My tort Table

[nikki0601]

Hello my name is Nikki.. Just wanted to share a pic of my tort table i made from wooden hutch and some half log edging I got from Lowes, my baby got here today!!!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Nikki:

What a coincidence! We have another brand new member named "Nikki" who has a little sulcata named (and also her username) Morty the Torty!

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

I have a couple of concerns about your habitat...if that's sand you're using as the substrate, it might cause impaction. I don't like to use sand at all.

The lights need to be positioned so that they are hanging straight down. If you have an MVB (mercury vapor bulb), it shortens the life of the bulb to have it at an angle. Plus, the heat and UV is better going straight down instead of at an angle.

 

[nikki0601]

Thanks for the reply, I do need to find a way to position his lights better, kinda hard with the open front instead of open top... working on that today.. the basking bulb I have got it almost straight down and still have perfect temps but the heat bulb I have it still angled cause if not the sleep spot temp drops little much, working on it though... For his substrate for now and until my bed-a-beast comes in I have him on plain ol clean dirt, i had bought cypress mulch at first, when i opened it it was so pokey and had huge sharp pieces all threw it, so i spent hours picking threw and putting just the soft stuff in his enclosure, then I see the small print on the bag and it says "cypress mulch BLEND" so i look online to see what it could be blended with, no full answer but many herp keepers say it could have ceder or pine so i threw it all out, i had also read to keep him on timothy hay, I did buy some but luckily found this site and know now thats NOT what i need, so I went out in the yard and dug up some dirt, went threw it by hand to soften and check for bugs, and its working pretty well for now, on the 25 i will have an ample supply of bed-a-beast.. I have been so obsessed with getting his home just right, have been waiting on this little one and preparing for months, now he is here and I am so nervous, I dont want anything to go wrong, i had expected him to be 4-6 months old but when he got here I see he must be just a few weeks if not just days old, so I'm extra nervous

 

[pdrobber]

Hi, I was just wondering what kinds of bulbs you are using. The one you have hanging down and turned on in the picture, is that the UVB bulb? Is it a coil shaped bulb? There is lots of discussion here about using them, as there have been incidents where they have caused problems for the health of tortoises.

We recommend using MVB's (mercury vapor bulbs) as they can be used to produce heat for a basking spot as well as UVB rays. You should find a more secure way of positioning the lamps. I suggest buying or building lamp stands. If you google or search on amazon.com for reptile lamp stand you will get an idea of what I am talking about.

 

[jackrat]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[ascott]

Welcome to the Forum Cute little little baby

 

[dmarcus]

I missed this one.. Welcome to the forum...

 

[terryo]

Mr too...sorry. Welcome!!

 

[Torty Mom]

Welcome to TFO!!

 

[nikki0601]

Hey guys, I had forgotten about this thread, sorry haven't responded.. No by bulbs are not coil, I have a 75 watt basking bulb, and a 75 watt infered heat bulb right now, I do have a zoo med power sun bulb and some repti sun 10.0 bulbs I use for my turtles, I have one of each for Sully but have not set em up yet as Tom said the sun is the best, I live in Florida so this time of year my outside temps are mid to high 80's so I figure i wouldnt set the UVB lights up till it gets to cool to go outside.. Which light should I use for Sully? Is there anything wrong with either the zoo med power sun or repti sun? I got his supplies in the mail yesterday so he is on his new substrate, bed-a-beast and soil mix, and with the lights right now his basking area is right at 100 degrees, the surrounding area and where his water is stay around 88-90 degrees and his cool side and sleeping area stays at 79-82 degrees, although to keep this I have to use the a heat bulb 24/7 but Tom said these temps are perfect so I wanna keep it that way.. Also my humidity with misting is between 70-80, in the morning it is down to 55ish but just a quick mist its back up.. I'm thinking I wanna to make him a larger table, but will let him stay on this one till he grows just a bit

 

[laramie]

Looks great Nikki. I really like that half log fencing.

 

[MatrixDJ]

I like this a lot!! I may copy your fence idea next time I do a table!! Great work!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]