What is my tortoise table missing?

[RuthieHurry]

I snapped some pics of the tortoise table with my phone today. Temps stay at 75 and above. Humidity at 75% throughout, with 90% in the hides. Takes a lot of work, but we don't have a fenced yard, so the kiddos only go out when we're home. What else am I missing?

7 foot end, with lights and watering hole. MVB on the rocks for basking, and spot on the pool. Also the window that faces West, to warm things up a bit more.

The 11 foot end, with feeding dish...

A nice open spot...

Stashu stomping the yard. Other kids go to bed early...

Entrance to one hide...

Entrance to the other...

A view from afar...

Pardon the mess....

Doing this all from mobile apps, so hopefully got the titles right.
I walk by this dang thing all the time, and keep feeling like there's something missing. I thought about putting another spot light on the feeding end, but I'm afraid they would stray from their MVB basking spot, and they all congregate there quite nicely. This is a while ago, before the remodel, but you get the picture:

 

[DanaLachney]

How do u keep the humidity up in something that large? Looks VERY nice btw

 

[Arizona Sulcata]

How do u keep the humidity up in something that large? Looks VERY nice btw

Agreed, worried about the humidity levels but it looks fantastic!

 

[RuthieHurry]

Substrate is peat moss mixed with organic potting soil, and a couple of inches deep. I mist every couple of days, and add more mixture once a month or so. I get the mixture pretty wet before I put it there. I think the light and hot sun on the water dish helps the humidity.

 

[Laura]

you are going to need a fenced yard soon... !
but for now that is very nice..
they dont attempt to climb out?

 

[nicoleandrocky]

Looks good, also nice job with the humidity, it's hard keeping it at a spot you want in such a large enclosure.

 

[DixieParadise]

wow, that is an awesome indoor enclosure.

 

[RuthieHurry]

you are going to need a fenced yard soon... !
but for now that is very nice..
they dont attempt to climb out?

Nope. The shorter sides are 8" tall. They seem fairly content to walk around and get into trouble.

This is actually the orginal table that my husband built, along with a fairly large addition. We plan on moving in a couple years, and if they begin to outgrow this, we will fill in that whole center piece, and ditch the couch. Before "winter" hit, they had an 8 x 12 enclosure outside for when we were home, but it was bulky and took four people to move. He's in the process of planning one that just the two of us can pick up, and move around to catch the best sun, weeds, etc.

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Don't know if it makes a difference with my humidity levels, but I ALWAYS use hot water to wet the substrate. Of course, by the time it comes out of that mister, it doesn't feel as hot anymore!

 

[Tom]

It looks great. I'll be very surprised if that lasts two more years...

 

[RuthieHurry]

It looks great. I'll be very surprised if that lasts two more years...

Exactly why we had to start thinking about adding the other footage! We adopted two from TRLI in June of last year. The 7 yr old, Stashu, was just under 2 lbs. In the time that we've had him, he's increased in length, and gained 1.5 lbs! He is by far the fastest grower of the three.

 

[dmarcus]

Very nice enlcosure you have...

 

[dds7155]

It's really nice ,"but" in two years they will have out grown it , but it is really nice,

 

[RuthieHurry]

Thank you, thank you. No constructive criticism, besides the size? I really do feel like we're missing something. Maybe it's just that the 11 foot end seems so empty compared to the rest, I dunno.

 

[DixieParadise]

Why not just add more plants in that long stretch? Then it won't look like you are missing anything. I really do think it looks great. I wish I had that much room for an inside enclosure for my RF's.

 

[RuthieHurry]

I thought about adding more plants to the long end, then wondered if maybe I would be "crowding" them.