It has begun....outdoor enclosure build

JLM

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@Tom Oh my goodness the struts are the bomb!!! It took trial and error because there aren't really instructions for measuring that don't require trigonometry. I went from it taking everything I had to open it to being able to open with 2 fingers and close it as well. Amazing!!
I have video but it's too big. Let me figure out how to post it
 
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JLM

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Bad news. We put the shingles on today and the added weight means the struts don't lock in the up. Still easier to lift though.
 

Erik Elvis

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I like these builds. Will be building an outside enclosure next spring. Trying to get all the info I can get.
 

JLM

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They moved in this week!
I have been unable to keep the humidity above 56%. What can I use as far as a humidifier or something? I can put it on a timer so it's not running all the time and making it too wet. I've sprayed the substrate and also used tubs of water. I need a more aggressive solution. Thanks!

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Levi the Leopard

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They moved in this week!
I have been unable to keep the humidity above 56%. What can I use as far as a humidifier or something? I can put it on a timer so it's not running all the time and making it too wet. I've sprayed the substrate and also used tubs of water. I need a more aggressive solution. Thanks!

Using damp coco coir in my box (same design) I struggle to lower the humidity! Mine stays 70-80% easily.

I'd ask,
1. Are you sure the substrate is in fact damp enough?

2. Is your hydrometer accurate?

3. What type of light bulb are you using? I see a light, right?
I use an LED bulb to provide light without drying out the substrate.

If it's wet enough, accurate and not an incandescent bulb, then I got nothin..

Looks great though! And I'm interested in the struts :cool:
 

JLM

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Ok the humidity is under control now using this with a digital hygrometer
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CO9582Y/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

And installed these fans on the ceiling to move air around connected to thermostat
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JLV4BWC/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

The oil filled radiator connected to the thermostat didn't work. It would not be running even though the thermostat said it was below temp. It's like the rheostat on the heater overrides the thermometer. Any ideas for how to correct that? I've got it plugged directly in now and it's managing temps ok I guess. Now that outside temps are cooling I can get Days in the mid 80s and nights in the low 70s inside the box. Cooler than I'd like though.

I have a Kane mat on the way but right now usps has "lost" it since it was due here Tuesday and it's still not here yet. I'll use that for additional heat. Since I have substrate in the box is it ok as long as I keep it clear? Will this be an issue?

What else can I do before it gets colder for prolonged periods?
 

JLM

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Woah - how has it been more than a year already? So to catch you all up

1. we could not keep the house heated enough during January/February cold in the panhandle. We just couldn't figure out why - the house is built like a tank and has insulation!!! So we brought Ruby into the bathroom and used a Christmas tree storage box for those few months. Though now that he's bigger that would not be an option for more than a day or two.

2. Oh yeah, I said HE - Ruby the female that I purchased, turned into Rueben during his July vet check up - so that was awkward! He celebrated his 4th birthday this summer. The outdoor enclosure is now full of growth and really took off this year.


3. We tried again with something to keep the heat in before winter this year. I climbed inside the house and shut the lit (claustrophobia alert) and noticed that there were bigger gaps than we thought and the weatherstripping was doing nothing! So we brainstormed and used foam pipe insulation and stapled that to the top of the lid. We kept testing (with me inside the house) until I couldn't see light any longer. Immediately was able to maintain 80 degrees and 80% humidity. We have been in the start of our panhandle winter and haven't even thought about bringing him in once. Everything is working as it should. Thank you @Tom for your amazing house plans. Have you tried the struts yet?

I won't be away for so long again....look forward to catching up.

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Yvonne G

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I thought you had two. What happened to the other tortoise?

This thread is great. thank you so much for sharing all your hard work with us. It really helps explain to new keepers when I can link threads such as this for them to look at.

I love that you planted in the cinder blocks. the whole enclosure is really nice.
 

JLM

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I thought you had two. What happened to the other tortoise?

This thread is great. thank you so much for sharing all your hard work with us. It really helps explain to new keepers when I can link threads such as this for them to look at.

I love that you planted in the cinder blocks. the whole enclosure is really nice.

Good memory Yvonne (or you scrolled back a couple pages) I had posted a thread on here about the loss of that guy. He was full of worms when I got him. Treated him for 2 rounds of dewormer (6 doses) over a couple months and eventually he stopped eating and was listless. We took him on for critical care at vet and he didn’t make it through the night. He never was healthy and never made it out of isolation. Thank goodness I’d done enough research here that I didn’t put them together! Lesson learned about taking in a turtle from a non breeder too
 

JLM

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Today was house cleaning day. I use a kids plastic garden rake and turn all the mulch while ruby took a bath
 

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JLM

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I haven’t updated in awhile, we are on the 2nd full year of our enclosure now and things are still going great. I hadn’t been weighing him as often over the winter because I could tell how much he was eating in his winter box. Now that’s it’s been warm enough to be outside 24/7 I figured I’d better get a weight on him to keep better track. I can’t believe how much bigger he’s gotten! His 5th birthday is at the end of this month!
 

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Blackdog1714

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Mugging for the Camera. Awesome all around. So sorry the other didn't make it. Glad you listened to the isolation theory on intake. Many years to enjoy!
 

JLM

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So....I found a friend for Rueben she’s coming next week. I will keep separate until it’s time to go outdoors again. I’m excited but super nervous also!!
 

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lynnedit

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Wonderful thread. I love all of the preparation you did, including watching the drainage patterns in that area prior to building.
It would be great to see a couple of overall pics of the growth in the outside tortoise area. How is the ‘pond’ working out?
 

JLM

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Thanks I guess I don’t have pics of the grown enclosure. The focus is on Ruby I guess lol I’ve only seen him use the pond once but who knows!
 

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JLM

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Here’s when I caught him using the pond
 

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