Covering an enclosure

[Ryuu2713]

Right now, my redfoot is housed in a 4 x 2 table, and I can't really keep the humidity up. The gauge often reads high, but it doesn't feel humid at all.

Several have suggested covering it up, but with what? Right now I put some wet paper towels on the screen to see if that'd help.

 

[lisa127]

I have always used plexiglass.

 

[Ryuu2713]

Will the heat from my lamp go through that? Or will I need to set it up at an angle?

 

[lisa127]

Oh, no. You can not put the lamp on the plexiglass. Where is the lamp now? Is it suspended or do you have a screen top it sits on?

NM, I just reread it and see you have a screen top. What I'm doing right now with my juvenile box turtle is I cover the entire screen top with heavy duty foil and just cut out holes for the lights. But I have glass on the sides to see in so the foil is no problem. Maybe what you can do is cover half the screen with the foil (the half where the lights are) and cut out the holes for the lights. Then cover the other half with the plexiglass, which you can see through.

 

[bigred]

You could cut a round hole in the plexiglass and mount the light to it so it doesnt move

 

[Ryuu2713]

The light is hanging from a lamp hook, above the enclosure. It has a screen top for some reason too!

 

[theelectraco]

You can use foil to help trap the heat and humidity, also. Plexiglass works better and looks a lot better tho

 

[Levi the Leopard]

you have been given great ideas.

let us know what you end up doing

 

[Ryuu2713]

I bought some plexiglass, but am unsure if I should drill holes in it or not.

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Well, I have some plexiglass to cover the enclosure, but it occurs to me, will the heat from my lamp pass through it? Or do I need to position the lamp somewhere its not covering? I have a large, dual heat lamp, with 100 watt bulbs currently. It hangs from a zoomed stand.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

your heat lamp will not pass through the plexiglass.

I think UV rays will not, either.

you have to cut holes out or leave the area for the lights un covered

 

[Ryuu2713]

Would a bunch of tiny drill holes work to let the heat and uvb in while still trapping moisture?

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Would a bunch of tiny drill holes work to let the heat and uvb in while still trapping moisture?

no, tiny drilled holes will have the opposite effect. you will lose a great amount of humidity and the plexiglas with absorb the heat before your Tort does.

 

[Ryuu2713]

So how can I make sure the covered side stays warm?

 

[theelectraco]

You are going to have to cut out a spot for your light to set above so that the correct amount of heat and UVB are getting into the enclosure.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

I can't link to any pictures right now that would help show you (using my phone app) but next time I'm at the computer I will.

If you want a covered enclosure, you cover all areas except where the lights are. I have a screen lid on mine and have used aluminum foil and now clear plastic taped to the cover the screen. I have 3 lights on top and have holes cut out around the fixtures. I have no problem keeping the covered areas warm. In fact, this closed chamber effect helps keep my temps up and stable.

 

[Ryuu2713]

Pictures would help, I might have to get a new UVB light because my current fixture just kinda sits on the edge of the enclosure wall, its not mounted or anything. Its just a big confusing to me lol.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Haven't been on a computer yet but I haven't forgotten..

I'll try tonight to link to some pics for you

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here is the top of my leopard's indoor enclosure. it is a screen top covered with clear plastic and clear masking tape. i cut holes around the light fixtures. i do not use artificial UV lighting but you get the idea,

let me find some pics of covered tables with plexiglass...

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this link has some plexiglass pictures
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-21291.html

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here you can see the plexiglass cut around the fixture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/madkins007/5027047415/

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hope you get ideas from this...

let me know if you still have questions

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/madkins007/5027045407/in/photostream/