Enclosure help

[hollym]

Hello, I just inherited an ~8 year old Russian tortoise and he came with a 2x3 ft box. I’d like to build a nicer looking 4x8 ft simple enclosure. Ive looked thru the posts and it’s all a little overwhelming!

I can slap together a sheet of plywood and some sides, but I know if it doesn’t look at least decent, it’ll drive me crazy!! I also know it can’t be overly complicated, we just have basic tools here. Someone recently shared an L shaped build that I really liked. But that might be a bit above my skill level.

Does anyone have some pics of over looking builds they can point me to? Or pics of their own build they could share?

This is for inside.

 

[Renee_H]

Hello, I just inherited an ~8 year old Russian tortoise and he came with a 2x3 ft box. I’d like to build a nicer looking 4x8 ft simple enclosure. Ive looked thru the posts and it’s all a little overwhelming!

I can slap together a sheet of plywood and some sides, but I know if it doesn’t look at least decent, it’ll drive me crazy!! I also know it can’t be overly complicated, we just have basic tools here. Someone recently shared an L shaped build that I really liked. But that might be a bit above my skill level.

Does anyone have some pics of over looking builds they can point me to? Or pics of their own build they could share?

Is this for indoors or outdoors? You can make one for outside without any tools at all. If it’s for inside have Home Depot cut the board and then assemble with wood screws. I had no prior building skills before I found this hobby either.
Here is the no tools option I mentioned above for inspiration! Sold at Home Depot

 

[hollym]

Thanks for the pics! I’ll definitely save them for later if I build something outside. But this will be for inside.

 

[Renee_H]

Thanks for the pics! I’ll definitely save them for later if I build something outside. But this will be for inside.

How to build a tortoise table out of a bookshelf - Tutorial with pictures!

How to build a tortoise table from a bookshelf. Tutorial with pictures.

tortaddiction.blogspot.com

Maybe check out market place for a large book shelf and adapt it! The bin used here in this example can be found at Home Depot with the cement mixes.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

You might find some of these photos helpful:

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[hollym]

Thanks for the link. Interesting to see all of the different enclosures!

I suppose I'm looking for a front view of what the actual tables look like. How people finish off the outside to make them more visually appealing to the humans in the house!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Thanks for the link. Interesting to see all of the different enclosures!

I suppose I'm looking for a front view of what the actual tables look like. How people finish off the outside to make them more visually appealing to the humans in the house!

This is in my opinion one of the more visually pleasing ones: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/our-modular-russian-tortoise-table-s.224773/#post-2181844

 

[hollym]

Yeah. I really like how that looks. I just wasn’t sure I could build it. Suppose I could show it to my husband and see if he thinks we could.

 

[Daffodil]

Renee,

Thanks for the pictures and inspiration! I've been starting to think of an outdoor solution for my Russian. He's not even a year, yet, but I'd like something he could spend a couple hours a day outdoors in during the summer.

What did you put on the bottom? Weed barrier? Or something more to keep a tortoise from digging out? Do you have a Russian and does he dig much?

What kind of boards did you use? And what dimensions?

Thank you!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

How to build a tortoise table out of a bookshelf - Tutorial with pictures!

How to build a tortoise table from a bookshelf. Tutorial with pictures.

tortaddiction.blogspot.com

Maybe check out market place for a large book shelf and adapt it! The bin used here in this example can be found at Home Depot with the cement mixes.

I believe this blog is made by a member here on the forum @biochemnerd808

 

[Renee_H]

Renee,

Thanks for the pictures and inspiration! I've been starting to think of an outdoor solution for my Russian. He's not even a year, yet, but I'd like something he could spend a couple hours a day outdoors in during the summer.

What did you put on the bottom? Weed barrier? Or something more to keep a tortoise from digging out? Do you have a Russian and does he dig much?

What kind of boards did you use? And what dimensions?

Thank you!

Oh I just googled these as examples. I don’t have this sort of setup. I have a fence enclosure.

 

[SinLA]

@Littleredfootbigredheart

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Yeah. I really like how that looks. I just wasn’t sure I could build it. Suppose I could show it to my husband and see if he thinks we could.

You can also check this build:

Enclosure Progress & some questions 🐢

Been working on two enclosures for my soon-to-be son, a Russian Tort named Sunny 🌞 We still have to add a topper, substrate, and enrichment to the outdoor one. Plus add a frame for the cold box to sit on top of. We were thinking creeping thyme for some ground cover with stones in between (think...

tortoiseforum.org

The design is not extremely complicated but with finishing and small details it looks very nice. And there is a lot of walking space.

The simpliest enclosures are just raised garden beds (wooden, galvanized steel or plastic) with a plywood, OSB or similar base and pond liner (to protect base from moisture).

 

[hollym]

We’ve finally figured out what we’re building and got it started. Kind of took inspiration from the ones you guys posted. I need some help with lighting/heat now. It’s not fully built yet, so I can’t take a pic, but I want to get an idea of where to put the lights to make sure I have the design thought thru.

It’s going to be an open top, L-shaped enclosure. With one 96” x 32” leg as the long side and a 48” x 32” leg attached to it.

The short leg is going to be in front of a west facing window. In the winter our house is a fairly consistent 65 F and the summer 75 F. The room this is going in is a sunny side of the house. And does get a little warmer when we keep the shade open.

So my thoughts were to put the uvb fluorescent light on the short side. The basking area kind of in the corner, close-ish to the uvb light. Then have some led lighting, cabinet type lighting leds around the enclosure for general all day lighting.

My concern is, is that warm enough throughout the year for the bigger area? Do I need to put something on the longer side?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

For an adult Russian tortoise these are fine temperatures. You can get supplemental heaters (like ceramic heat emitters) for the nighttime but keeping large open table warm is not very efficient strategy. Also, he might decide to brumate in the winter and you won't need any heat at all (only the fridge).

 

[hollym]

We finally got something together, not quite done, but its close. We still have to figure out the light hangers and their placement. How hard can that be?!? lol

It’s definitely not as nice as the modular linked earlier. And not as finished as I’d like. But it’s ok and it’s a lot bigger than his old 2x3 setup at 32 sq ft.

I have to say, this whole plan and build process has been time consuming and not nearly as easy as I thought it’d be. And if I never have to work with pond liner again, it’ll be too soon!! Making a L shape was probably over complicated for a beginner, I’m sure we made mistakes, but it fits the spot a lot better than a rectangular 4x8 size would have.

Thanks for all the recommendations and links. I’m sure I’ll have more questions later!

 

[COmtnLady]

'Love the way you alternated the corner joints! You can come to my house and build one just like this!!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

We finally got something together, not quite done, but its close. We still have to figure out the light hangers and their placement. How hard can that be?!? lol

It’s definitely not as nice as the modular linked earlier. And not as finished as I’d like. But it’s ok and it’s a lot bigger than his old 2x3 setup at 32 sq ft.

I have to say, this whole plan and build process has been time consuming and not nearly as easy as I thought it’d be. And if I never have to work with pond liner again, it’ll be too soon!! Making a L shape was probably over complicated for a beginner, I’m sure we made mistakes, but it fits the spot a lot better than a rectangular 4x8 size would have.

Thanks for all the recommendations and links. I’m sure I’ll have more questions later!

It looks really nice! Keep us updated on progress!

 

[Tom]

We finally got something together, not quite done, but its close. We still have to figure out the light hangers and their placement. How hard can that be?!? lol

It’s definitely not as nice as the modular linked earlier. And not as finished as I’d like. But it’s ok and it’s a lot bigger than his old 2x3 setup at 32 sq ft.

I have to say, this whole plan and build process has been time consuming and not nearly as easy as I thought it’d be. And if I never have to work with pond liner again, it’ll be too soon!! Making a L shape was probably over complicated for a beginner, I’m sure we made mistakes, but it fits the spot a lot better than a rectangular 4x8 size would have.

Thanks for all the recommendations and links. I’m sure I’ll have more questions later!

This is a great design. I love it that he can get sunshine through the window, but that won't overheat the whole enclosure like it would in something smaller that was all closed in. Plenty of room for him to get out of the sun whenever he feels the need. The window will filter out UV, but the tortoise can still bask in the warm bright sunshine in that spot.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Wonderful build! Look forward to seeing it set up!!