Good starter indoor enclosure size?

[Lyra]

I've determined that I will be keeping the baby box turtle I found outside, so the next step is to build him an enclosure. I spent a lot of time reading today and think that I am going to start out with a smaller enclosure and then increase it after he grows past the juvenile stage. I looked around and found a 40 gallon stock tank that I could use to make a pretty decent-sized enclosure for him. Is that too big for a baby? The measurements are 38"L x 27"W x 13"H, due to its beveled shape it is probably closer to 24"W after the depth of substrate. I know babies can be sensitive to environmental changes and that is why they are usually kept in smaller quarters, but I wanted your opinion.

 

[beasy910]

I'm no expert, but that sounds like a decent size . My fist one was a Rubbermaid rough tote it cost less than 20$ at Walmart 42.7x21.4x18 in =3.50ft x 1.75 ft
Then later a better one
for like 80$ at lowes you can get a pond liner 57x30in = 4.75ft x 2.5 ft
I wound say just get the bigger one now and just use half of it till you feel like you need more room. Just get the temps and humidity right

 

[Lyra]

I need something a little smaller length-wise for now until I get my 90 gallon tank moved, unfortunately I'm just not strong enough by myself even if I remove all of the contents. I'm still in the process of building my rack system for my Leo's and that will free up some floor space as well. I was hoping the 40 gallon stock tank would hold him over for a year or two, by then I should be buying a house and I will have a better Idea of what kind of space I have for an adult enclosure.

 

[beasy910]

Yeah I understand that .the Rubbermaid container was pretty compact and had a lid . But it just seemed too small once I started adding thinks . The stock tank would work too but the are more expensive. Or do you already have it ?

 

[beasy910]

 

[beasy910]

 

[Lyra]

I can get one for about $30. I love Rubbermaid totes, I use them for my Leo's and all my feeder insects, but they feel so narrow. It could just be my claustrophobia, but I feel like a few more inches in width makes a huge difference, lol.

 

[beasy910]

Yeah if it's only 30 then go for it ! They are narrow , I felt like I needed a bigger one after like a month

 

[beasy910]

I got this pond liner it curves and fit perfectly on top of this old bar I had

 

[Lyra]

My cousin is a landscaper (owns his own business), so I have access to a lot of pond liners, but I'm going to wait until I get my own house before I shamelessly call in family favors.
I saw you're setup while browsing through the forum looking for information, it is beautiful!

 

[beasy910]

Right , yeah once you move you will have a better idea what size you can get . I want a bigger one still inside but I don't think my girlfriend would like it any bigger
Thank you ! , I need to build a outside enclosure . We have so many nice months here but right now it's just to cold for her so I'm not too stressed about it yet ,But I'm steady looking for good ideas .

 

[beasy910]

How big is your turtle ?

 

[Lyra]

Still a baby.

 

[beasy910]

Oh my god! I want one that size !! Yeah that stock tank will be plenty big!!

 

[Eric Phillips]

Hello! The 40 gallon is plenty big for a baby box turtle. The key is more in the temps and humidity. I really like the pond liner set up but I would be concerned about loss of humidity. However the enclosures look fantastic.

 

[beasy910]

Thanks !! I try to keep it above 80% I put so much substrate inside that once you get it wet it holds it well . I have to be careful, it gets up in the lower 90s on the deep side . I have two digital and three analog humidity testers and a couple of different thermometers to keep every side monitored so far I think I'm keeping it okay . But have to check it a lot . At night sometimes I have to run a space heater in that room to make sure it won't get too cold . I have had her long I got her in October so I'm still learning every day

 

[Lyra]

I am going to make a 'humid hide' area for him like I do for my Leo's. I'm in the room itself 3-4 times a day taking care of all the reptiles, and spraying the Anole tank once a day is enough to keep its humidity at 75% in a partially-screened enclosure, so I am going to use my hygrometer and see if I can achieve the same results in the stock tank. If not, I am going to make a cover for the tank to keep more of it in.

 

[beasy910]

Haven't had her long *

 

[beasy910]

Yeah I'm sure you can keep it at 75 just by misting often ,depending what kind of lights you have

 

[Lyra]

I've been debating between an MVB or a UVB and heat bulb. I think I'm leaning more towards the UVB and heat bulb over the MVB because of the ambient temperature in the room. It stays around 75 degrees in the room itself, and sometimes gets warmer than that, so it would be easier to turn off the heat bulb and still be able to leave the UVB on. I do love the MVB I have for my male beardie, but it really does dry the air out which is not really what I want for the turtle.