Set up finished!

[Natalie44]

Hey everyone,

Hope you’re all well
I’ve finally set up our Hermanns enclosure! Let me know what you all think and if there’s any adjustments I need to make. Our little guy or gal will be arriving on Sunday.
Thanks in advance,
Natalie x

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hey everyone,

Hope you’re all well
I’ve finally set up our Hermanns enclosure! Let me know what you all think and if there’s any adjustments I need to make. Our little guy or gal will be arriving on Sunday.
Thanks in advance,
Natalie x

Hello!
It looks lovely!!!

Just a few minor adjustments:
1. UVB lamp and basking lamp "work together" so it's better to place them over the same area. UVB lamp can be installed in parallel to the short wall, just in case.
2. Ambient LED should be closer to the middle (and maybe a bit higher) - to make the whole enclosure brighter.
3. Plant pots can be moved a bit off the walls (so he can hide behind them too). If you can cover hides entrances with plant leaves - this will be even better (he will feel safer).
4. I do not see humidity/temperature meters, but you will need a couple of simple digital ones.

 

[Yvonne G]

Make a fist and mash the substrate down firmly. Makes it easier to walk on plus keeps it off the food and water.

 

[Natalie44]

Hello!
It looks lovely!!!

Just a few minor adjustments:
1. UVB lamp and basking lamp "work together" so it's better to place them over the same area. UVB lamp can be installed in parallel to the short wall, just in case.
2. Ambient LED should be closer to the middle (and maybe a bit higher) - to make the whole enclosure brighter.
3. Plant pots can be moved a bit off the walls (so he can hide behind them too). If you can cover hides entrances with plant leaves - this will be even better (he will feel safer).
4. I do not see humidity/temperature meters, but you will need a couple of simple digital ones.

Thank you for your input I’ll make a few adjustments! Can I use fake plant leaves to cover the hide? I have 2 humidity/temperature digital thermometers. One at the warm end and one at the cool end

 

[Natalie44]

Make a fist and mash the substrate down firmly. Makes it easier to walk on plus keeps it off the food and water.

I’ve already patted it down as much as I can thank you x

 

[Natalie44]

Hello!
It looks lovely!!!

Just a few minor adjustments:
1. UVB lamp and basking lamp "work together" so it's better to place them over the same area. UVB lamp can be installed in parallel to the short wall, just in case.
2. Ambient LED should be closer to the middle (and maybe a bit higher) - to make the whole enclosure brighter.
3. Plant pots can be moved a bit off the walls (so he can hide behind them too). If you can cover hides entrances with plant leaves - this will be even better (he will feel safer).
4. I do not see humidity/temperature meters, but you will need a couple of simple digital ones.

How’s the placement of the uvb light now? I’ve put it as close to the basking light as I can

 

[Ink]

Sometimes tortoise will eat fake plants.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thank you for your input I’ll make a few adjustments! Can I use fake plant leaves to cover the hide? I have 2 humidity/temperature digital thermometers. One at the warm end and one at the cool end

I'm not a big fan of plastic plants - never know if your tortoise will want to take a bite. A pot with carex or spider plant (one of the two in the enclosure) moved closer to the entrance will work

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

How’s the placement of the uvb light now? I’ve put it as close to the basking light as I can

What lamps/heaters are in the domes? If the black narrow dome is a basking lamp - then it's fine.

 

[Natalie44]

What lamps/heaters are in the domes? If the black narrow dome is a basking lamp - then it's fine.

What lamps/heaters are in the domes? If the black narrow dome is a basking lamp - then it's fine.

Yellow circle is the basking lamp and the red circle is the ambient lighting

 

[Natalie44]

Yellow circle is the basking lamp and the red circle is the ambient lighting

Should I move the basking light next to the ambient lighting then?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Should I move the basking light next to the ambient lighting then?

Can you try to hang UVB light like this? It could be a single long cord/rope between two frame planks or two loops/cords.

 

[Natalie44]

Can you try to hang UVB light like this? It could be a single long cord/rope between two frame planks or two loops/cords.

I don’t really know what you mean. You think I should hang the uvb light from that frame you highlighted in green?

 

[Natalie44]

Can you try to hang UVB light like this? It could be a single long cord/rope between two frame planks or two loops/cords.

Oh I get what you’re saying now. I thought the uvb light always had to be in the middle so it covers the whole enclosure

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Oh I get what you’re saying now. I thought the uvb light always had to be in the middle so it covers the whole enclosure

No, it should be just over the basking zone. A simple illustration of this idea is here: https://www.arcadiareptile.com/lighting/light-shade-method/

Installation of UVB tubes over the whole enclosure length, I think, was from the times when lamps were weak. Or maybe for some other reptile species.

 

[Natalie44]

No, it should be just over the basking zone. A simple illustration of this idea is here: https://www.arcadiareptile.com/lighting/light-shade-method/

Installation of UVB tubes over the whole enclosure length, I think, was from the times when lamps were weak. Or maybe for some other reptile species.

Ah okay. Thank you for your words is wisdom I’ll do some tweaking tonight 👍