Looking for feedback on my new table!!!!

[ehopkins12]

Hi everyone! I've had a Russian tortoise for about a week now and have been doing a ton of research. All of the research I did led me to the same conclusion: the big glass fish tank my tort was in wasn't going to work. After looking at several plans I designed a simple table and built it today. I just moved my RT into it and basically i'm just looking for feedback. so lay it on me! Good or bad! any improvements I can make are more than welcome!

This section will have a roof over it soon...I just ran out of wood haha

Substrate is a mix of roughly 60% peat moss and 40% play sand, topped with cypress bedding. The soil goes down about 3-4"

 

[Kayti]

Wow that looks really impressive! Great job!

What are the temps at your basking site? That lamp looks a little high in the pictures. You want to have a thermometer at tortoise-level to get an accurate reading.

Do you have a heat source for the night time?

Congrats on your new tort!

 

[ehopkins12]

Thanks a lot! shes really cool! Ill get some pictures of her posted soon. but anyway, ill have to get the temps and post them tomorrow since her lights are off for the night. I don't have a nighttime heat source right now. My house is pretty warm at night (around 67-69 degrees F). I do have a heat pad on the underside of the old aquarium I could move over.

 

[webskipper]

Nice! What's the size? Get another habbi hut for the hot room. Many people here and breeders recommend a piece of slate for eating off of. It'll naturally wear the claws and sharpen the beak.

Position that light stand on the same side with the cord and use the integrated cord clips. If that light finds a reason to fall onto the mulch, you'll have issues. Those Clamp lamps have been known to slip.

I took the plunge and bought 2 of the large light stands, a deep dome and a mini dome.

 

[ehopkins12]

its 2 X 4, and yea those clips are making me kind of nervous, ill adjust the lights tomorrow, i'm thinking of getting one of the long strips to put across the back to replace the clip light. also I'm looking for suggestions for some plants to grow in there so you guys know.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi ehopkins12:

to the forum!!

You did a great job on the table. Nice size for your little Russian. I like that you're going to cover up the sleeping area.

I'm not real sure about the light fixtures. Why two? And the clamp light needs to be aimed more downward.

You can dig some of the substrate out around the waterer and set it down into the substrate, making the top even with the "ground." And if you move it out from the wall the tortoise won't be walking through it as he makes his rounds, dragging substrate into it.

Are you planning on an outdoor habitat for warm weather?

 

[webskipper]

Depending on where you are, Dichondra is a favorite Tort food here in the SW. It can be grown as a lawn in low to no traffic areas. Looks like Clover on steroids.

You could use some hook nails to prevent the clamp from sliding.

Someone here use a curtain rod or bent bar to suspend the lights.

 

[ehopkins12]

Thanks! I have one lamp for basking and the other for general heat and UVA. The basking bulb is putting out UVB. And yea I am planning on building something for outdoor this summer, but thats going to be while (tends to warm up slowly in Ohio).

 

[GBtortoises]

The enclosure looks great! I would suggest strategically placing a few flat and/or low domed rocks in the enclosure, especially directly under the basking area and in front of the doorway into the smaller section. This will help increase the basking area temperature and help keep the tortoises nails properly worn down. It also gives a harder surface for the tortoise walk on occasionally giving it's legs muscles some resistance which leads to better muscle strength.

 

[bettinge]

"My house is pretty warm at night (around 67-69 degrees F). I do have a heat pad on the underside of the old aquarium I could move over. "

Mid 60's is fine for night! Heat pad or night heat is not necessary!

 

[derekdehaas]

Love it! great job on these and that just gave me an idea with the part of the wood divided for hide house.

 

[dreadyA]

Nice job. I would add fake plants to break up the line of sight and helps cosmetically!you can find cheap ones at a craft store like M I C H A E L ' S. Live plants are always good too.

 

[ChiKat]

I'm planning on building a tort table asap and I was wondering what type of wood you used.
Thanks!