storage tub setup

[austinSOLO]

this is basically what the enclosure is going to look like for the russian tort im getting. i just need to get one more fixture for my uvb bulb, and im going to put some rocks under the basking spot. i have a rock ramp for him to climb up and down. let me know what you think!

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[ascott]

What size of tortoise are you going to get ?
What substrate are you going to use in the enclosure?
Might I suggest? I would feel uncomfortable with the water dish at the base of the wall of the hide...if your tortoise (well, should say "when") climbs to the top of the hide and steps off he could find himself in a fatal situation if he is stuck in the water on a flip off the hide .....just the paranoid side of me

 

[dmarcus]

For a Russian I would fill in the front with plexiglass or something, Russian are great escape artist and I see that opening as a great way for it to escape especially once you put some substrate in there..

 

[jaizei]

Like Dmarcus mentioned, I'd try and put something like plexiglass in the front. Here's a link showing something similar.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-plexiglass-for-indoor-enclosures?pid=77818#pid77818

 

[lynnedit]

I think it is going to be nice!
Agree about the plexiglass in front, doesn't even have to go the entire way up. you could even duct tape it on until you can silicone it or bolt it in place. Home Depot sells precut pieces of Acrylic plexiglass, look for the cheapest kind that will fill at least part of the opening. That makes a nice viewing area!
I would also move the water dish to the middle as they like to pace the perimeter. Then just push the hide right up against the wall. Put a flat rock at the base of the ramp to jam it in place. Even better, have another ramp going down the other side...

 

[austinSOLO]

i will see what i can do, thanks for all the ideas! i am not sure about the size, probably 4-5 inches. i will be using 50-50 eco earth play sand mix and i might build another ramp on the other side! it will be a good project to do.

 

[Talka]

Hmm, I think most people aren't too keen on sand. I was told to keep it to about 20% or less of the total substrate.

 

[lynnedit]

Yes, there are sites that recommend it as a 50/50, but I think many people on this forum find it gets all over everything, etc., and does just as well at a much lower ratio like 20% or so. You could use the eco earth with some organic topsoil too.
I look forward to more pics!

 

[Madkins007]

Ramps- my guys are probably a clumsy example, but I found that Red-footeds, at least, do not do well on steep ramps because of traction issues. By the time I had enough traction, the traction elements themselves got in the way. The pebbles look like they are OK, but what I see are a lot of small slippery surfaces side by side with nothing for the feet to really get traction on.

Sand- For my Red-footeds, I found that eco Earth was messy, and sand was messy. Now, if I am doing any sort of soil-like substrate, I go straight to a Bioactive Substrate System (https://sites.google.com/site/tortoiselibrary/the-work-shop/substrates-1 )

 

[austinSOLO]

i might even do eco earth, with a layer of aspen bedding on top.