Feedback on cage design plans?

[Mons]

I have posted on here before about a new cage for my tortoise. Time has passed, our cat passed away, we adopted 2 new cats, I got laid off, got a new job, and now finally went through with the expenses and got my now-7-year-old male Russian tortoise a modular cage, a table to set it on, new radiant heat panels, and, well, I need to order a few more things, and then need to put it all together and let the sealant sit, before he gets to enjoy his new digs, but I thought this was an ok time to ask for some feedback, mainly to do with placement of things...

This is my old post from 2023: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/t...-two-enclosure-companies.205763/#post-2062517

I ended up going with a modular, lesser-known cage company, who at some point changed their name to Apex Reptile (https://apexreptile.com/pages/quality-modular-pvc-reptile-enclosure), after watching some videos and asking for reviews from others who bought them for their own pets (see

or

https://www.reddit.com/r/tortoise/comments/105aw7g/apex_cages_modular_lshaped_designs

). I have yet to break open the box and see it all together, but l have high hopes.

My main question, I think, is, does this sketch I made, showing where I will have things, look alright?

In it, I know windows and things make a difference, so I am showing that I plan to place it against a corner fireplace that we don't use (we have the flue (?) closed 100% of the year; my husband has weak lungs, so no smoke).

Our apartment 99% of the year ranges in temperature from ~63° to 75° F, and for a few days of the year, it gets to like 80/85 max.

He is still strictly a lives-indoors-only dude. (We do not have permission to use the empty lot next to our apartment, although we are able to access it, so when it is sunny and warm, I take him out to walk in the weeds and grass in the empty lot next to our apartment. I am trying to do this more often. Editing to add that I am watching him the whole time, just following him around, so that no predators can get him and so he can't get himself in a pickle or escape.)

The cage, once built, will be these 3 sizes stuck together in an L-shape:

2 - 4' x 2' x 2' PVC cage with vents and drop-down glass doors (or not glass? I forget their material...)
1 - 2' x 2' x 2' PVC connector box with windows

The things I have or am planning to get are:

have:
2 - 90W 12"x22" ProMist radiant heat panels

planning to get:
2 - 22" Arcadia 24W T5-H0 12% D3+ desert serious UVB bulbs
1 - 75W Arcadia basking flood bulb
1 - Jungle Dawn 12" LED bulb

I plan on placing things like so:

- 1RHP and 1UVB bulb in each of the 4x2 cages.
- 1 LED bulb in the 2x2 connector cage.
- 1 basking flood bulb in one of the cages, kind of in a back corner, but not super close to the corner (need to reread Tom's guidance on distance from corners for basking heat lamps and things)

I have an extra 80W RHP, as well as an extra 22" 24W T5-H0 12% UVB bulb. These two things are in Shelly's cage currently. I can place them in the new cage as well, in the 2x2 connector cage, but I'm not sure if that would be the right move, or if it would be too much uvb and rhp, because I think the vet yesterday was saying Shelly should be able to get away from heat and UV if he wants, so I took that to mean, maybe I should leave the 2x2 connector without those things, and instead just use an LED light there, and then maaaaybe I could even try to grow some weeds in that section of his cage for him.

I have a heat gun and a solar meter and a thermometer/hygrometer checker (not great, need a better one), so I can use those to try and take care that I get the temps and humidity right. Oh and I also have a timer thermostat thing that will let me control when things go on and off, as well as what levels to set them at.

I also have an extra 2x2 connector cage, for maybe in the future turning this into the double decker cage idea I had a while back, or to just extend the length of the cage even more at a later point... Space-wise, the 2 4x2s and 1 2x2 is going to be a tight squeeze in our apartment, until we can organize and get rid of more things in the future, so this extra one probably won't get used right now. I dunno. TBD.

So! Sorry for the novel.

You all are long time pros. What are your thoughts on my plans? Anything I need to do or not do?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I have posted on here before about a new cage for my tortoise. Time has passed, our cat passed away, we adopted 2 new cats, I got laid off, got a new job, and now finally went through with the expenses and got my now-7-year-old male Russian tortoise a modular cage, a table to set it on, new radiant heat panels, and, well, I need to order a few more things, and then need to put it all together and let the sealant sit, before he gets to enjoy his new digs, but I thought this was an ok time to ask for some feedback, mainly to do with placement of things...

This is my old post from 2023: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/t...-two-enclosure-companies.205763/#post-2062517

I ended up going with a modular, lesser-known cage company, who at some point changed their name to Apex Reptile (https://apexreptile.com/pages/quality-modular-pvc-reptile-enclosure), after watching some videos and asking for reviews from others who bought them for their own pets (see

or

https://www.reddit.com/r/tortoise/comments/105aw7g/apex_cages_modular_lshaped_designs

). I have yet to break open the box and see it all together, but l have high hopes.

My main question, I think, is, does this sketch I made, showing where I will have things, look alright?

In it, I know windows and things make a difference, so I am showing that I plan to place it against a corner fireplace that we don't use (we have the flue (?) closed 100% of the year; my husband has weak lungs, so no smoke).

Our apartment 99% of the year ranges in temperature from ~63° to 75° F, and for a few days of the year, it gets to like 80/85 max.

He is still strictly a lives-indoors-only dude. (We do not have permission to use the empty lot next to our apartment, although we are able to access it, so when it is sunny and warm, I take him out to walk in the weeds and grass in the empty lot next to our apartment. I am trying to do this more often. Editing to add that I am watching him the whole time, just following him around, so that no predators can get him and so he can't get himself in a pickle or escape.)

The cage, once built, will be these 3 sizes stuck together in an L-shape:

2 - 4' x 2' x 2' PVC cage with vents and drop-down glass doors (or not glass? I forget their material...)
1 - 2' x 2' x 2' PVC connector box with windows

The things I have or am planning to get are:

have:
2 - 90W 12"x22" ProMist radiant heat panels

planning to get:
2 - 22" Arcadia 24W T5-H0 12% D3+ desert serious UVB bulbs
1 - 75W Arcadia basking flood bulb
1 - Jungle Dawn 12" LED bulb

I plan on placing things like so:

- 1RHP and 1UVB bulb in each of the 4x2 cages.
- 1 LED bulb in the 2x2 connector cage.
- 1 basking flood bulb in one of the cages, kind of in a back corner, but not super close to the corner (need to reread Tom's guidance on distance from corners for basking heat lamps and things)

I have an extra 80W RHP, as well as an extra 22" 24W T5-H0 12% UVB bulb. These two things are in Shelly's cage currently. I can place them in the new cage as well, in the 2x2 connector cage, but I'm not sure if that would be the right move, or if it would be too much uvb and rhp, because I think the vet yesterday was saying Shelly should be able to get away from heat and UV if he wants, so I took that to mean, maybe I should leave the 2x2 connector without those things, and instead just use an LED light there, and then maaaaybe I could even try to grow some weeds in that section of his cage for him.

I have a heat gun and a solar meter and a thermometer/hygrometer checker (not great, need a better one), so I can use those to try and take care that I get the temps and humidity right. Oh and I also have a timer thermostat thing that will let me control when things go on and off, as well as what levels to set them at.

I also have an extra 2x2 connector cage, for maybe in the future turning this into the double decker cage idea I had a while back, or to just extend the length of the cage even more at a later point... Space-wise, the 2 4x2s and 1 2x2 is going to be a tight squeeze in our apartment, until we can organize and get rid of more things in the future, so this extra one probably won't get used right now. I dunno. TBD.

So! Sorry for the novel.

You all are long time pros. What are your thoughts on my plans? Anything I need to do or not do?

Thanks in advance...

hello! I’ve seen those style set ups before and thought they looked good so I’m excited to see this build!

Love the planning you’re putting into this, quick question, are you sure you couldn’t get away with the one RHP you already have? Judging by your house temps, I think you’d only need one, do the ambient temps not hold in your current 4x2 set up without the panel? Cause I understand then if you’re wanting one in each of the 4x2’s, but if the panel is hardly ever on, a second one might be a waste, I guess it’s never bad having a back up one though! Especially if you may be expanding at some point, in that event I think the panel placement you have should work.

This is the kind of layout I think I’d try, two of the led strips, I think you’d be fine with just the one uvb light, the basking light will help keeping that 4x2 section lit, if your house drops to 63 lowest, it won’t go much lower that end at night which is fine, and you can set the RHP to 70-75. I think aim for one basking bulb and one of the t5 uvb, the basking heat is what will draw him to the uv area during the hours he most likes to bask(important to mount those closer together), I don’t see the point in a second uvb personally.

I’m definitely curious what the more experienced folks think though, it’s good to run everything by the more tech savvy folks first, I’m curious what @Alex and the Redfoot and @Tom thinks

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!

A few suggestions, if you don't mind:
1. A single UVB light should be enough, given the enclosure layout. Cluster JungleDawn, basking and UVB lamps in a single section to provide a bright warm area. As far as I read, tortoises don't specifically seek UVB and heat but look for the brightest areas to bask.

2. More ambient lights in the enclosure are beneficial (often visible light is underprovided). 12" JungleDawn makes a good highlight of the basking area but for 20 sq.ft. you need more light (you can opt for less expensive shop lights or grow lights like Sansi LED, Barrina, etc.).

3. Very likely, you won't need additional heat sources (like RHPs) for an adult Russian tortoise. During the day bright LEDs + UVB + basking lamp will rise temperature significantly and 65F during the night is okay.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello!

A few suggestions, if you don't mind:
1. A single UVB light should be enough, given the enclosure layout. Cluster JungleDawn, basking and UVB lamps in a single section to provide a bright warm area. As far as I read, tortoises don't specifically seek UVB and heat but look for the brightest areas to bask.

2. More ambient lights in the enclosure are beneficial (often visible light is underprovided). 12" JungleDawn makes a good highlight of the basking area but for 20 sq.ft. you need more light (you can opt for less expensive shop lights or grow lights like Sansi LED, Barrina, etc.).

3. Very likely, you won't need additional heat sources (like RHPs) for an adult Russian tortoise. During the day bright LEDs + UVB + basking lamp will rise temperature significantly and 65F during the night is okay.

Great pointers as always Alex!!