Diy tortise box build

Knap_123

Active Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
177
View attachment 182159 View attachment 182160 View attachment 182161 View attachment 182162 View attachment 182163 View attachment 182163 View attachment 182161 View attachment 182161 View attachment 182162 View attachment 182163 He guys, I'm doing my homework before I get a tortoise. And I need to get a proper enclosure set up before winter. I want a redfoot by the way. So I'm a DIY kind of guy . There's a dump behind where I work. Suppose to be just wood, limbs, leaves and such. Anyways, I went back to scout out what I could use. Found some treated 3/4" plywood, 2X4s , wire, and drain already cut. And a table of some kind made from treated plywood. Saving $ on materials will allow me to spend more on equipment and of course my turtle. I'll post pics as I go along with the build. And please help me out. I've never built a turtle box or kept 1 .View attachment 182159 View attachment 182159
 

Knap_123

Active Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
177
This table could also have potential. I cut the legs off and have a idea for it. Also found some acrylic or Plexiglas glass.IMAG0366.jpg IMAG0377.jpg IMAG0379.jpg IMAG0380.jpg
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,655
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Looks like you hit the jack pot. Some good stuff there. Just make it as big as you can and you might want to seal it with something tort safe seeing you don't know what might be in the wood that could possibly be harmful.
 

Knap_123

Active Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
177
I hope I didn't make the whole thing to high. I didn't want to have to bend over to look inside . I want to be able to sit and see inside OK. I can shorten legs later on if need be.
 

Alexio

Active Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2016
Messages
338
Location (City and/or State)
Syracuse, New York
It's okay if it's kind of high because then you can adjust the light higher or lower to get the basking spot right. Many people build it too short and cannot enclose the light and suffer humidity problems as a result. As the tort grows you can raise the light.
 

Knap_123

Active Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
177
Thanks Aexio , that's a good point. Well, couldn't find anymore free ply. So went to home depot and got a warped piece 70% off. So it cost me $ 6.75 !! So far that's how much I have invested. And I went to my local city recycling. They have different aIMAG0403.jpg reas for ,paper, plastic and such. Found a little t5 fixture and they said take it. Maybe I'll find a use for it.IMAG0402.jpg
 

Knap_123

Active Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
177
IMAG0405.jpg IMAG0406.jpg K, I got the other side on and front. Well the fronts tacked on. Might need to remove to cut window opening. Now my depth is 18". So how much soil will I need? That way I know how high to cut opening.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,405
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
This table could also have potential. I cut the legs off and have a idea for it. Also found some acrylic or Plexiglas glass.View attachment 182173 View attachment 182170 View attachment 182171 View attachment 182172

O-o-o-o-o...I would LOVE to be able to scrounge around in that 'dump'! You can cut the black plastic pots in half lengthwise for hiding places. Also, that corrugated piece of black pipe is a good hiding place.

Whatever you do, keep us in the loop. We learn from each other.
 

Knap_123

Active Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
177
Thank you guys! Pearly you made my day.haha so how much dirt do I need to add? How many inches? Walls are 18" high
 

Knap_123

Active Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
177
OK , got some stakes and cut to fit inside bottom perimeter. Helps to fill gap and reinforce walls.IMAG0407.jpg IMAG0407.jpg IMAG0414.jpg
 

Knap_123

Active Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
177
Went ahead and layer out my window. The very bottom line is the bottom. The second line up is where my soil sits. So it's 5" of soil.and then the window.IMAG0416.jpg
 

Knap_123

Active Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
177
Went ahead and added center brace. Used a good wood screw to pull the bow out. Good and fairly straight now.IMAG0420.jpg
 
Top