New Member Building an Enclosure

[Akdrillo86]

Hi,

New member from Atlanta, Georgia. Been reading up for awhile on all of the tips and am in the process of building a closed chamber in anticipation of getting a new tortoise. Lots of amazing info here! Still deciding on what kind is best for me.

Thanks!

 

[wellington]

What kind of outdoor area do you have for a tortoise?
If you don't have much or no room outside then a Russian, Hermanns, Pancake or one of the smaller Stars would be best. The Russian and Hermanns is better for a beginner.
If you have a big area outside and have the means to build a heated winter shed for the cold months, then you can pretty much do any.

 

[Ray--Opo]

Welcome, what type of tortoise are you thinking about getting?

 

[Akdrillo86]

What kind of outdoor area do you have for a tortoise?
If you don't have much or no room outside then a Russian, Hermanns, Pancake or one of the smaller Stars would be best. The Russian and Hermanns is better for a beginner.
If you have a big area outside and have the means to build a heated winter shed for the cold months, then you can pretty much do any.

I have a nice fully enclosed backyard. I am in the process of building a tortoise table to house a baby. Then if I decide on something bigger I have a nice shed I can heat that I plan to attach to a greenhouse for the colder months.

Welcome, what type of tortoise are you thinking about getting?

Disclaimer: I am still very much a newbie in the educational stage.

Still undecided between larger (max 12-16") or small. If larger I would love something that would do well with my current climate of hot humid summers (70+%; 80F-100F, mild often wet winters (40s with fluctuations up to +-30). I like the Star Tortoises. I like the Radiated Tortoise. I love the huge Sulcata but thats just a bit too much for me to manage over the course of my life.

The further I get along on this table the more I could see how sticking with something small would be nice. The Spider Tortoise caught my eye as well as the Egyptian.

I am at the stage where they are all amazing and their differences are super interesting.

 

[Ray--Opo]

I have a nice fully enclosed backyard. I am in the process of building a tortoise table to house a baby. Then if I decide on something bigger I have a nice shed I can heat that I plan to attach to a greenhouse for the colder months.



Disclaimer: I am still very much a newbie in the educational stage.

Still undecided between larger (max 12-16") or small. If larger I would love something that would do well with my current climate of hot humid summers (70+%; 80F-100F, mild often wet winters (40s with fluctuations up to +-30). I like the Star Tortoises. I like the Radiated Tortoise. I love the huge Sulcata but thats just a bit too much for me to manage over the course of my life.

The further I get along on this table the more I could see how sticking with something small would be nice. The Spider Tortoise caught my eye as well as the Egyptian.

I am at the stage where they are all amazing and their differences are super interesting.

Have you looked at the Leopard?

 

[Akdrillo86]

Have you looked at the Leopard?

I did but everything I read says it can get to 24"-30"!!! Beautiful may be too big for what I am hoping for.

 

[wellington]

I did but everything I read says it can get to 24"-30"!!! Beautiful may be too big for what I am hoping for.

Any baby/hatchling should not be in a table but a closed chamber enclosure. A table will not keep in the humidity, 80% they all need to grow smooth without pyramiding
You will need an incandescent flood bulb for basking, a fluorescent tube for uvb and ceramic heat emitter for night heat and any added day heat needed
The south African leopards can get to the larger size, the regular leopards, that used to be called Babcocki do not.
A Redfoot would also be good, they need high humidity but need a dry top layer to prevent shell

 

[Akdrillo86]

Any baby/hatchling should not be in a table but a closed chamber enclosure. A table will not keep in the humidity, 80% they all need to grow smooth without pyramiding
You will need an incandescent flood bulb for basking, a fluorescent tube for uvb and ceramic heat emitter for night heat and any added day heat needed
The south African leopards can get to the larger size, the regular leopards, that used to be called Babcocki do not.
A Redfoot would also be good, they need high humidity but need a dry top layer to prevent shell

What size do the regular Leopards get to?

I say Tortoise table but it is indeed a closed chamber enclosure. I just plan to put it on a table and have a tortoise in it! lol. Thanks for the input!

 

[wellington]

Regular leopard Around 15-20 inches, usually around 12-15.
The south African ones can get up to about 20-25, most are probably 15-20 inches and then there is even a larger one that can get around 30-35 inches. I'm not sure they are even available