How do I enclose this?
- Thread starter CJ63
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Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that enclosure is really not suitable for tortoises, regardless of how it is marketed. If you see this soon enough, maybe you can return it and get a more tortoise friendly type of habitat.
Just out of curiosity, what do you recommend for commercially available enclosures?
I agree with Zovick. A pop up greenhouse works much better and inexpensive. You can also purchase a smart enclosure from @Markw84 and it will have everything you need with it
I will post a pic of the greenhouse style I'm talking about. If you do google or Amazon searches you can find them in many lengths. They just need a little modification, like a tarp for the floor
I will post a pic of the greenhouse style I'm talking about. If you do google or Amazon searches you can find them in many lengths. They just need a little modification, like a tarp for the floor
Starr239
New Member
I have a similar enclosure just in white. I have kept my small red foot in it for over a year just fine. I have a repto-mister on a timer for humidity and I spritz the substrate the temp and humidity is fine. It works for us.
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Personally, I always used Neodesha and Vision tortoise tubs. I don't believe either of them are still available.
The best option today would be to buy a fully enclosed smart chamber from Markw84. Here is a link to his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SmartTortoiseKeeper/
This next option would be better than the wooden cage from Amazon and could be covered with a grow tent or plastic greenhouse to maintain humidity: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Black-Large-Concrete-Mixing-Tub-A-42/318924309
Also available are the Waterland series of tubs which could also be placed under a grow tent or greenhouse to maintain proper humidity:
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
A red foot is the last species you want to keep in a set up like this, humidifiers can be really problematic, especially for this species, they simply make the surface area wet to temporarily boost your humidity, it’s not actually maintaining your ambient humidity properly and damp surfaces aren’t desirable for red foots, they’re much more prone to fungal infections.
You’re also highly unlikely to be keeping the preferred ambient temperatures for a red foot in an open top.
Do you have a photo of your tortoise?
This housing thread covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, please double check your bulbs), correct levels, importance of a closed chamber for red foots(only way to maintain the humidity you need indoors), appropriately maintaining the humidity(they are prone to shell rot so this is important! No misters or humidifiers), safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, a diet list and a really handy diet link to check out! If going with a greenhouse, the lower the ceiling height, whilst still allowing for recommended bulb height, the better! But I’ll add some more ideas below for closed chambers
Young red foot/ cherryhead set up
Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information on an effective example of a starter enclosure for a red foot/cherry head😊 Care advice for these guys is painfully behind, fb pages, YouTube, pet stores, they’re all repeating the same outdated advice, this forum is made of...
tortoiseforum.org
This includes different closed chambers, some work better than others
Visual inspiration
Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...
tortoiseforum.org
Lastly, this one here is important to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying
Common keeping errors
Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...
tortoiseforum.org
I really hope they help! Please do feel free to reach out with further questions!!
@CJ63 to answer your original post, I completely agree with the above statements, these wooden houses are a complete waste of money, can you make tweaks to see you over until you can change it? Potentially, but I’d definitely look into other housing, please do check out the ‘visual inspiration’ thread and ‘common keeping error’ thread. Of you let me know what species you’re looking to get, we can pass on the correct care sheets
Ill attach a photo for an idea on how to adapt this enclosure if you can’t return it
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I am sorry to tell you this also Starr239, but you are most likely stunting the growth of your tortoise using that enclosure. The hut area is almost the size of a full grown Redfoot Tortoise, and the yard area is barely large enough for an adult Redfoot to turn around, let alone walk about freely as they need to do.
CJ63
New Member
I like this idea. Thanks!
Can you post a pic of your enclosure and Redfoot?
RandyTortoise
Well-Known Member
I have Marks’ enclosed smart chambers. However, try this product. I have heard good things about it.
Animal Plastics Cages, Racks Systems, Incubators, and More
Reptile cages, Rack systems, Incubators, Show Displays and much more
apcages.com
RandyTortoise
Well-Known Member
Animal Plastics Cages, Racks Systems, Incubators, and More
Reptile cages, Rack systems, Incubators, Show Displays and much more
apcages.com
The this one. Marks smart enclosures are great. But this is seemingly ok.
Never use misters, sprayers, or foggers. They put droplets in the air, not humidity. They make the top layer of substrate damp, then evaporate off creating a cooling cycle, so you can NOT maintain a good level of humidity or temperature. RedFoots need 84% humidity and 84F degrees, 100% of the time for their entire lives. They are a tropical species and NEED those conditions.
Look at the "nose holes" of your tortoise. They are really small - and the droplets are bigger than the openings of them, which makes it difficult for your tortoise to breathe. The droplets become like water boarding; they are harmful to your tortoise's lungs and can cause respiratory infections. A damp top layer also encourages fungal infections.
The best way to keep your humidity steady is to have the lowest layer of substrate act like sponge, holding wettness that can slowly vaporize up through the upper several inches of substrate. Any time your gauges say the humidity is dropping a percentage or two, you pour a couple cups of warm water in the corners only, then wait a few hours to see how much those cups of water raise the humidity. If it needs more, add more and, again, wait to see how much it raises it. Its easier to add to rather than to try to remove or deal with excessive, so go slowly until you are used to how much your enclosure changes and needs corrected.
What are you using for substrate?
.
Look at the "nose holes" of your tortoise. They are really small - and the droplets are bigger than the openings of them, which makes it difficult for your tortoise to breathe. The droplets become like water boarding; they are harmful to your tortoise's lungs and can cause respiratory infections. A damp top layer also encourages fungal infections.
The best way to keep your humidity steady is to have the lowest layer of substrate act like sponge, holding wettness that can slowly vaporize up through the upper several inches of substrate. Any time your gauges say the humidity is dropping a percentage or two, you pour a couple cups of warm water in the corners only, then wait a few hours to see how much those cups of water raise the humidity. If it needs more, add more and, again, wait to see how much it raises it. Its easier to add to rather than to try to remove or deal with excessive, so go slowly until you are used to how much your enclosure changes and needs corrected.
What are you using for substrate?
.
What species and size tortoise are you housing? This will determine what type of housing is best.
As has been said, those enclosures are totally unsuitable for any tortoise species at any size. They are too open for babies, too small for any adult of any species, and the wood will rot with the correctly maintained moisture.
