Finally have the winter house done!

[matt41gb]

I finally got around to fixing up the torts winter quarters. It's not really very cold here at night yet but I'm getting them used to going up at night. I basically put a divider down the middle to separate the sulcata and the red-foot torts. I built a shelf over them and used that as my base for the split cages on top. I have a rescue bearded dragon and a rescue uromastyx in there. I built the cage to the left today, I don't have anything in there yet. I made a hinged door for the red-foots to go in and each side has a heat lamp for warmth. So far it's working nicely and should serve them well this winter. Here are some pictures.

-Matt

 

[Greg T]

Matt, that looks great. Your torts look great also. I didn't know red-foots got that large.

Good luck, hope it works well!

 

[matt41gb]

Thanks! I've still got a lot to do, it's a work in progress. My biggest red-foot is about 16lbs. A friend of mine has two males that are much bigger then her. Yellow-foots get even bigger.

-Matt

 

[Yvonne G]

Nice, Matt. Where is all this located? In a shed outside? I like the "welcome" rock in the lizard cage!

Yvonne

 

[matt41gb]

Yeah, It's an outside shed that I had insulated. It stays really warm in there with the lights. I tried to design it where there was a lot of space for the animals to walk around and for me to make improvements. I'm going to buy a bigger shed next year.

 

[chadk]

Nice use of space! Do you have a thermometer system or t-stat to help manage temps?

Is that a nail sticking out in the redfoot section? (group photo to on the right side, face level with the torts)

Beardie and uro probably should have UVB and be seperated when you get the chance. The beardie looks kinda stressed. They have different diet and habbitat needs as well.

Just trying to be helpful - not being negative...

Any pics of the outside?

 

[matt41gb]

Nice use of space! Do you have a thermometer system or t-stat to help manage temps?

Is that a nail sticking out in the redfoot section? (group photo to on the right side, face level with the torts)

Beardie and uro probably should have UVB and be seperated when you get the chance. The beardie looks kinda stressed. They have different diet and habbitat needs as well.

Just trying to be helpful - not being negative...

Any pics of the outside?

It's actually a screw, I had to use what I had around the house. The screw is being cut off today! Like I said, I still have a lot of improvement to do.

I opened up the second cage for the Uro now that I've finished it. He really seems to like it. They weren't stressed at all while together. The bearded dragon never displayed any signs of stress, he's a pretty calm guy. They were both very relaxed and begged for food right along side of each other. They basically have the same care. Keep em' warm, feed greens, and an occasional dose of protein. Not much different.

I don't believe in UVB lights since I take them outside regularly. I think the UVB hype is overblown. I understand that is how they metabolize their vitamin D but I supplement and take them outside often. Plus when the shed door is open the sun shines right through. :O)

I'll take a picture of the outside of the shed, it's really not much to look at, ha! Thanks for the concern.

-Matt

 

[dreadyA]

Looks great mat. Your lizards ever show aggression towards one another

 

[matt41gb]

Looks great mat. Your lizards ever show aggression towards one another

Thanks! The bearded dragon did at first but it was nothing more than a "head bob" which he does anytime I introduce him to a new cage. They live peacefully together, I'm going to separate them anyway.

 

[fishtanker]

Is that my Pineapple I see? Nice work on the attachment. I'm glad she went to live with you.

 

[matt41gb]

Is that my Pineapple I see? Nice work on the attachment. I'm glad she went to live with you.

Yep! That is Pineapple. She is gaining weight and fitting in very well. Thank you so much for sending her to me. She is very sweet and has a good home with me.

 

[-ryan-]

Interesting setup. I think the reason your uro and beardie have been getting along is because they may be too cold. Keep in mind, beardies need basking surface temperatures of 110-130f, and uros need 130-150f (these are surface temperatures, not air temperature). Keeping the animals too cool is what results in a typically 'placid' disposition, as well as a host of problems such as impaction, parasite problems, metabolic diseases, etc. I know the few times one of my uromastyx had the opportunity to meet my beardie (on the floor in one of the reptile rooms), there was almost a battle royale, but the problem is that bearded dragons and uromastyx have completely different defensive strategies. A good tail whack from a healthy, strong uro is not a pleasant experience, trust me. It feels like getting hit with a small, spiked baseball bat.

I see you are separating them, so that is great I would also recommend providing an area for the uro with enough dirt to burrow in completely. These animals spend most of their time in their humid burrows in the wild. A rubbermaid bin with dirt in it and a hole cut in the side would work great for that.

Nice collection! The redfoots and the sulcata look great! I second the motion for outdoor pics! Do you have any herps that you keep inside your house? Do the lizards have outdoor living quarters as well?

 

[chadk]

+1 what Ryan said... (thought the basking spot temsp of the beardie sound high in my opinion - 110 is a high as i'd go).

Uros need no protein as well. Just healthy greens.

The dark colors on the beardie, especially if under the chin\neck (beard), is a sign of being stressed out too.

And the sun is the best source of UVB of course, so that is great that they have access to that.

 

[sammi]

Looks awesome =] I love the picture of the 2 redfoots trying to go thru the door at once, and it looks like the bigger one is saying "Outta my way, small fry!"

 

[jlyoncc1]

That is a really nice set up you have going! Your torts look great!

 

[-ryan-]

+1 what Ryan said... (thought the basking spot temsp of the beardie sound high in my opinion - 110 is a high as i'd go).

Uros need no protein as well. Just healthy greens.

The dark colors on the beardie, especially if under the chin\neck (beard), is a sign of being stressed out too.

And the sun is the best source of UVB of course, so that is great that they have access to that.

Yeah, beardies are often kept in the 95-110f range, which has proven acceptable with them, but when you think about the temperatures of the surfaces that they bask on in the wild, it can sometimes be double that. The uros definitely need very hot basking spots though. I notice that mine will usually bask for short periods of time, then go about their business, whereas the beardie tends to bask a lot more. Again, they are very different animals. Also, they are from very different parts of the world and harbor different pathogens, but the thread starter is separating them, and that is a good thing

Again, the animals look great. It's always exciting building something new for tortoises (and other reptiles). I have a lot of enclosures that I have built, some furniture grade and others not quite so much I notice that the beautiful furniture quality ones don't tend to work as well as the rougher ones though.