Help! I can't build

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dramrah

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I'm in the process of acquiring a tort, but I really have no skill at building things. Does anyone know any sites or pet stores that sell interesting tortoise tables? Preferably not just plain ones. I've found a couple on some sites that sell live reptiles, but they only ever have one and it's always just plain brown wood. Suggestions?
 

lynnedit

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Not sure what kind of tort you are getting, assuming a Mediterranean tortoise? Or where you live?
I believe that in the US, tort tables for sale tend to be kind of small. If you don't have a very large tortoise (hatchling or young tort), these are nice, and the owner of this site is a member of this forum.
http://www.tortoisesupply.com/products/Tortoise-Table.html
If you are getting an adult tort, you can see if you can find a wood bookcase on Craigslist or in a used furniture shop, turn on its side, remove the shelves, line with a heavy duty shower liner and you are good to go. Places like Target sell bookcases quite cheaply, but the backing tends to be thin and usually has to be replaced with a piece of plywood.
In the UK, there are a lot more tortoise table options, and people who make and ship them.
 

N2TORTS

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Well Dram'.....coming from a contractor ( I build all my own enclosures) ...here is a neat , inexpensive tip you might try. Look at garage sells,( or you may have one not in use) thrift shops or even a new cheap'e from Target, wall unit, bookshelf and or dresser, flip it on its back remove drawers/shelfs ...and Wa ~la ' Instant table .. and usally finished in a variety of colors, wood types ect.

JD~:)
 

Angi

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I can't build anything either. My tort table is made out of a piece of an old entertainment center. I used cinder blocks for legs and painted it. It turned out pretty nice. I have it in my family room.
 

sulcatababies1402

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Im no builder but i can surely take things apart lol My tort table is a bookcase laid on its back shelves removed lined with black plastic liner.I was freaking out about not having a proper home for Bowser then i glanced over at a empty bookshelf and saw his future home lol It worked out perfectly and i even have room to grow it a little as i left one shelf in.Getting a second sully hatchling on Saturday so i will probably expand it :) demensions now are 22 1/2 wide x 36 1/2 length with about another 24in of room length wise to grow on if i remove more shelves(at the moment i keep his stuff in those extra separations) :)
 

dramrah

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Thanks for all of these great tips, guys! I'm looking into a young marginated tort and I live in Seattle. Very much considering the beige table from TortoiseSupply. Soooo excited!!
 

SailingMystic

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I just got the Tortoise House from Amazon for $80 with free shipping!! Love it :) some parts slide in and out to let you design as you wish. Hemi loves having his log-- so I pulled the divider cave entrance wall out and had plenty of room for his log and plants. You can get a few and attach them too. Very cool! Google Tortoise House- there is also a screen like cover so the heat lamp can shine in on water dish, etc. It came in 3 days too!
 

cherylim

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I'm also not a builder. The idea of creating my own tortoise table was terrifying, so for my first go I bought a proper pre-made table, 4ft x 2ft, with the light fixings and everything. When it's time to get another, I'll be buying a wardrobe or chest of drawers and turning it on its side, now that I've seen how it needs to be, properly, and I can just take the light fixture off the old one and fit it onto the new one.

The price of pre-made tort tables is very high for what's essentially a wooden box, but I know how scary it can be first time! I think destroying something is much easier than creating it.
 

charlie23

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dramrah said:
I'm in the process of acquiring a tort, but I really have no skill at building things. Does anyone know any sites or pet stores that sell interesting tortoise tables? Preferably not just plain ones. I've found a couple on some sites that sell live reptiles, but they only ever have one and it's always just plain brown wood. Suggestions?

Ye go on eBay they have some reeli good ones I'll try link some to you
 
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