My first attempt at a tortoise table

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AcidElvis

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This is my first attempt at a tortoise table. It's 2'x4' and lined with a shower liner. There is a 18" UVB light mounted just out of camera view above the enclosure. I have a ceramic bulb for basking on the right, as well as a night light there. I have two terracotta bowls in there. One is a water dish, while the other functions as a food bowl. I have a second food bowl in the top left hand corner. I have a cactus mounted on one of the small wood walls between the water and food dish. They love the cactus. There hide is on the left and is 1'x2'. I will adding a ramp to a second story above the hide. I also added a fake crocodile skull for decoration. I made some mistakes building it but nothing that affected the out come. I will know what to do and not to do next time. Any advice on my build would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 

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Yvonne G

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Nice, Eddie. Pretty good for a first attempt. Next time make it a bit bigger. I think the way you've blocked each other's sight at the feeding stations is very inventive. Good job.
 

wellington

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Not bad at all. One suggestion. The light that is on the clamp. Find a different way to attach the light other then the clamp. The clamp is known to not hold and then either a fire or burned tort.
 

AcidElvis

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Really, I've used lights on clamps for a long time with snakes and never had any fall. What other way would you suggest?
 

Blakem

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AcidElvis said:
Really, I've used lights on clamps for a long time with snakes and never had any fall. What other way would you suggest?

Another way Wellington may be suggesting is any other way other than a clamp. Just as long as it is not at an angle, because this is know to reduce the life of the bulb. I hang both my CHE (ceramic heat emitter) and my mvb (mercury vapor bulb) inside but held by a chain that is tightly bound. I've heard of some stories of a light falling off of a clamp and lighting something on fire. This is a risk I'm not willing to take. Your enclosure looks good. A second story will be great as Russians love to roam and climb, so the more space, the merrier they will be.
 

laney

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I have my lamp clamped the same way as you and have had no problems YET but it is a constant worry and i have put zip ties on to secure it a little better but this is something I plan to change as I won't leave the house without checking it every time. If you have a way of making it more secure I would agree with the others and do it as they are so dangerous. I laid the little one I have on, face down on the floor until I tightened it, it was down for 5second max and burned a hole straight through my carpet!!
 

ascott

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