Website for Mark's Smart Tortoise Keeper enclosures?

[Daffodil]

I'm thinking of giving up on getting my vivarium to the right temp/light/humidity levels. By the time I get this right, it will probably have been more cost effective (and definitely more time efficient) to have bought the right thing from the beginning. I thought I'd check out the famed Mark's Smart Enclosures, but can't find a site. It sounds like his enclosures differ from Animal Plastics in that they are double sided, improving insulation, and that they already have some built-in necessities for light/temp/humidity?

My little Russian is 5 months old. It sounds like a 4x2 or 4x3 would be an appropriate size for him for at least the next two to three years, right? (I do plan to make a 4x8 outdoor garden area for him, too, to use for a few hours a day in the warmer summer months.) If so, I wouldn't be as hesitant about the cost.

Does it need to be a certain height? I currently have an 18" tall vivarium which seems too short to fit the light fixtures in. Would 24" tall be sufficient?

 

[mojo_1]

I'm thinking of giving up on getting my vivarium to the right temp/light/humidity levels. By the time I get this right, it will probably have been more cost effective (and definitely more time efficient) to have bought the right thing from the beginning. I thought I'd check out the famed Mark's Smart Enclosures, but can't find a site. It sounds like his enclosures differ from Animal Plastics in that they are double sided, improving insulation, and that they already have some built-in necessities for light/temp/humidity?

My little Russian is 5 months old. It sounds like a 4x2 or 4x3 would be an appropriate size for him for at least the next two to three years, right? (I do plan to make a 4x8 outdoor garden area for him, too, to use for a few hours a day in the warmer summer months.) If so, I wouldn't be as hesitant about the cost.

Does it need to be a certain height? I currently have an 18" tall vivarium which seems too short to fit the light fixtures in. Would 24" tall be sufficient?

I have a 4'x2'x2' enclosure for my redfoot and it keeps temp and humidity just fine.

 

[Daffodil]

I have a 4'x2'x2' enclosure for my redfoot and it keeps temp and humidity just fine.

Hi, Thanks for responding. I've seen a number of your posts. I'll check again for photos, but if you have one of your set up available, I'd love to see it.

My glass enclosure is only 18" high. Do you think it would be possible to get proper heat/light/humidity with only 18"? I was looking at greenhouse toppers that would allow me to get the lights inside and at a decent height above the substrate, but it looks like most would have to be bigger than the enclosure which seems like it would defeat the purpose. I don't know.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I'm thinking of giving up on getting my vivarium to the right temp/light/humidity levels. By the time I get this right, it will probably have been more cost effective (and definitely more time efficient) to have bought the right thing from the beginning. I thought I'd check out the famed Mark's Smart Enclosures, but can't find a site. It sounds like his enclosures differ from Animal Plastics in that they are double sided, improving insulation, and that they already have some built-in necessities for light/temp/humidity?

My little Russian is 5 months old. It sounds like a 4x2 or 4x3 would be an appropriate size for him for at least the next two to three years, right? (I do plan to make a 4x8 outdoor garden area for him, too, to use for a few hours a day in the warmer summer months.) If so, I wouldn't be as hesitant about the cost.

Does it need to be a certain height? I currently have an 18" tall vivarium which seems too short to fit the light fixtures in. Would 24" tall be sufficient?

You can find Mark on Facebook (Smart Tortoise Keeper or something similar). And there is a small showcase of Mark's enclosures on the forum.

24" is an absolute minimum for 12% lamps - they should be installed at 18-21" above substrate. Also, basking lamp domes take significant space. Overall 30-36" enclosures are easier to setup and look better (you can mask the equipment with an opaque front panel and make deeper substrate).

 

[mojo_1]

Hi, Thanks for responding. I've seen a number of your posts. I'll check again for photos, but if you have one of your set up available, I'd love to see it.

My glass enclosure is only 18" high. Do you think it would be possible to get proper heat/light/humidity with only 18"? I was looking at greenhouse toppers that would allow me to get the lights inside and at a decent height above the substrate, but it looks like most would have to be bigger than the enclosure which seems like it would defeat the purpose. I don't know.

The greenhouse tent just has to cover the enclosure. It's fine if it is bigger then the enclosure itself, just get as close to the enclosure dimensions as you can and it will be fine. You'll want the bottom of the heating element and light fixtures to be a minimum of 18" away from the top of the tortoise shell.

 

[Yvonne G]

Mark's enclosures are called Smart Tortoise Keeper. He's on Facebook

 

[Daffodil]

The greenhouse tent just has to cover the enclosure. It's fine if it is bigger then the enclosure itself, just get as close to the enclosure dimensions as you can and it will be fine. You'll want the bottom of the heating element and light fixtures to be a minimum of 18" away from the top of the tortoise shell. View attachment 381302View attachment 381303

Wow, your setup is beautiful.

I’d really, really like my lights to be able to fit inside.

What are the dimensions of yours?

Maybe I’ll try a greenhouse topper as close as I can get to the size of mine. I’m afraid the heat and humidity will seep out if it doesn’t sit directly on top of the enclosure, but it’s worth a try. Want Aggie to have the best home possible.

 

[Daffodil]

The greenhouse tent just has to cover the enclosure. It's fine if it is bigger then the enclosure itself, just get as close to the enclosure dimensions as you can and it will be fine. You'll want the bottom of the heating element and light fixtures to be a minimum of 18" away from the top of the tortoise shell. View attachment 381302View attachment 381303

What’s the blue thing?

 

[mojo_1]

Wow, your setup is beautiful.

I’d really, really like my lights to be able to fit inside.

What are the dimensions of yours?

Maybe I’ll try a greenhouse topper as close as I can get to the size of mine. I’m afraid the heat and humidity will seep out if it doesn’t sit directly on top of the enclosure, but it’s worth a try. Want Aggie to have the best home possible.

The greenhouse topper should work just fine at keeping in the heat and humidity. I have 2 100w ceramic heat emitters on a thermostat controller. My enclosure is 4'x2'x2'. With you having a Russian. I would just get the 4'x8' enclosure now so you don't have an enclosure than you need to get rid of later.

 

[mojo_1]

What’s the blue thing?

that's a ping pong ball for Mojo to push around.

 

[mojo_1]

These are newest pictures of Mojo's enclosure

 

[Tom]

I'm thinking of giving up on getting my vivarium to the right temp/light/humidity levels. By the time I get this right, it will probably have been more cost effective (and definitely more time efficient) to have bought the right thing from the beginning. I thought I'd check out the famed Mark's Smart Enclosures, but can't find a site. It sounds like his enclosures differ from Animal Plastics in that they are double sided, improving insulation, and that they already have some built-in necessities for light/temp/humidity?

My little Russian is 5 months old. It sounds like a 4x2 or 4x3 would be an appropriate size for him for at least the next two to three years, right? (I do plan to make a 4x8 outdoor garden area for him, too, to use for a few hours a day in the warmer summer months.) If so, I wouldn't be as hesitant about the cost.

Does it need to be a certain height? I currently have an 18" tall vivarium which seems too short to fit the light fixtures in. Would 24" tall be sufficient?

Get one. You'll be so glad you did. They are awesome and they make life for you easy, and life for your tortoise better.

The 4x3 will work for a while, and you can double it pretty easily for not too much money when the time comes. I run both sizes and they are just fantastic. There is no better way to house a young tortoise.

 

[Daffodil]

Get one. You'll be so glad you did. They are awesome and they make life for you easy, and life for your tortoise better.

Thanks, Tom! The more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Agamemnon's going to be living in it for at least a couple of years. _I_'m going to be living with it for at least a couple of years. It would be really nice to have something that will be a good home for Aggie and that makes me smile every time I look at it, unlike my current enclosure with all the aluminum foil on top.

So, 4x3 and how tall should it be?

 

[mojo_1]

Get one. You'll be so glad you did. They are awesome and they make life for you easy, and life for your tortoise better.

Thanks, Tom! The more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Agamemnon's going to be living in it for at least a couple of years. _I_'m going to be living with it for at least a couple of years. It would be really nice to have something that will be a good home for Aggie and that makes me smile every time I look at it, unlike my current enclosure with all the aluminum foil on top.

So, 4x3 and how tall should it be?

If you go with 3' tall it will give you the option to put ramps and whatnot and still be far enough away from the heating elements.

 

[Daffodil]

If you go with 3' tall it will give you the option to put ramps and whatnot and still be far enough away from the heating elements.

Yes!! So true! I love your ramps and would like to do something similar, so 3' it is!

 

[Tom]

Get one. You'll be so glad you did. They are awesome and they make life for you easy, and life for your tortoise better.

Thanks, Tom! The more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Agamemnon's going to be living in it for at least a couple of years. _I_'m going to be living with it for at least a couple of years. It would be really nice to have something that will be a good home for Aggie and that makes me smile every time I look at it, unlike my current enclosure with all the aluminum foil on top.

So, 4x3 and how tall should it be?

They are 30 inches tall, and that includes the flush mounted LEDs and all the wiring in the canopy. The interior is about 24" tall.

 

[mojo_1]

Those sound like really great enclosures.

 

[Daffodil]

Those sound like really great enclosures.

Yours looks like one. Did you make it yourself?

 

[mojo_1]

Yours looks like one. Did you make it yourself?

Mine is an animal plastics enclosure. They are also nice enclosures and great people to deal with. Marks enclosures look top notch from the pictures. I like the double wall design and the flush mounted lights.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Mine is an animal plastics enclosure. They are also nice enclosures and great people to deal with. Marks enclosures look top notch from the pictures. I like the double wall design and the flush mounted lights.

Another killer-feature - double-glazed glass. So almost no condensate on the glass doors.