First Enclosure

[cakebits]

Hi,

I am getting my first enclosure today and I am a bit nervous about setting it up wrong.

I dont know what the cool and hot area should be, from what I've read it should be 23-32 C.

Also, for the base I was going to use topsoil and kids playsand, is this ok?

I was thinking of decorating it up with some rocks and tree branches from the garden - is this ok or would the branch be bad in this environment?

Also, I have seen people place a shallow rock underneath the lamp to absorb heat - I am not sure about this one, but if its ok well then I might do it.

I have done some research over the past few weeks but alot of things I read contradict the next - aaaahhhhhh.

Anyway, be grateful of any tips.

 

[jeffbens0n]

What type of tortoise are you getting and what kind of enclosure is this going to be? (Tortoise table, aquarium, kiddie pool, indoors, outdoors, etc.)

 

[dmarcus]

I would avoid the sand if possible due to the possible risk of impaction and everything else sounds okay even the rock to absorb heat, I use that myself...

 

[cakebits]

Its a hermann tortoise, just put the balls in motion a little over an hour ago for him to make his trip from a breeder in the uk over to Ireland.

Its a vivarium that I am setting up, I have lot of wild and wonderful things growing in the garden and I am trying to put as much research into setting up the vivarium before himself arrives in 2 weeks.

Just want to make sure I have everything right.

Thanks for the info so far, very helpful.

 

[tyler0912]

I use a piece of black slate which absorbs heat really well it absorbs heat untill 11:00pm (when the basking light goes off) and the tortoise will still bask for an hour or two on the slate as it stays warm and acts like a heat matt for a good couple of hours then he will go to his real heat matt and sleep hope this helped!
We love pics when you get him/her....
I live in UK so im imagining irelands weathers are similair to UK.....
So it will be hard to get him/her outside everyday but what i do i get her outside every little bit of heat we have...(not if its chilly) i try my best somedays 20 mins outside sometimes 8hrs outside weather so unpredictable...
I agree i used sand for a day....tortoise wunt stop muching to it soo lots of luke warm baths to get it out his system...then...new substrate...
Many people try and dodge Wooden Vivariums as they have bad circulation what age is your tortoise?...
hatchling....juvenile....adult?
Hit should be okay for a hatchling up to a juvenile (or something like that!! )
Hope this also helped...
I dont know anything about hermans....
I own a redfoot .. im sure herman mothers and fathers will be here soon
What part of ireland??

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x x x

 

[cakebits]

Hows tricks?

I'm from Cork - I think I have some slate left over from a house build, maybe a little marble but that might look a bit cr@p if i didnt do it properly.

Yeah, its a wooden vivarium unfortunately but I will do my best to do what I can with it as I paid decent money for it.

I've seen some vivariums up on this website and its like being in a forest, with plants and moss and all sorts of stuff - my real question now is how do I even start to do that?
I'd be worried I would put something in that would be poisonous to the tortoise.

I think the tortoise I will be getting will be 1 year old Herman.
I am doing all my homework now to make sure in 2 weeks time I am not stuck with something dodgy to be putting himself into.

I have a long night ahead of me, bloody flat-packs - i am going to need a few beers to help me I think - it could really go one of two ways actually.

 

[tyler0912]

hhaha im not saying get rid of your vivarium i like vivs easy to control temps and humidity etc...
haha few beers sounds good...
well enjoy and never herd of 'cork' ?
i like how you done your hmwrk first! and there is alot of places to see if the plant you use is edible or toxic....weeds etc..here is one sheeled warriors has a little part which you doint need to register to look at you!!
ENJOY!! YOUR TORT DONT' STRESS YOURSELF OUT!

 

[Momof4]

There are plenty of enclosure ideas on the forum. Have fun researching it and getting ideas. You can look up safe plants for your tortoise as well.

 

[cakebits]

Cheers, will enjoy my beers but there aint nothing stress free about flat-pack.

Whatever happened to the good aul days of buying aready assembled furniture and getting it into the house via the bedroom window.
Ah - the good aul days when smoking was good for you and 'Where's Wally' was as stressful as life got.

 

[wrmitchell22]

Welcome to TFO. There are some people on here that use Vivariums and do a very nice job with them, I think TerryO uses them, maybe try looking at some of her enclosure threads. Good luck, I can't offer a lot of help I live in the Desert and my tort is outside all day

 

[tyler0912]

TerryO uses aquariums i think?

 

[Stephanie]

Terryo seriously has some of the best vivariums on here. I'm stylizing mine after ideas from hers.
Welcome to forums!

 

[Yvonne G]

I believe Davitt (cakebits) said the vivarium is wooden. Probably less confusion, Davitt, if you would refer to your new habitat as a tort table rather than a viv. Vivariums are made out of glass, like an aquarium.

Just stay calm. I'm sure it will all come together nicely. Be sure to send us some pictures, maybe even progression pictures...we love them.

A lot of tortoise keepers use top soil and sand mixed together. I prefer orchid bark or cypress mulch, but I don't think very many folks in the UK use those products. Just keep your baby well hydrated and you don't have to worry about sand impaction.

What are the dimensions of your new tort table?

 

[lynnedit]

Yours does sound like a tort table, even if one side is perspex or glass.
Substrate can vary but if it is a hatchling, you may want to minimize or skip the sand. Once they get older, some like to add it at 30% or even more, but others just don't like it and have had their torts get eyes scratched, etc. Thus, the confusing info.
Organic topsoil/dirt (not potting, you don't want those little white vermiculite pieces that they can eat), cypress mulch, orchid bark coir, or a combination mixed together. Keep the warm side moister, just pour in a bit of water and fluff in.
Yes, Some rocks and branches. 'Site barriers' are nice (they have to walk around them), I have seen little bamboo fences in some UK enclosures.
A shallow dish for soaking. A piece of slate to bask and feed them on; keeps nails and beaks trimmed. A couple of hides on either side.
UVB light on 'warm side' at about 95. Either no heat on the 'cool side', or if your house gets <60, perhaps a low watt cermamic heater (these are heat only) on at night to get the area up to 65 to 70.
Safe plants:
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_19.asp.
Other inside UK enclosures;
http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4941
good luck!

 

[cakebits]

after 15 minutes with the flat pack, I had to walk away from it.
Came back an hour or so with some nice scotch whisky and I done it in 2 hours, which is great for me as I've been known to do some serious damage just using the microwave.

Anyway, all done - now I need to start thinking hard about the interior design - thanks everyone for all your advice, really appreciate it.

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This is my local garden centre that I will be buying plants from for inside my enclosure.
http://www.futureforests.net/default.htm

Want to make it look forest-y

Appreciate any tips

 

[tyler0912]

pictures of your enclosure please even if its empty just want a look
?

 

[hoopalou]

Hi Cakebits, it's lovely to see someone else here from Ireland. Sure I'm only up the road from you in Wexford. I have 7 hermann tortoises and would be happy to help you in so much as I can with anything you might need.

Louise

 

[cakebits]

not sure if this uploaded ok

 

[tyler0912]

uploaded fine.... it looks cool,
when will you get it up and running ??
You should keep the heat lamp on for a couple days to see if it stays at a constant temp when i used a viv i drilled holes in it and put a vent over it for air etc...

 

[cakebits]

Hi Cakebits, it's lovely to see someone else here from Ireland. Sure I'm only up the road from you in Wexford. I have 7 hermann tortoises and would be happy to help you in so much as I can with anything you might need.

Louise

Hi Louise

Thats great, I would appreciate that.
Its hard to know at the beginning I suppose.

I just want to go at furnishing the inside of the enclosure and make it as active as possible with tons of hiding places for himself.
I am just afraid of putting in the wrong plant, Im heading out later actually to have a look in a garden centre but I will be shopping blind really.

On a website that Lynne gave me, I saw that flowering currant, fuchsia, lavender, myrtle and rosemary are safe bets but I am not sure what would make a good hiding plant.

Gonna go up the mountains at the weekend looking for bog moss.