatile. The room I have them in is just for tortoises. So it doesn't have to be pretty.