Here's the table I built for my 3 Ibera Greek Tortoise hatchlings out of a bookcase my Reptile Specialist shop was selling for $20. Measuring 60 X 24 X 9 inches it was a hard to pass up opportunity. Most of what I learned about how to equip the table is from a 20 year veteran breeder.
You can see from the final pics that it was dismantled and rebuilt it to suit the mission. The bottom shelf was re-drilled and the existing hardware reused to mount flush with the bottom to gain 3 inches of real estate. One of the middle shelves was prepared the same way so that all surfaces were finished that same way (no bare wood). Backboard replaced with 1/4†plywood (go with 1/2â€Â). Rough side up for traction. Chips epoxied back in place.
Here’s the fun part. All seams were bonded using 30 minute epoxy for a waterproof seal. The back board was washed with one good coat of diluted epoxy (diluted 50% with rubbing alcohol) just for waterproofing and easy cleanup. Two coats would smooth the rough plywood. Not what we want. All the other surfaces were coated several times with the Polyurethane. One coat was like furniture polish, the simulated artificial faux wood finish was restored and looked new. The rest of the coats are for wear and tear.
Table holding it all off the floor is just a folding card table.
Table Contents:
Flagstone stepping stones
Zoo Med Habba Hut
Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 lamp
Zoo Med Light Stands
Zoo Med Mini Dome
Zoo Med Temp/hydrometers
Zoo Med Eco Earth (Coconut husk)
Zoo Med Forest Floor (Cypress)
GE Reveal 100w Full spectrum lamp
All Glass Double Striplight
All Glass 8000K lamps
Fluker Jacuzzi XL
Flats of Dichondria
Temps near the basking rock are 85-90F. Nightime lows are @65F. Mini Dome is within a foot of the rock. Strip light is simply suspended from the light stands. Reveal lamp is there just for heat and the fluorescents are really there for UVB and to keep the plants alive.
The flagstone stepping stones provide tactile sensory stimulation (different textures different feelings) as well as a way to wear the claws and sharpen the beak.
The plant flats are watered outside and rotated with other flats. They will be divided into smaller containers so that there can be several plant varieties for food available.
Log hus are petty much stuffed with Cypress. The kids will flatten it out over time as they see fit. The log will work for some adults, just drill a hole and add some wooden dowel legs to raise it up.
Construction Pics:
Table pics (without Cypress):
Piggy Pics:
Somebody Had Ants In Their Pants And Wouldn't Sit Still
Cheers!
You can see from the final pics that it was dismantled and rebuilt it to suit the mission. The bottom shelf was re-drilled and the existing hardware reused to mount flush with the bottom to gain 3 inches of real estate. One of the middle shelves was prepared the same way so that all surfaces were finished that same way (no bare wood). Backboard replaced with 1/4†plywood (go with 1/2â€Â). Rough side up for traction. Chips epoxied back in place.
Here’s the fun part. All seams were bonded using 30 minute epoxy for a waterproof seal. The back board was washed with one good coat of diluted epoxy (diluted 50% with rubbing alcohol) just for waterproofing and easy cleanup. Two coats would smooth the rough plywood. Not what we want. All the other surfaces were coated several times with the Polyurethane. One coat was like furniture polish, the simulated artificial faux wood finish was restored and looked new. The rest of the coats are for wear and tear.
Table holding it all off the floor is just a folding card table.
Table Contents:
Flagstone stepping stones
Zoo Med Habba Hut
Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 lamp
Zoo Med Light Stands
Zoo Med Mini Dome
Zoo Med Temp/hydrometers
Zoo Med Eco Earth (Coconut husk)
Zoo Med Forest Floor (Cypress)
GE Reveal 100w Full spectrum lamp
All Glass Double Striplight
All Glass 8000K lamps
Fluker Jacuzzi XL
Flats of Dichondria
Temps near the basking rock are 85-90F. Nightime lows are @65F. Mini Dome is within a foot of the rock. Strip light is simply suspended from the light stands. Reveal lamp is there just for heat and the fluorescents are really there for UVB and to keep the plants alive.
The flagstone stepping stones provide tactile sensory stimulation (different textures different feelings) as well as a way to wear the claws and sharpen the beak.
The plant flats are watered outside and rotated with other flats. They will be divided into smaller containers so that there can be several plant varieties for food available.
Log hus are petty much stuffed with Cypress. The kids will flatten it out over time as they see fit. The log will work for some adults, just drill a hole and add some wooden dowel legs to raise it up.
Construction Pics:
Table pics (without Cypress):
Piggy Pics:
Somebody Had Ants In Their Pants And Wouldn't Sit Still
Cheers!