New enclosure?
- Thread starter cmacusa3
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I wouldn't move him into anything that's smaller. You don't want to downgrade.
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The problem with the zoo med tortoise house primarily is its small size. We can easily build bigger habitats for less money, so it's not cost effective. Other than that, they're fine for small tortoises. We don't recommend them because most people need to combine two or more, and by that time you could have built a tortoise palace and still saved money.
Glass tanks are not a good choice.
Glass tanks are not a good choice.
Its funny all the conflicting stuff I'm getting, several people show glass tanks and everyone says how nice they are and then the zoo med isn't good either. My sully is small and I'm just getting it through the first winter. I guess I will just figure it out and do my best.
Glass tanks are a personal opinion usually. My recommendation is leave him in the Zoo med house because it's bigger, and plan to build something gbigger and better for the future as he grows. Don't downgrade.
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Glass tanks tend to be narrow, which often creates a space problem with a water dish. They are rather high, proportionately, so the ventilation is affected. This can be good or bad. They can be fine for babies. My personal objection to them is that at a decent size they're heavy, so they're awkward to move and clean, expensive for the amount of floor space, and breakable. Ask me about the plant that jumped off the shelf & smashed into the 40 gallon breeder tank I was using at the time, and how much I enjoyed the substrate change to make sure there were no glass fragments. But mostly they're too small and not proportioned well. I don't even like them for fish anymore.
If you're solely is small you can keep him in the zoo med house. Just to make sure you keep the substrate moist and that he has a moist hide. I am assuming that you put some kind of waterproofing on it before you put him in there. Or lined it with the shower curtain. baby Solleys need moisture, you can cover the top with plexiglass to help keep the moisture in, just don't have the plexiglass under the lUV lamp because it does not work through the plexiglass. this way you make a sort of close to chamber which is recommended for young sullies. how big is he right now? You have time to research and make something bigger but until then the zoo med house can work just fine with a few modifications. don't get discouraged by the conflicting information, there is a solution.
I looked back on your previous thread with the picture of your little tortoise in the zoo med house. It looks good. I would suggest removing the divider though, that way there will be more floor space available. you can add humid hides also. you have MVB right? I personally would position that directly above the middle of the enclosure. that will help the UV and the heat reach a majority of it. I used a zoo med tortoise house at first also. Your tortoise is small enough that he can stay in there for a little while. Don't forget to update us with pictures and keep asking questions.
I actually did take out the wire and put plexiglass in a few weeks ago, cut holes the perfect size for the my lamps. I took out the divider this morning. He is doing great and eating like a champ. He's my winter project while my boxies are in hibernation and getting all the attention. I'm not going to use the tank. Right now these are the lights I'm using, When the cold spell hit here in Oklahoma Monday I noticed a big drop in the humidity in his enclosure.
Power Sun UVA 150 watt day
Reptisun 10.0 long UVB day
Ceramic heat emitter 100 watt night
Power Sun UVA 150 watt day
Reptisun 10.0 long UVB day
Ceramic heat emitter 100 watt night
That works. Does the 150 watt power son make it too hot? Or do you have it above the enclosure a little bit? Taken the divider out makes a big difference. I ended up connecting two of the zoom at houses together, I realize now that it was a lot of money and effort but it's okay it worked. I ended up giving it to a lady at work to upgrade her Russian tortoise enclosure. for my indoor enclosures I use stock tanks now. There are so many different ways to keep tortoises that are still right. people have their preferences but as long as it gets the job done correctly that's all that matters. I have a Russian tortoise and a three toed box turtle.
