Hoshi's New Pen

[hoshi]

So as you may know I've started work on a 8x2 pen for Hoshi (baby Star).

Here is an initial sketch. The pen will be 8FT long and 20Inches wide with a 12inch glass wall in the front and one side and a wooden wall on the side of his house and the back (so I can screw light fixtures etc).

There are three closets on the bottom. The first, on the left under his house, will store my small refrigerator, the second has a glass front and will be my bar, and the third will be storage for shoes, books, etc.

The Pen will start at a height of 34inchs (4inch pegs + 30 inch storage) and will end at 46inchs from the ground - I wanted it high enough to where I can sit on my bed and see through the front (the front glass will face my bed).

I hope to get my hands on some garden bedding (cypress mulch + coco husk) --- which is not available in India (unfortunately -- so trying to order it from the US but they don't ship that to India argh! --- someone help!) and cover 4x2 with that substrate. The rest will be big pebbles, newspaper etc.

I am also deciding on a UVB + Basking or just an MVB for him (reason I'm torn is because I'm not sure if I require a basking due to the 75+ degree temp here). Will decide soon

Hope to plant some weeds, grass, flowers etc - and place some hide boxes and other fun stuff. Suggestions welcome!!!!!!!

Any other bright ideas with the design - do drop in a line.

Will post progress pics as and when.

Cheers!

 

[HLogic]

Surely you could find something equivalent to cypress locally. I would think that coconut fiber would be easily acquired from the west coast of India at least.

 

[hoshi]

I've gone potty looking for some!! It's crazy but there isn't any in the market. Really frustrating! The only option is some local hay (which they stuff in mango boxes, and which you find at the barn) which I can cut up and make a 2inch layer of. But that stuff doesn't look as appealing as a forest garden mulch bag.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Batman:

It sounds like a pretty big project. Be sure to shoot us some pictures.

 

[tortoises101]

Do post some pics of the finished product. Your plan sounds like a good one!

 

[geekinpink]

Hi! i love your idea, wish I thought of it too One thing i want to suggest or maybe you've thought of it already remember to make the top of their hidebox removable for easy cleaning, I made a mistake with mine, it was fix so I had to remove the whole hidebox to clean.

We really have the same situation cannot find a good substrate where I live...to get some coconut husk/coir, i had to buy some from people who sells coconut juice and I sun dried it myself.

 

[hoshi]

Did that work? I thought sun drying would burn it and make it coarse

 

[geekinpink]

it did work, but don't leave it too long it does get very dry...I had some that were dry but after spraying it with a bit of water its better...I've stopped using it though because my torts does not like it, they get off balance walking on it.

 

[hoshi]

Work in progress. Looks quite dingy right now but once the glass is in place and the wood is all polished I think it should look just fine

 

[Robert]

So far so good! Nice work.

 

[tortoises101]

Can't wait to see the end result!

 

[hoshi]

Another Update.

 

[Jessicap]

looking good! It is coming along very nicely, good job.