New enclosure - completed!

[MillieSmalls]

 

[bouaboua]

WOW! ! ! ! Very nicely done. I like it! ! ! !

Who is the lucky torts will live in there??

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Nice. Big. Enclosed yard?

 

[MillieSmalls]

Reggie is my sully living in there now....he's warming up under the lamp in the doghouse.

 

[MillieSmalls]

Yard is enclosed but there are gaps under the fence in places. Hoping he'll be happy here until he's big enough to roam a little more

 

[bouaboua]

I saw a dog chewing bone in the picture also. It's quite big also.....You have a big dog too??

 

[wellington]

Looks really nice. That big bone worries me too. Do not trust your own dog to be alone with your tort or your tort will become the new chew toy. Also, I would replace the red light with a CHE on a thermostat. Better if they have it dark for night time and it also will not light up his house to draw attention from any stranger that might be able to see in.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Dangerous for that tort to not have any protection against that dog. Did you know that the biggest predator of captive tortoises is the family dog?

 

[MillieSmalls]

Medium dog, she's not alone outside with the tort, but in their interactions this far she seems indifferent. Sniffs a couple times then moves on. But I hear what you are saying...we don't want any accidents. I bought the red light because I thought they couldn't see it at night,no? Have I been keeping him up all winter?

 

[Yvonne G]

It's a matter of opinion, and it sometimes varies from tortoise to tortoise. I have red lights in three of my tortoise sheds. The lights only come on after dark when the tortoises have gone into the sheds to sleep. They go into their respective corners and don't move all night long - so obviously the light doesn't bother them. We have instances on the forum of tortoises eating substrate, but in my opinion it is because the keeper has been using the red light during the day when the tortoise is awake.

But really, in the instance of your dog house and tortoise, I really think you would be better served using a CHE on a thermostat. It seems from the picture that the light may be a bit too close to the top of the tortoise's shell. A CHE is smaller and can be mounted higher. Also, get some vinyl strips for the doorway.

 

[Yvonne G]

I neglected to comment on your beautiful tortoise yard. I love it. Great space for him.

 

[Jodie]

Very nice enclosure. I am sure he will enjoy that very much.
My dog had been around my tortoise for a whole summer and never paid him any attention until the day she did. I got lucky and she did only surface shell damage. Mort survived. A lot of people that make this mistake aren't that lucky. I feel bad every time I see his scars though.

 

[MillieSmalls]

Thanks for the tips guys...will check Into that CHE light asap. Will also take some pics this week of him soaking in his pond or having lunch.
Will also be extra careful with the dog. Scary stories

 

[TortsNTurtles]

Looks great!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Also, I use a rubber "flap" to partially cover my dog house door. It keeps heat in and drafts out. I also use a Black night time bulb in there. It has a faint purplish glow that I prefer because I can see from a little distance if it is indeed working or not through the gaps in my flap.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

An old photo of my still in use dog house. It now has a larger and flatter flap.
That was in the summer a while back to keep out the rain.