New Enclosure

[cosmonautred]

Hello all

I'm looking to buy a tortoise table/vivarium that is large enough for my tortoise, as the one he currently has is now too small.

He is a 3 year old Russian tortoise. I live in the UK, and I have absolutely zero construction experience. I don't even know where to begin.

He will have a 10'3"x10'2" room all to himself, so I have all of that space to play with, but it must fit within that room. He will be mostly indoors, given the average temperature of the UK, though when it is warm enough, we will take him out into the back garden (under constant eagle-eyed supervision). I also have two cats, and they will not be allowed into his room at all, but in the event that they somehow do get in, I would feel much much more comfortable if his table/vivarium was elevated, perhaps even with a wire mesh covering in the outcome where I buy a tortoise table.

I'm really, really struggling. I can't find any tortoise tables or vivariums online that are large enough for what people recommend. I have absolutely no construction experience, and simply can't build something like what people are suggesting. Even if I could do something like modify a bookcase, I've not seen anybody explain how you would mount all of the fittings onto it, and set all of that up. I've also seen conflicting opinions about whether or not a table or a vivarium is the better option, but I haven't found anything big enough. I really do not know what to do anymore.

I'm stuck, and just want to do the right thing for my tortoise. Somebody please, please help.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello from a fellow uk member! It can certainly feel very daunting getting a new set up, but fear not! You’re in the right place for lots of inspiration and ideas on how to execute plans

First up I’m going to include some helpful links below you might not have checked out yet, then at the bottom I’ll include some personal recommendations to consider and a uk company that makes custom sized vivs.

A great one for new comers;

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Toms care guide:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

I made this one based off the forums care information and added some visual aids, This one covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, plus theres visual examples on mounting your lighting), sizing, appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a handy diet link.

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

This includes lots of inspiration for an adult set up both indoors and out! The indoor bit has some good ideas to tackle indoor space whilst still providing the needed roaming room! Check comments too, I’m always adding to it(I have a back log I’ve been meaning to upload too) there’s inspiration for mounting lighting, room set ups and more

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one is good to keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

With all that out the way, to answer one of your queries “I've also seen conflicting opinions about whether or not a table or a vivarium is the better option” being from the uk myself, I do think it can be beneficial having a closed set up, or at least a partial closed area to better retain the heat, if you don’t brumate him, a closed set up does come in handy in our cold winters, you’d also have the added benefit of the cats not being able to get to him. A uk company called Southdown aquatics make custom sized vivs, they need sealing with aquatic seal but aren’t cheap. With those vivs you also have to consider the access to the room, we initially wanted ours in an upstairs room, but the large heavy melamine panels couldn’t go up the stairs, so you have to plan and measure if large panels can get into the room, you can maybe discuss different designs ideas with the company to broaden your options. These vivs are also so big and heavy, there’s not really any elevating them unless you look into something like a huge strong work bench, but again that isn’t cheap, but they do hold ground temperatures really well in our experience without being raised, dome fittings for your bulb(s) will further help this.
You could then have slabs down in the room with an oil heater or two, perhaps a second basking area, with a ramp from the main viv. When you go out/at night, you can lock Tort in the viv for peace of mind if your cats get into the room.

If the viv is out of budget, hopefully some of the table ideas in the inspiration thread will give you some inspo, you can always fashion some kind of cover for when it gets colder, there’s some cover ideas in here

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

I really hope all this helps! Sometimes diy is the way to go, but I also understand the appeal of custom built, it can all depend on budget/skill set, hopefully others will come in with more ideas, welcome to the forum

 

[cosmonautred]

Hello from a fellow uk member! It can certainly feel very daunting getting a new set up, but fear not! You’re in the right place for lots of inspiration and ideas on how to execute plans

First up I’m going to include some helpful links below you might not have checked out yet, then at the bottom I’ll include some personal recommendations to consider and a uk company that makes custom sized vivs.

A great one for new comers;

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Toms care guide:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

I made this one based off the forums care information and added some visual aids, This one covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, plus theres visual examples on mounting your lighting), sizing, appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a handy diet link.

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

This includes lots of inspiration for an adult set up both indoors and out! The indoor bit has some good ideas to tackle indoor space whilst still providing the needed roaming room! Check comments too, I’m always adding to it(I have a back log I’ve been meaning to upload too) there’s inspiration for mounting lighting, room set ups and more

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one is good to keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

With all that out the way, to answer one of your queries “I've also seen conflicting opinions about whether or not a table or a vivarium is the better option” being from the uk myself, I do think it can be beneficial having a closed set up, or at least a partial closed area to better retain the heat, if you don’t brumate him, a closed set up does come in handy in our cold winters, you’d also have the added benefit of the cats not being able to get to him. A uk company called Southdown aquatics make custom sized vivs, they need sealing with aquatic seal but aren’t cheap. With those vivs you also have to consider the access to the room, we initially wanted ours in an upstairs room, but the large heavy melamine panels couldn’t go up the stairs, so you have to plan and measure if large panels can get into the room, you can maybe discuss different designs ideas with the company to broaden your options. These vivs are also so big and heavy, there’s not really any elevating them unless you look into something like a huge strong work bench, but again that isn’t cheap, but they do hold ground temperatures really well in our experience without being raised, dome fittings for your bulb(s) will further help this.
You could then have slabs down in the room with an oil heater or two, perhaps a second basking area, with a ramp from the main viv. When you go out/at night, you can lock Tort in the viv for peace of mind if your cats get into the room.

If the viv is out of budget, hopefully some of the table ideas in the inspiration thread will give you some inspo, you can always fashion some kind of cover for when it gets colder, there’s some cover ideas in here

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

I really hope all this helps! Sometimes diy is the way to go, but I also understand the appeal of custom built, it can all depend on budget/skill set, hopefully others will come in with more ideas, welcome to the forum

This is all very good information! Thank you so much!!

I couldn't seem to find the name of the company that makes custom vivariums. I think that's almost definitely the route I want to go down. Is a 6x4 foot vivarium big enough? Would this company be able to make one to that spec?

Thanks again!

EDIT: Nevermind, I've got it now. When you say they need sealing, though, what do you mean? What does that entail? How would I do that?

EDIT 2: I just had a look, and it appears as if I'm out of their delivery area

Do you happen to know of any similar reputable companies? Potentially ones that are more northern based?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

This is all very good information! Thank you so much!!

I couldn't seem to find the name of the company that makes custom vivariums. I think that's almost definitely the route I want to go down. Is a 6x4 foot vivarium big enough? Would this company be able to make one to that spec?

Thanks again!

EDIT: Nevermind, I've got it now. When you say they need sealing, though, what do you mean? What does that entail? How would I do that?

EDIT 2: I just had a look, and it appears as if I'm out of their delivery area

Do you happen to know of any similar reputable companies? Potentially ones that are more northern based?

No problem!

I’d probably aim for 8x4 if you can, but 6x4 is doable if you’re adapting the rest of the room for him to access, just be sure those sized boards can get into the room, that company makes any size you want.

When I say sealing, have you ever seen how people apply silicone to the edges of fish tanks? Kind of like that but from the inside, the seams where the boards meet. They sell aquatic seal on Amazon reasonable

I believe they do the odd delivery outside of the range for extra per mile, might be worth messaging their Facebook page or emailing

They’re currently the only uk company I know of that make vivs that big. Theres a company called IMCages that make pvc vivs to any size, they’re based in Poland but I believe they ship to the uk, though I imagine it’s pretty expensive

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I’ve had a Quick Look into other places in the uk that offer custom sizes, I can’t vouch for them as I’ve not used these companies, but maybe worth looking at

Go to ‘bespoke design’ option

Repti Life Vivarums – Repti-Life vivariums have been developed from a long time interest in keeping and breeding reptiles, manufacture started in 1989 specifically for wholesale and traders and in recent years the Repti-Life label has been used for d

www.repti-life.co.uk

Vivariums Custom Built & Designed By Appleton Exotics

Custom built vivariums. We design & build viv's to your specification & needs, send us your vivarium ideas & we do the rest

www.appletonexotics.co.uk

There’s a ‘contact us’ option at the bottom, they say pre built, but I can’t imagine trying to get a 6x4 or 8x4 pre built viv inside, I want it flat packed unless you can make it work

Aquariums4Life Custom Aquarium Manufactures

Leading Manufacturers of Standard and Custom Aquariums, Steel Framed and Solid Timber Cabinets. Marine, Freshwater, Reef and Aqua-scaping.

www.aquariums4life.co.uk

 

[cosmonautred]

I’ve had a Quick Look into other places in the uk that offer custom sizes, I can’t vouch for them as I’ve not used these companies, but maybe worth looking at

Go to ‘bespoke design’ option

Repti Life Vivarums – Repti-Life vivariums have been developed from a long time interest in keeping and breeding reptiles, manufacture started in 1989 specifically for wholesale and traders and in recent years the Repti-Life label has been used for d

www.repti-life.co.uk

Vivariums Custom Built & Designed By Appleton Exotics

Custom built vivariums. We design & build viv's to your specification & needs, send us your vivarium ideas & we do the rest

www.appletonexotics.co.uk

There’s a ‘contact us’ option at the bottom, they say pre built, but I can’t imagine trying to get a 6x4 or 8x4 pre built viv inside, I want it flat packed unless you can make it work

Aquariums4Life Custom Aquarium Manufactures

Leading Manufacturers of Standard and Custom Aquariums, Steel Framed and Solid Timber Cabinets. Marine, Freshwater, Reef and Aqua-scaping.

www.aquariums4life.co.uk

Thank you so much!

I agree that it would absolutely be best if it was flat packed. It's so frustrating that no companies manufacture vivariums that are big enough. Why is that?!

Are there any other options? Maybe some sort of flat packed vivarium that can me modified slightly to combine multiple together? Any tutorials from people that are along these lines?

I'm really not handy at all. I could probably modify a bookcase just barely to not have any shelves, but I can't find any 8x4 flat pack bookcases that I could also turn into a table. It's the turning into a table part I'd probably struggle with. Besides, I think a vivarium would be a much better option. It's so frustrating that there are none commercially available.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Thank you so much!

I agree that it would absolutely be best if it was flat packed. It's so frustrating that no companies manufacture vivariums that are big enough. Why is that?!

Are there any other options? Maybe some sort of flat packed vivarium that can me modified slightly to combine multiple together? Any tutorials from people that are along these lines?

I'm really not handy at all. I could probably modify a bookcase just barely to not have any shelves, but I can't find any 8x4 flat pack bookcases that I could also turn into a table. It's the turning into a table part I'd probably struggle with. Besides, I think a vivarium would be a much better option. It's so frustrating that there are none commercially available.

I know! We had a nightmare trying to get our red foot set up, made me realise how few places make the sizes we need, it’s quite telling that only bespoke companies make them, for how many tortoises sold here there should be way more out there, people just don’t set them up properly indoors for the most part

There’s definitely other options, but obviously they can be a bit limited depending on your diy skills(I’m not handy either so totally relate!) I know zen habitats make vivs that you can put together and extend, they have an online tutorial, the top is mesh but I believe if you message directly they can switch it to a solid top, another member on here did, they aren’t currently in the uk but will be soon according to the website.

Do you brumate him in winter? if you do you’d probably get away with an open top table design if you keep the room nice and warm, even if you don’t brumate there are cover options(though again a little tricky depending on your diy) for a table you could get yourself plywood boards for the base, then screw wooden planks together for the sides, make them nice and deep, then for your lighting diy stands are pretty easy to make, there’s some examples in those threads, I’d line the whole thing with pond liner which you can get pretty cheap off of Amazon, you could raise the whole thing up using pallets maybe, that’s one idea, it’d essentially be a matter of screwing a load of wood together, I’ll dig around to see if I can find some tutorials on the forum for you

This is a visual for the frame you could make, just imagine it resting on a large plywood board with pallets underneath and diy light stands over top, it just depends if you feel confident you can keep an open top heated year round(if you don’t brumate)

 

[cosmonautred]

I know! We had a nightmare trying to get our red foot set up, made me realise how few places make the sizes we need, it’s quite telling that only bespoke companies make them, for how many tortoises sold here there should be way more out there, people just don’t set them up properly indoors for the most part

There’s definitely other options, but obviously they can be a bit limited depending on your diy skills(I’m not handy either so totally relate!) I know zen habitats make vivs that you can put together and extend, they have an online tutorial, the top is mesh but I believe if you message directly they can switch it to a solid top, another member on here did, they aren’t currently in the uk but will be soon according to the website.

Do you brumate him in winter? if you do you’d probably get away with an open top table design if you keep the room nice and warm, even if you don’t brumate there are cover options(though again a little tricky depending on your diy) for a table you could get yourself plywood boards for the base, then screw wooden planks together for the sides, make them nice and deep, then for your lighting diy stands are pretty easy to make, there’s some examples in those threads, I’d line the whole thing with pond liner which you can get pretty cheap off of Amazon, you could raise the whole thing up using pallets maybe, that’s one idea, it’d essentially be a matter of screwing a load of wood together, I’ll dig around to see if I can find some tutorials on the forum for you

This is a visual for the frame you could make, just imagine it resting on a large plywood board with pallets underneath and diy light stands over top, it just depends if you feel confident you can keep an open top heated year round(if you don’t brumate)
View attachment 390492

We don't brumate him. I think that's why I'd be much more comfortable with a vivarium, but obviously I can't find a flat back one that would be large enough for him. :/

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

We don't brumate him. I think that's why I'd be much more comfortable with a vivarium, but obviously I can't find a flat back one that would be large enough for him. :/

Did you try reaching out to Southdown about delivering out of area? Or any luck with the others?

 

[BB123]

Hi cosmonautred,
Have you had a look at Viperia vivs? I've not brought one myself yet but they look pretty easy to put together and they do custom sizes through the viv calculator section.
They seem like a friendly company from the videos I've seen on their Facebook page so might be worth looking into.

Viperia - UK Made PVC & Acrylic Reptile Habitats

Premium PVC & Acrylic Reptile Habitats, Crafted in the UK. Elevate Your Reptile's Home with Viperia's Expertly Designed Enclosures. Explore Now!

viperia.co.uk

Hope that helps.

 

[quatre5]

there is no commercial readily available option to meet the needs of tortoises. your options are to do it yourself or pay a company or local contractor to make something that fits your available space and needs

 

[Sarah2020]

Hi, as an option you could look at Swell for their large enclosures and then get a carpenter to set up and instead of adding the back panel they can add a large extension on the back. This will need a base for support. I then added the lights and heater within and on the new back panel they can make cable access holes on both sides. I also drilled multiple holes in the back panel for ventilation. Lastly to help you Will electric bills I put insulation foam top and sides to help keep warmth in.
Hope this makes sense and gives you an idea.

Swell Vivarium Large Grey

15mm thick wooden panels & toughened glass doors Simple and fast to assemble Ideal for Leopard Geckos, or juvenile Bearded Dragons, Royal Pythons and Corn Snakes

www.reptiles.swelluk.com