Enclosure criticism please!

[PMQ]

I am going to be receiving a hermann's tortoise in a few days and need to make sure my enclosure is properly set up!

Dinosaur Egg hide

basking spot, humid hide, food rock

water dish

75W MVB (gets temps up to 93-97)

the humidity is a bit too high if I'm not wrong? (I just soaked the compressed coir blocks not to long ago so the substrate may be a bit too moist atm)



I'm going to add a couple plants tomorrow to make it more dense

 

[Tom]

Your humidity is fine. Soon it will be too dry with that open top. I'll bet you will need to cover most of that top in the near future.

I can't tell how deep the coir is, but make it really thick and then hand pack it down really well.

I'd replace the cardboard with something plastic.

And my only real criticism is that it is too small. If you are getting a tiny hatchling, I think it will be okay for a while, but be thinking bigger soon.

What is your basking temp under the lamp?


You asked for criticism, but I think you are off to a pretty good start there. You've already avoided some of the major mistakes that some people make, so good for you.

 

[PMQ]

Your humidity is fine. Soon it will be too dry with that open top. I'll bet you will need to cover most of that top in the near future.

I can't tell how deep the coir is, but make it really thick and then hand pack it down really well.

I'd replace the cardboard with something plastic.

And my only real criticism is that it is too small. If you are getting a tiny hatchling, I think it will be okay for a while, but be thinking bigger soon.

What is your basking temp under the lamp?


You asked for criticism, but I think you are off to a pretty good start there. You've already avoided some of the major mistakes that some people make, so good for you.

the basking temp is 93°-97° at places along the rock. And yea for a tiny hatchling I figured it would be alright for now, as it gets bigger I am going to add more tubs.

 

[TortMomma]

Can't tell if you did this or not but tape some paper around the outside of the tank so the tort doesn't keep ramming the glass thinking he can walk through it.


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise

 

[PMQ]

Can't tell if you did this or not but tape some paper around the outside of the tank so the tort doesn't keep ramming the glass thinking he can walk through it.


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise

Yea I'm was thinking about that. If I can I'm going to try and make it busier inside the enclosure so the transparency isn't a problem.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I like the cuttle bone monolith I would be concerned about the cardboard, though, it might get soggy. I'm glad you decided on setting the light instead of hanging! No, that humidity is great. It'll be hard to keep up though, those lights can dry stuff out fast

 

[Abdulla6169]

Transparency isn't a problem with my tortoise & I believe it wouldn't usually be a problem with most tortoises... As long as all parameters are perfect & the size of the enclosure fits the tortoise

 

[naturalman91]

i'd put lots of plants real of fake and i'd cover the top like tom said, i've never had problems with my torts and glass i know people who have so if it stress him/her just put paper up on the sides to block there view out

 

[PMQ]

[Q UOTE="naturalman91, post: 934042, member: 37188"]i'd put lots of plants real of fake and i'd cover the top like tom said, i've never had problems with my torts and glass i know people who have so if it stress him/her just put paper up on the sides to block there view out[/QUOTE] does it matter which side I cover the top on? Shouldn't their be a warm
Humid side and a cooler side?

 

[naturalman91]

[Q UOTE="naturalman91, post: 934042, member: 37188"]i'd put lots of plants real of fake and i'd cover the top like tom said, i've never had problems with my torts and glass i know people who have so if it stress him/her just put paper up on the sides to block there view out

does it matter which side I cover the top on? Shouldn't their be a warm
Humid side and a cooler side?[/QUOTE]

you want both sides covered so you can have a ambient humidity and heat and you'll save money on heating if you use a thermostat it'll kick off when it reaches correct temps and kick on when it fall's below a couple degrees

 

[crimson_lotus]

Do you have any UVB sources in there?

And my tortoise loves running into transparent walls/reflections. I guess I have one special tortoise.

 

[PMQ]

Do you have any UVB sources in there?

And my tortoise loves running into transparent walls/reflections. I guess I have one special tortoise.

The light is an MVB, but I plan on taking my tort out for an hour or so each day for his UVB needs

 

[PMQ]

H humidity going strong

 

[PMQ]

Just got tortellini on Friday and he's doing well! I also added a couple plants and rocks and such to spruce up his home.

 

[Yvonne G]

Aw, and he's eating when you take him outside. He seems very well-adjusted.

 

[littleginsu]

OMG. The egg hide is so fitting and adorable!!

 

[lismar79]

So cute! Just so you know, see that frilled edge weed next to the clover he is eating, that is creeping charlie & it is a mildly toxic plant

http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/plants_19.asp?st=true&mode=main&catID=413

 

[christinaland128]

In a couple months, you can find those huge Christmas Tree storage boxes at most stores. I turned one of those into my enclosure...

 

[christinaland128]

They're 4ft.

 

[PMQ]

So cute! Just so you know, see that frilled edge weed next to the clover he is eating, that is creeping charlie & it is a mildly toxic plant

http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/plants_19.asp?st=true&mode=main&catID=413

Yea I was aware at the time, I just watched closely and made sure he didn't go after it