Table for Two

[Micakrystine]

Hello!
We have had these two Cherryhead Redfoots (approx 2-3 years old) for 2 weeks now! We named them after cherries of course. Stella and Rain.

We took a lot of your recommendations and wanted to share the current set up. This is just for now, we are very aware of how big each one could get and the minimum requirements. Also, they will remain separated. We have plans to ensure each of them has their own large tortoise house with a summer yard long before they are full grown.

In total it’s a 8ft x 4ft table. 2x4ft is a wood covered hide with a 200w RHP attached to the removable top. The other 6x4ft has a wood frame top with plastic and 1in foam board insulation sheet over the top and back. The front lifts up and we have an insulation sheet we place over it at night.

Just today, I switched out the CHES for these two 200w RHPs that can hang from chains and everything is on thermostats. I’m watching the temps to see if I need to adjust anything but I’m hoping just the 2 panels will be enough. Before this the temps were stable 82-85 but I’m still working on humidity. It’s usually between 70-80% but I added more substrate today and started filling ceramic pots with hot water and putting them around the enclosure. The one I have had in the hide helped significantly it’s over 85% consistently in there now. Hopefully the rest will increase more with the extra inch of coco coir I added. I also plan put some kind of seal around door frame this week.

To separate them we used a roll of cedar garden edging with large river stones under it to create a wall down the middle that will keep them from going over or under it. We hope!

Let us know what you think! We are very open to feedback and more recommendations.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!

It looks really good! And Rain and Stella look busy and happy.

I have just a few suggestions/things to check:
1. Is there difference in temperatures between front and back sections? I feel like the back section with insulated walls and RHPs may be much warmer than front one.
2. Tortoises can see each other through the fence and it's potentially climbable. I would make it higher for couple of inches (just in case - they won't dig a tunnel under the fence) and maybe use a second line, so gaps overlap. Also you can replace parts of the fence with long plaster boxes and grow pothos, "wandering dude", boston fern or spider plants there.
3. Water pot in the hide area looks climbable. Not sure if tortoise can fit in the opening, but in any case it can be used to get over the fence.

 

[COmtnLady]

I second everything Alex and the Red Foot suggest or asked.

The being able to see through the fence kind of makes it so that they are not actually separated. It definitely needs to be a solid visual barrier.


Why did you rewove of the CHEs? How are you keeping the heat in mid 80s 24/7 without them?

Are the ends on that topper open or closed?

It looks really nice. Gold Star for you!

 

[wellington]

The temp gauges I could zoom in on are much too cold. Temp needs to be 82-84 day and night all over

 

[Micakrystine]

The temp gauges I could zoom in on are much too cold. Temp needs to be 82-84 day and night all over

Like stated in the post, temps are stable 82-84. I just switched out the CHEs for the radiant heat panels and was watching the temps while I took these pictures.

 

[Tom]

Hello!
We have had these two Cherryhead Redfoots (approx 2-3 years old) for 2 weeks now! We named them after cherries of course. Stella and Rain.

We took a lot of your recommendations and wanted to share the current set up. This is just for now, we are very aware of how big each one could get and the minimum requirements. Also, they will remain separated. We have plans to ensure each of them has their own large tortoise house with a summer yard long before they are full grown.

In total it’s a 8ft x 4ft table. 2x4ft is a wood covered hide with a 200w RHP attached to the removable top. The other 6x4ft has a wood frame top with plastic and 1in foam board insulation sheet over the top and back. The front lifts up and we have an insulation sheet we place over it at night.

Just today, I switched out the CHES for these two 200w RHPs that can hang from chains and everything is on thermostats. I’m watching the temps to see if I need to adjust anything but I’m hoping just the 2 panels will be enough. Before this the temps were stable 82-85 but I’m still working on humidity. It’s usually between 70-80% but I added more substrate today and started filling ceramic pots with hot water and putting them around the enclosure. The one I have had in the hide helped significantly it’s over 85% consistently in there now. Hopefully the rest will increase more with the extra inch of coco coir I added. I also plan put some kind of seal around door frame this week.

To separate them we used a roll of cedar garden edging with large river stones under it to create a wall down the middle that will keep them from going over or under it. We hope!

Let us know what you think! We are very open to feedback and more recommendations.

All of this is pretty darn cool.

I agree about the see through fencing and the height of the divider too, and I would add that cedar emits toxic fumes. Probably not a big deal in an open table, but it could be an issue in a closed chamber like this where the fumes are contained.

 

[Micakrystine]

Hello!

It looks really good! And Rain and Stella look busy and happy.

I have just a few suggestions/things to check:
1. Is there difference in temperatures between front and back sections? I feel like the back section with insulated walls and RHPs may be much warmer than front one.
2. Tortoises can see each other through the fence and it's potentially climbable. I would make it higher for couple of inches (just in case - they won't dig a tunnel under the fence) and maybe use a second line, so gaps overlap. Also you can replace parts of the fence with long plaster boxes and grow pothos, "wandering dude", boston fern or spider plants there.
3. Water pot in the hide area looks climbable. Not sure if tortoise can fit in the opening, but in any case it can be used to get over the fence.

Hi! Thanks for always responding they are always active after soak time and during dinner.

1. The temps are staying the same all around for the most part, the front drops faster than the back when the thermostat kicks off the heat. I put the insulation sheet on the door at night or when I see it lower than the back. Not all of my thermometers are shown. I will get something to seal the door soon I think that’s part of the issue, I’m putting a blanket over it in the mean time. The RHPs are tilted to help get the heat to both sides.
A. What temperature is the most true? The hydrometer/ thermometers, the thermostats or my heat gun?

2. Are you sure they won’t dig under it? Lol Stella likes to dig herself in her hides and sometimes she has come out the other side of them. To prevent that I put river stones under this ‘fence’ but I wil consider getting a second to over lap and make it a bit higher. Rain is the climber, so far she has just paced the wall a bit while exploring. I do plan on putting my wandering dude in here soon to go along the fence!!

3. I raised the water pot in the hide on some rocks and put a ‘fence’ (small hide) around it and made the dirt sink in instead of rise up around it so Stella can not for sure get in it. She’s the digger so I don’t expect her to climb but she could surprise me. Thanks for bringing stuff like that up, I don’t think it looked climbable.

 

[Micakrystine]

All of this is pretty darn cool.

I agree about the see through fencing and the height of the divider too, and I would add that cedar emits toxic fumes. Probably not a big deal in an open table, but it could be an issue in a closed chamber like this where the fumes are contained.

TOM thanks for the reply! My husband has been hoping you would comment something good about all his hard work lol
Gosh darn it! I thought cedar would be fine since some people use cedar mulch for substrate! do you know anything I can do to it to stop that from happening? I’ll look up stuff right now about it too!

 

[Micakrystine]

I second everything Alex and the Red Foot suggest or asked.

The being able to see through the fence kind of makes it so that they are not actually separated. It definitely needs to be a solid visual barrier.


Why did you rewove of the CHEs? How are you keeping the heat in mid 80s 24/7 without them?

Are the ends on that topper open or closed?

It looks really nice. Gold Star for you!

My husband picked out the ‘fence’ I tried to tell him but he thought it would be okay for them to see each other just not ‘touch’ each other.

I swapped the CHEs with RHPs (radiant heat panels) I think it looks nicer and takes up less room and 200w each instead of 3 150 CHEs. And the heat panels came with a warranty. So far it’s only hitting 80 so I might add back in a che or a 3rd heat panel today.

Everything is closed! The sides don’t have insulation sheets yet just plastic. I have to put them inside and add more plastic liner and I haven’t had the motivation since the temps were fine.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hi! Thanks for always responding they are always active after soak time and during dinner.

1. The temps are staying the same all around for the most part, the front drops faster than the back when the thermostat kicks off the heat. I put the insulation sheet on the door at night or when I see it lower than the back. Not all of my thermometers are shown. I will get something to seal the door soon I think that’s part of the issue, I’m putting a blanket over it in the mean time. The RHPs are tilted to help get the heat to both sides.
A. What temperature is the most true? The hydrometer/ thermometers, the thermostats or my heat gun?

2. Are you sure they won’t dig under it? Lol Stella likes to dig herself in her hides and sometimes she has come out the other side of them. To prevent that I put river stones under this ‘fence’ but I wil consider getting a second to over lap and make it a bit higher. Rain is the climber, so far she has just paced the wall a bit while exploring. I do plan on putting my wandering dude in here soon to go along the fence!!

3. I raised the water pot in the hide on some rocks and put a ‘fence’ (small hide) around it and made the dirt sink in instead of rise up around it so Stella can not for sure get in it. She’s the digger so I don’t expect her to climb but she could surprise me. Thanks for bringing stuff like that up, I don’t think it looked climbable.

1. I don't want to complicate things but... all three temperatures are true ) Temperature gun shows surface temperature, this gives you a quick overview of how intense heat sources are and how good object is at absorbing heat. Black slate and redfoots shells will have higher temperature, damp substrate when you open enclosure - much lower (because of evaporative cooling). Thermostat probe and thermometer/hygrometer show you how hot object gets over time in one single spot. This depends on distance to heat sources, type of heat source and mass and material of the object. A probe/thermometer under the hide or touching cold wall will show you lower temperature than place somewhere in the middle of the open space or under heater. Temperature that you need to maintain and watch for is best measured by a probe or thermometer placed at tortoise level, not right under the heat source and at some distance from outside walls.
2. Tortoises most often dig "dead end" tunnels. So if one of them manage to dig under the fence and emerge on the other side, it's probably by accident.

That's so cool that Rain and Stella have different personal traits and you notice them. Looking forward for more updates!

P.S. - cedar mulch should be never used as substrate. Cypress mulch is what commonly used.

 

[Micakrystine]

1. I don't want to complicate things but... all three temperatures are true ) Temperature gun shows surface temperature, this gives you a quick overview of how intense heat sources are and how good object is at absorbing heat. Black slate and redfoots shells will have higher temperature, damp substrate when you open enclosure - much lower (because of evaporative cooling). Thermostat probe and thermometer/hygrometer show you how hot object gets over time in one single spot. This depends on distance to heat sources, type of heat source and mass and material of the object. A probe/thermometer under the hide or touching cold wall will show you lower temperature than place somewhere in the middle of the open space or under heater. Temperature that you need to maintain and watch for is best measured by a probe or thermometer placed at tortoise level, not right under the heat source and at some distance from outside walls.
2. Tortoises most often dig "dead end" tunnels. So if one of them manage to dig under the fence and emerge on the other side, it's probably by accident.

That's so cool that Rain and Stella have different personal traits and you notice them. Looking forward for more updates!

P.S. - cedar mulch should be never used as substrate. Cypress mulch is what commonly used.

Omg cypress NOT cedar ugh im heading to Lowe’s right now to look for a different ‘fence’!

Thank you for explaining the temperature thing more to me I needed that lol.

And yes they have such different personalities that’s why I can’t give one back and will do whatever is needed to separate them correctly. I love them both so much already. Rain is so out going and adventurous, she climbs on her hides and is always popping her head around stuff to investigate. Stella is much more chill and likes to stay buried 90% of the time, probably why her shell is nicer than rains lol. She also takes longer to do anything and likes to squeeze herself into the smallest places she can. She also LOVES her soaks she spreads out all her legs and her little tail wags it’s so cute!

 

[Micakrystine]

NEW plastic fencing and weather strips!
Thanks guys! Cedar crisis averted!

 

[COmtnLady]

Debbie Dower here -
I'm still wondering about the insulation/last of the pics in #1.

Are you still using it that way? Are the sides, that we can't see in the pic, closed?
The top kind of looks like there is a space for the end of a light and the wires to come up through. How wide is the gap? If its much of any gap, it acts like a chimney to vent the heat and humidity.

Then -
I'd love to have an enclosure like you both have created. Way to go!

 

[Micakrystine]

Debbie Dower here -
I'm still wondering about the insulation/last of the pics in #1.

Are you still using it that way? Are the sides, that we can't see in the pic, closed?
The top kind of looks like there is a space for the end of a light and the wires to come up through. How wide is the gap? If its much of any gap, it acts like a chimney to vent the heat and humidity.

Then -
I'd love to have an enclosure like you both have created. Way to go!

It’s completely closed. Every side is closed with thick plastic sheeting. The top and back have 1inch insulation sheets taped to the plastic. The front door section has 2 removable insulation sheets that I put over the plastic if needed. Those gaps in the insulation sheet on the top have plastic and duct tape under /around it so only the cords are coming out, no chimney. There was heat escaping around the edges of the door so I was covering it with a blanket but I put in the weather strips all around it last night and it looks like it’s working, I think I need something to weigh the door down a bit more though for it to really seal.

Thanks so much !