My first enclosure

[Glasswalker]

Got this set up on Friday. I know it's a little barren, but the tortoise I'm getting is a baby and I'm worried about him trying to climb on something and ending up on his back. I'm using one of those cement-mixing beds with 100% coco coir, and got a mercury vapor bulb. The lamp is both clamped down and tied to my shelf, and hasn't moved at all in the past couple days, so I''m not worried about it falling at least for the time being. The basking temp is around 100 degrees.

Next paycheck, I plan on getting a better lamp fixture, some plants, and a timer for the lamp since my work/social schedule is pretty erratic. Any thoughts so far?

 

[lisa127]

How about a couple of flat rocks?

Living in our climates (I'm in Cleveland so not too far from you), I always have a somewhat difficult time keeping the cool side from going below 70 if I don't have the enclosure partially covered. And I would think on floor level it would be more difficult. You're not having that problem?

 

[Glasswalker]

It's in my bedroom where everything is floor-level, so that doesn't bother me. This setup is only temporary until I get my own place (living with roommates at the moment). Once I have my own living room, I'll get a proper reptile cage with a stand. The random white thing on top of the shelf is a space-heater actually (the radiator in my room sucks in the winter). I can use that to keep the room temperature in the 70's. And do you mean a flat rock as in a basking spot?

 

[MonkeyMMA]

I have a 55 gallon breeder thats 38" x18" with a screen top. I use a 150w heat lamp and a uvb with coconut fiber and get 90-95 on one side and 75 on the other with 5-10% humidity in new england. I use a bottom tank heat pad but only at night when shes sleeping and the lights are out. Shes a Russian Tort

 

[Tim/Robin]

It looks very functional. Just make sure your temps are accurate and adequate. You may want to move one of the hides closer to the heated end.

 

[Tyrtle]

I saw those mixing tubs in a video on youtube and they look like a great idea. Where did you get yours?

I'm sure it will be wonderful once you add a few more items of interest!

 

[Glasswalker]

I only have one hide so far. Should I have 2, one on the cool end and one on the heated?

Tyrtle, I got the mixing tub at Lowe's for like 12 bucks. Any hardware store will have them.

 

[terryo]

I love those little tubs. My son is a contractor and when he gets new ones I always take one for the box turtle hatchlings for some outside sun. Very nice.

 

[Tom]

I think your fixture is fine. I would put the water dish smack in the middle though. It will keep it cleaner longer and make it less likely for the tortoise to flip into it. I would leave the one pot where it is and add a humid hide over where the lamp is. The substrate will be less messy if you pack it down with your hand too.

What species and what size tortoise are you getting? For some, you might want some night heat and you might want to cover most of the top to keep the heat and humidity in a little better.

 

[Glasswalker]

A baby Hermann's. Some say your normal night temperature is fine as long as your house isn't freezing, but do you think I should get a ceramic bulb anyway? As for the top, do you mean a screen or something solid?

 

[Tom]

Something solid to hold in the heat and humidity.

With a baby, I would want some night heat to keep it in the upper 70's all over the enclosure with all that humidity.

 

[Glasswalker]

Ok, so i moved the water dish to the center, packed down the coir, and covered half the tub with plastic wrap (yes, the half that's not under the heat lamp lol). Would this be instead of daily mists and weekly soaks, or in addition?

 

[Tom]

For a baby, you want DAILY soaks for a while. Once they are 6 months to a year its safe to cut it back to two or three times a week. Shell spraying will help the shell grow smooth and I would continue it in addition to these other things. How much you mist the enclosure is going to depend on how wet you want it and how dry your room gets. I would guess that with a heat lamp and a space heater, things will be pretty dry. You'll have to be the judge of that.

 

[Glasswalker]

Well, I don't have air conditioning and Pittsburgh is naturally humid, especially this time of the year. Would overdoing the humidity cause shell rot? That's one of my biggest fears.

 

[lisa127]

Glasswalker, I meant flat rocks just in an area of the enclosure to make things natural and to keep nails trim. Also, I always keep a hide on the cool side and a hide on the warm side as well. This way the tortoise can choose.

 

[Tim/Robin]

Too much humidity does not necessarily cause shell rot. The most likely cause of shell rot is dirty conditions. You don't want the substrate soupy. Just make sure if you do mist the little one, it is early in the day so it has all day to dry off. Wet and cool temperatures is where disaster strikes. Wet and warm is fine.