Little Leopard got a Home Makeover...

[Floof]

Lately, I've been noticing my little Leo tort's humid hide is getting too small. To the point where, today, he couldn't even fit through the hole! So, I decided it was time for a new humid hide... But I couldn't stop there, so the whole tank got ripped up and rearranged/upgraded!

(The tank measurements are 36" wide, 18" deep, and 24" tall, for reference. Heat lamps are mounted inside with a shower curtain taped over the top, in order to hold in as much heat/humidity as possible [works great!]. It's front-opening, via sliding doors.)

Here's what it used to look like... Functional but basic... You have the water dish in the bottom left corner, the basking spot, humid hide behind that (hidden, here, by the heat lamp), and his cool side hide (a big chunk of cork bark buried in the substrate), heated by a CHE.

And the new enclosure.. 2 new hides and a "grazing tray" have been added. This pic was taken with the doors removed. Sorry for the crappy cell pics!

The warm side/basking spot... This is the grazing tray. It's not seeded just yet. There are 2 more made to rotate in as he mows them down, too. Next to it is the basking spot, a piece of slate tile. (Sorry for the sideways pic--thought I straightened it, but I guess Photobucket hasn't caught up yet or something... =P)

How the basking spot sits... It is 12" long, and it sits so it rests half on the new humid hide (rear), and half on the flower pot hide (front).

The middle... Here, you can get a better look at the new hides. The substrate dips down into a little "valley" type area here, to allow access to the 2 hides. The humid hide is at the back, and to the left is a plastic flower pot, cut in half vertically. On top of the new humid hide is the old humid hide. He loves that little thing, so I decided to just make the entrance hole bigger and leave it for now...

The cool side... Here is the water dish (upgraded him to a plastic plant saucer, then had to throw a little terra cotta saucer in because it was too deep), and the same cork bark hide from the last arrangement.

Now, I can't very well end this post with awful cell pics... So here's a couple not-so-awful pics of the inhabitant, my lovely little Leopard Tortoise. Tonight, he weighed in at 112 grams and measured about 3.25". He's grown SO much since I got him 6 months ago!

Plastron shot... Anyone want to hazard a guess if he's a male or female? Lol

Thanks for reading! Comments & constructive criticism are more than welcome.

 

[Kvoigt]

very cool set up!! and awsome lookin leo!! great job

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

 

[TORTOISEMAN1]

Cool little guy!

 

[Len B]

The way you have designed his new home is one of the best uses of space I have seen for an enclosure, he has plenty of places to go to keep him busy if he wishes,but he may not want to give up the old humid hide. He is one neat looking leopard.

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

oh wow thats amazing! i love it! it leopard paradise. i love love love that pic of his little face sticking out of the hide. so cute!

 

[ripper7777777]

Looks great, I bet he's happy lots of stuff to explore and climb over.

 

[ShadowRancher]

Very cool, it's like a Leo playground

 

[lynnedit]

I agree, that is an amazing use of space, very creative and stimulating for your tort.
(If you sink an empty grazing tray in first, and nest the seeded ones inside it, then the surroundings won't collapse when you change them out).

 

[Floof]

Thanks, everyone!

Lynne, that's a great idea, thanks! I even have an empty one sitting on the counter.

Today's project is to get the grazing trays seeded... I have pansies, violas, Collard greens, turnips, calendula, gazania, nasturtium, squash, and a couple green bean seeds, to start (mostly left-overs from an unsuccessful attempt at gardening last year). I'm hoping to order a seed mix from Carolina Pet Supply soon, too, to seed them with.

 

[DesertGrandma]

Hey Taylor, it is obvious that you have spent a lot of time considering your layout. It is great!! BTW, I just ordered some seeds from Carolina yesterday because they are having free shipping right now. Mine keeps outgrowing the hide door too ;D My sex guess would be male, just for fun, 'cause I really am no expert, haha. Will be fun to find out when he grows up.

 

[Floof]

Thanks, Joy! To be honest, I just kind of made it up as I went along... I even forgot to leave room for the water dish! Whoops, lol!

I officially have seeds on order from Carolina! Can't wait til they get here.

 

[DreadHeadMomma]

The picture of him in his little hide is too cute That face is priceless.

 

[Floof]

The picture of him in his little hide is too cute That face is priceless.

Thanks! He does that often... He'll sit in his cozy little hide and just stare out at the room. The little prince in his throne. It's adorable! I felt so bad for him when he started to outgrow it, though, lol!