Table plans - advice?

[Nelsamye]

I'm designing a tortoise table with a few things in mind, it's for a young sulcata right now, so I want to keep it as closed as possible to keep up humidity, with the option to open it up later. After my sulcata has outgrown the table I would like to use it as a home for a smaller species, like perhaps a Greek tortoise.

The plans right now are for a 4'x8' table, 1 1/2' tall, with a light box to put on top, the light box which would hold any basking lamps and CHE bulbs will be 8'x1 1/2', and 1 1/2' tall.

Here are some pictures of the plans I've drawn so far, any tips/advice? And would this be big enough to house a smaller species like a Greek for most of the year? I live in the northwest so outside is only an option a few months a year.












Amy
Sulcata tortoise - Maximus

 

[mctlong]

Great size! 4'x8' would work fine for a Greek. What will happen to Maximus when he outgrows it? Will there be an outdoor pen in his future?

Is the light on the far right the CHE? Will you have a way to move the lights vertically up and down (to increase or reduce heat)?

Overall, I think its a fantastic design!

 

[Nelsamye]

Yeah Maximus will have an outdoor shed/pen once he gets too big for the table.

And yes the lights will be on a rod that I can move up/down for controlling heat.
I figure I'm putting so much in to the design I still want to get use out of it when Maximus outgrows it! I thought a Greek might be perfect given their adult size.


Amy
Sulcata tortoise - Maximus

 

[Tom]

I think you need to make it at least 24" and 30" would be better. You will need this height to set your bulb and get the temps right. And you will be shocked at how warm your box gets with small, low wattage bulbs.

No need to make a removable top. Defeats the purpose. With a greek or other species that doesn't need the humidity, you can just keep it drier. Those closed top also makes it very easy to maintain heat and stable temps.

I think 4x8 is an excellent size for an indoor Testudo species to spend a few months a year in, and it will serve your sulcata well for around two years.

 

[Nelsamye]

I think you need to make it at least 24" and 30" would be better. You will need this height to set your bulb and get the temps right. And you will be shocked at how warm your box gets with small, low wattage bulbs.

No need to make a removable top. Defeats the purpose. With a greek or other species that doesn't need the humidity, you can just keep it drier. Those closed top also makes it very easy to maintain heat and stable temps.

I think 4x8 is an excellent size for an indoor Testudo species to spend a few months a year in, and it will serve your sulcata well for around two years.

Do you mean 24" or 30" for the height of the light box attatchment, or the main table? I'll have to make it in two parts for sure so I can get it in and out of doorways, since I'm not building it in my home.


Amy
Sulcata tortoise - Maximus

 

[Levi the Leopard]

I'm wondering if the hide box at 2'x2' is too large?

I'd think you can make it smaller to allow more of that space for the open area. Maybe just a 1'x 1' since eventually you'd house a greek in there.

Just food for thought...

You have got quite a project ahead of you. Happy building

 

[Nelsamye]

I'm wondering if the hide box at 2'x2' is too large?

I'd think you can make it smaller to allow more of that space for the open area. Maybe just a 1'x 1' since eventually you'd house a greek in there.

Just food for thought...

You have got quite a project ahead of you. Happy building

Yeah I was thinking that might be a little big too, maybe I'd even make it a triangle in the corner or something, I'll have to come up with a couple variations and see what I like the best.

And luckily for me my dad has a woodworking shop so he'll be able to help me with some of the more complicated parts!


Amy
Sulcata tortoise - Maximus

 

[Levi the Leopard]

I think the triangle is a great idea!!

I just happened to have 2 12inch rulers sitting on my desk when I read your dimensions. As I put them together I got a clear picture of how BIG it would be so I made the suggestion

 

[Nelsamye]

Here's a picture of the side view to make the light box thing more clear, the sides and top of the light box would be wood, and the front and black would be some sort of plastic/plexiglass. The light box is a seperate attatchment that will sit on the main table, seperate for easier transportation through doors and such.




Amy
Sulcata tortoise - Maximus

 

[Nelsamye]

I got some new ideas and re-imagined the table. I want it to be in two halves, otherwise I won't be able to move it through doors. The bottom half would be wood on all sides with the exception of a glass front panel. The top half will have an adjustable wire grate shelf in the enclosure to set my light/Che/uv fixtures on. The top half will be all glass panel with wood frames.
Here's a few more drawings I made-







It's a big project for sure, but will be worth it.


Amy
Sulcata tortoise - Maximus