Maxatron4000
New Member
Hi All,
I've had my little dude for a month and got his enclosure to a state that I'm happy with but I would love you experts to look over it and tell me if I'm missing anything.
I started with this terrible 5 gallon glass enclosure and after reading Toms guide while looking for answers on lighting, I threw that thing out and made a new one.
The new enclosure is 21"-40" and made from old cabinet doors with the panels cut out and 3/8th plexi-glass placed in. The bottom is an old white board so I don't have to worry about anything rotting on the bottom. I ended up spending ~$100 for the plexi-glass and every thing else was scrap I had horded over the years
![20231013_121349.jpg 20231013_121349.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350324-cb6ede9159f5c7f3692a8c2602139162.jpg)
![20231204_095154.jpg 20231204_095154.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350326-fb938eec35c125c06c39fb21621e5be1.jpg)
Lighting and Heat:
I put water safe LEDs around the edge of the plexi-glass for ambient light and used a sconce to install a 100W incandescent bulb to give heat for the day. A UVB bulb is installed right next to the incandescent light and its switched on automatically between noon and 2pm (Should this be more?)
For heat I used a dimmer to reduce the output from the incandescent bulb to 100 degrees and pointed it at a rock for basking. The incandescent bulb is enough to keep the enclosure at 80-90 degrees all day but for at night I have 2 24W Reptile heating pads placed under the substrate which are controlled by a thermostat. These turned out not to be enough heat for the winter nights so I just added a Radiant Heat Panel on the lid which is more than enough for the job.
![20231204_095048.jpg 20231204_095048.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350327-718350ba7054d0faa5336d374ce76f46.jpg)
For the substrate I was able to find Orchid Bark locally and I love the look and smell but I didn't think to bake and sterilize it so after a couple weeks I started seeing some springtails? and other tiny bugs in the water dish. I ordered some Isopods and while I haven't noticed the isopods since I added them I also haven't seen the buggies in the water anymore. Anther thing that I think helped with bugs is I switched from a terracotta water dish to a ceramic one; this way water isn't accumulating under the dish. The ceramic dish is only 0.5" deep so my tort has no problem getting in and out.
![20231204_095145.jpg 20231204_095145.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350329-f78f46d85c42a2330b44096e9665454d.jpg)
I consciously put the heat lamp on one side of the enclosure so I could have a warm and a cool side of the enclosure. There is a ravine separating the two zones and a bridge connecting them; this gives a nice little track for my dude to run. I cut a terracotta pot for a humid hide and I pour water onto of this daily; I'm happy with this but after TeamZissou posted his humid hide, I think I'm going to make one of those now. I have had no trouble keeping the enclosure at 80%+ humidity even with my lid spaced so fresh air circulates through. I used anti fog films to help with visibility and while not perfect they defiantly help.
![20231019_100807.jpg 20231019_100807.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350330-a4f6267e2b2cf4c2107506adb626b26d.jpg)
![20231026_073227.jpg 20231026_073227.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350331-b62dede9e066ea6088dde0127bf89274.jpg)
For food I feed him greens from the supermarket at the moment, though I'm working on a garden for next year. One leaf of collared greens, dandelion greens or red leaf lettuce given twice a day. He always has a little on his plate so this seems like the right amount for now. I add a calcium supplement around twice a week.
I shoot for giving him a soak every day but honestly is more like 3x a week. I figure with the constant 80%+ humidity this is fine; am I correct?
![20231105_162721.jpg 20231105_162721.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350332-20d889415fd0eabec22f9c7a1a12eb57.jpg)
What do you think? Does this cover everything I need for him? Is there anything I should add or remove? Is there anything you would change ascetically or functionally?
Thanks everyone for being so supportive as I embark on this life long friendship.
I've had my little dude for a month and got his enclosure to a state that I'm happy with but I would love you experts to look over it and tell me if I'm missing anything.
I started with this terrible 5 gallon glass enclosure and after reading Toms guide while looking for answers on lighting, I threw that thing out and made a new one.
The new enclosure is 21"-40" and made from old cabinet doors with the panels cut out and 3/8th plexi-glass placed in. The bottom is an old white board so I don't have to worry about anything rotting on the bottom. I ended up spending ~$100 for the plexi-glass and every thing else was scrap I had horded over the years
![20231013_121349.jpg 20231013_121349.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350324-cb6ede9159f5c7f3692a8c2602139162.jpg)
![20231204_095154.jpg 20231204_095154.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350326-fb938eec35c125c06c39fb21621e5be1.jpg)
Lighting and Heat:
I put water safe LEDs around the edge of the plexi-glass for ambient light and used a sconce to install a 100W incandescent bulb to give heat for the day. A UVB bulb is installed right next to the incandescent light and its switched on automatically between noon and 2pm (Should this be more?)
For heat I used a dimmer to reduce the output from the incandescent bulb to 100 degrees and pointed it at a rock for basking. The incandescent bulb is enough to keep the enclosure at 80-90 degrees all day but for at night I have 2 24W Reptile heating pads placed under the substrate which are controlled by a thermostat. These turned out not to be enough heat for the winter nights so I just added a Radiant Heat Panel on the lid which is more than enough for the job.
![20231204_095048.jpg 20231204_095048.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350327-718350ba7054d0faa5336d374ce76f46.jpg)
For the substrate I was able to find Orchid Bark locally and I love the look and smell but I didn't think to bake and sterilize it so after a couple weeks I started seeing some springtails? and other tiny bugs in the water dish. I ordered some Isopods and while I haven't noticed the isopods since I added them I also haven't seen the buggies in the water anymore. Anther thing that I think helped with bugs is I switched from a terracotta water dish to a ceramic one; this way water isn't accumulating under the dish. The ceramic dish is only 0.5" deep so my tort has no problem getting in and out.
![20231204_095145.jpg 20231204_095145.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350329-f78f46d85c42a2330b44096e9665454d.jpg)
I consciously put the heat lamp on one side of the enclosure so I could have a warm and a cool side of the enclosure. There is a ravine separating the two zones and a bridge connecting them; this gives a nice little track for my dude to run. I cut a terracotta pot for a humid hide and I pour water onto of this daily; I'm happy with this but after TeamZissou posted his humid hide, I think I'm going to make one of those now. I have had no trouble keeping the enclosure at 80%+ humidity even with my lid spaced so fresh air circulates through. I used anti fog films to help with visibility and while not perfect they defiantly help.
![20231019_100807.jpg 20231019_100807.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350330-a4f6267e2b2cf4c2107506adb626b26d.jpg)
![20231026_073227.jpg 20231026_073227.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350331-b62dede9e066ea6088dde0127bf89274.jpg)
For food I feed him greens from the supermarket at the moment, though I'm working on a garden for next year. One leaf of collared greens, dandelion greens or red leaf lettuce given twice a day. He always has a little on his plate so this seems like the right amount for now. I add a calcium supplement around twice a week.
I shoot for giving him a soak every day but honestly is more like 3x a week. I figure with the constant 80%+ humidity this is fine; am I correct?
![20231105_162721.jpg 20231105_162721.jpg](https://data.www.tortoiseforum.org/attachments/350/350332-20d889415fd0eabec22f9c7a1a12eb57.jpg)
What do you think? Does this cover everything I need for him? Is there anything I should add or remove? Is there anything you would change ascetically or functionally?
Thanks everyone for being so supportive as I embark on this life long friendship.