made from extra large plastic planter rim, no slip tape (for inside grip) odds ends
Tortoise Wheel Video
- Thread starter Wilbur1111
- Start date
made from extra large plastic planter rim, no slip tape (for inside grip) odds ends
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2013
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- 5,066
Very nice job. Looks as though your tortoise is enjoying his time on the wheel.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Omg I’m obsessed!
vervain
New Member
As a fellow DIY-er I would love to make one of these for my Russian tort - Would you consider writing a tutorial or filming a quick video to show how you assembled? I think I have all these materials!
The_Four_Toed_Edward
Well-Known Member
I have seen a similar tutorial made for hedgehogs, and wish to attempt DIYing one myself someday.
This is so darn cool, and great job.
My husband made it out of odds and ends he found. I will work on something
Some detailed wheel pics of front/back wheel:
jpfieber
Member
Since all the pieces are one-offs, it would be hard to exactly replicate, but hopefully you can make something work based off the same principals. The key is to use a bearing to make it turn easy enough, and a large enough shaft that things aren't going to flex and rub. I collect odd-ball parts from all kinds of things, and had a bearing that fit into an aluminum housing that I attached to the base. A 1/2" shaft fit through the bearing, and then on the wheel side I found a large round metal piece (think it might have been a sanding disc from a ShopSmith) that had a 1/2" hole that fit onto the shaft. For the Wheel, we had a large plastic planter that I cut the top portion off. It seemed perfect since the width was just right for Boris' size, it had a rounded lip so he wouldn't get hurt getting on and off, and there was a small flange where it curved in that I could attach a backing to. I riveted a thin piece of wood onto the plastic planter piece, and then attached it to the large round metal piece that fit on the shaft. Because the sides of the planter were angled, and I didn't want Boris sliding off, I tilted the base so that the part Boris stands on would be level. We then found after he used it a bit that the non-abrasive no-slip tape helps keep his feet from sliding off the side, but a rubber spray on texture could work as well. Whatever it is, it needs to be cleanable, because they will poop on it. Here's a funny image of what can happen if they poop on a wheel and keep walking. That's not AI, I actually found him walking around the enclosure that way!
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