Members with tortoise buildings/detached rooms?

Prairie Mom

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Hi guys,
I'm just wondering if any of you have converted out buildings into large tortoise enclosures? I would be grateful if you would post links to threads or photos of your set ups.

We live in a climate with long ugly winters. We don't feel comfortable allowing our tortoise out during the winter and don't want her to be stuck in a small tortoise shed. Our plan is to convert a workroom attached to our garage in order to build a large indoor area with plants, lights, soaking area, and space to spend the ugly winters in. I really hope we can make it nice for her, like a little winter retreat. :)

We just put in a new Electrical service and it will be quite a while before we can get to plumbing and heating. Heck, we're still improving our closed chamber!, but we really need to begin PLANNING it now and laying down some work as the funds and time allow. I'd love any inspiration and advice that can be offered!

Thanks!
 

wellington

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I had a shed built at my old place and a three stall garage built at my new place, one stall being for the torts. It's walled off from the car area, insulated all sides, ceiling and floor. It's nothing fancy inside.
 

Yvonne G

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Aldabraman shows pictures of his barn frequently. You can check out his thread. Tortadise has a nice thread going entitled something about greenhouse.
 

Prairie Mom

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Aldabraman shows pictures of his barn frequently. You can check out his thread. Tortadise has a nice thread going entitled something about greenhouse.
I'll spend some time looking a little closer to Aldabraman's photos--the torture! I thought tortadise had some kind of thread going on. Thanks Yvonne!
 

Prairie Mom

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We have a few ideas bumping around in our heads....

-We'll probably just put in a second (inner) set of framed walls and order a major grade of insulation.-The more the better! We'll raise and insulate the floors also, like Wellington said she did.

-I'm thinking about making it a grow room also and putting in raised up shelves with lights, and give her lots of hiding space under the shelves.

-I would like her to be able to soak herself and want to plan for when she is big. We're thinking about installing something like a janitor's floor "mop sink."

-Heating is still uncertain. We're considering having a natural gas furnace installed. Natural gas is pretty cost effective way to heat where we are, but we'll have to have someone dig and splice the line into the work room. (can't do this really soon, so we have time to figure it out)

?Not sure about what I want on the walls and floors. We may need to get in touch with some ranch/farm outfitters. I'd really like something that can handle the water and serious cleaning.

?Also wondering about heated floors. I'm wondering if we can keep the lower part of the room warm enough without having to do this.

?Wondering about substrate on the floors. I'd really like her to be comfortable. I fantasize about have a small section of shade grass with supporting lights? how to achieve drainage and avoid mold? would also like an area that was full of deep chips or something, because my sulcata does enjoy burying herself a bit and getting comfortable.
 

Yvonne G

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Take a look at home improvement sites that are putting in heated bathroom flooring. It's pretty much water proof.
 

tortadise

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I definitely will. Thanks
Here's some old threads. They're quite long though.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cant-stop-me.95289/

The original greenhouse thread. But a lot of the photos were removed long time ago. Have to find them.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/new-green-house-progress.53193/page-3

The "greenhouse" remodel
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greenhouse-remodel.98697/

Yeah should be it for now I think. Even though there's 2 more buildings most of the photos are removed. It may take some time getting some new ones up and or finding the old ones. But these should work for now for yah ;-)
 

Prairie Mom

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Here's some old threads. They're quite long though.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cant-stop-me.95289/

The original greenhouse thread. But a lot of the photos were removed long time ago. Have to find them.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/new-green-house-progress.53193/page-3

The "greenhouse" remodel
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greenhouse-remodel.98697/

Yeah should be it for now I think. Even though there's 2 more buildings most of the photos are removed. It may take some time getting some new ones up and or finding the old ones. But these should work for now for yah ;-)
Thank you! This will be a great help!!!
 
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