Is there way to reduce space taken by vivarium?

[Ember909]

I'm thinking of getting a Mesopotamian tortoise in the near future, and for its vivarium I was wondering something. I am planning on 32 square feet of floor space (the amount of space in a 4x8 pen) and was curious, is there a way to have it take up less than 32 square feet on the floor, but still have that much interior floor space? I don't even know if that's possible, I can have it take up the full space if necessary but I'd rather not because I don't have a huge amount of extra room. Any thoughts? (I considered a permanent outdoor pen, but it won't really work in my climate.)

 

[Tom]

I'm thinking of getting a Mesopotamian tortoise in the near future, and for its vivarium I was wondering something. I am planning on 32 square feet of floor space (the amount of space in a 4x8 pen) and was curious, is there a way to have it take up less than 32 square feet on the floor, but still have that much interior floor space? I don't even know if that's possible, I can have it take up the full space if necessary but I'd rather not because I don't have a huge amount of extra room. Any thoughts? (I considered a permanent outdoor pen, but it won't really work in my climate.)

Where in CA are you? In the 909?

If yes, your climate will be excellent.

I explain how to do it and show pics here:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Ember909]

No, I am about 20 miles north of San Fransisco. We get lots of cold and rain in winter, and occasional freezes in spring.

 

[PA2019]

Make the enclosure 2 stories. I have an 8x3 with another 8 sq ft 2nd level.

 

[Tom]

No, I am about 20 miles north of San Fransisco. We get lots of cold and rain in winter, and occasional freezes in spring.

It can still work. People do it in the UK and there weather is worse than yours.

 

[KarenSoCal]

Make the enclosure 2 stories. I have an 8x3 with another 8 sq ft 2nd level.

When I look at your pix, it looks like 3 pictures of the same thing. I don't see a 2nd level.

Do you have any that show both levels?

 

[Tom]

I am planning on 32 square feet of floor space (the amount of space in a 4x8 pen) and was curious, is there a way to have it take up less than 32 square feet on the floor, but still have that much interior floor space?

YES! This man can help:

 

[PA2019]

When I look at your pix, it looks like 3 pictures of the same thing. I don't see a 2nd level.

Do you have any that show both levels?

 

[Ember909]

YES! This man can help:
View attachment 310560

Oh great! My problems are over! You don't happen to have his email address?

Two stories, that sounds like a good idea. I imagine you use some kind of shallow ramp with guard rails so that the tort can go between them? Also, how does that interact with heating?

 

[PA2019]

Oh great! My problems are over! You don't happen to have his email address?

Two stories, that sounds like a good idea. I imagine you use some kind of shallow ramp with guard rails so that the tort can go between them? Also, how does that interact with heating?

Check out the pics I posted in this thread. My CHEs are in the front 2/3rds of the tank, away from the 2nd level. Also I have 2 fans that gently blow towards the CHEs so heat is distributed over a large area and not focal.

 

[Ember909]

Make the enclosure 2 stories. I have an 8x3 with another 8 sq ft 2nd level.

That looks like a great idea! I will probably be using that for my vivarium. Thank you!

 

[KarenSoCal]

Ah, yes! Now I see. If you don't mind, I'm going to keep copies of these. Sometimes newbies ask about 2 story enclosures. It's nice to have pix to show how others have done it.

 

[PA2019]

Ah, yes! Now I see. If you don't mind, I'm going to keep copies of these. Sometimes newbies ask about 2 story enclosures. It's nice to have pix to show how others have done it.

Here is the entire build thread on the 2 story tank if you want to reference it in the future.

8’ x 3’ x 2’ two story XPVC build

Really excited to get started on my second XPVC build. Mostly gathering materials today.

www.tortoiseforum.org

 

[KarenSoCal]

Here is the entire build thread on the 2 story tank if you want to reference it in the future.

8’ x 3’ x 2’ two story XPVC build

Really excited to get started on my second XPVC build. Mostly gathering materials today.

www.tortoiseforum.org

Thank you!