Mine are nowhere near air tight. I leave a good 1/4 gap all around the door so that I won't have any trouble closing the doors at night when the wood swells with rain and weather.
Winter is Coming
- Thread starter klawran1
- Start date
Mine are nowhere near air tight. I leave a good 1/4 gap all around the door so that I won't have any trouble closing the doors at night when the wood swells with rain and weather.
I feel better about this. My husband asked me how she got air in there and it made me realize that I didn't know. Thanks, Tom.
It's coming along. 
Getting a little closer. Top has been built since these pics. Inside is caulked also. Should iron out the rest tomorrow.
Done.
Nice. I like it.
How will you be heating it?
How will you be heating it?
I'm using the same heater and set up as Team Gomberg. Her original post can be seen here: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/leopard-tortoise-heated-night-box.83326/ I liked the idea of it and I followed up with her (since her post is a few years old) and she said it's still working great so that's what I went with. 
I'm using the same heater and set up as Team Gomberg. Her original post can be seen here: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/leopard-tortoise-heated-night-box.83326/ I liked the idea of it and I followed up with her (since her post is a few years old) and she said it's still working great so that's what I went with.
Love it. You're tortoise will be warm and happy.
Thank you! All thanks to your designs. I've never in my life built anything like this without my dad doing the majority of it for me. My husband and I are very proud of this box and my tortoise will use it whether she wants to or not. I wanted to put something on the bottom since I plan to throw some dirt in it and to keep humidity up, but not sure what to line it with long term. I don't want to rot the wood the first year!!
I've never in my life built anything like this without my dad doing the majority of it for me. My husband and I are very proud of this box and my tortoise will use it whether she wants to or not. I wanted to put something on the bottom since I plan to throw some dirt in it and to keep humidity up, but not sure what to line it with long term. I don't want to rot the wood the first year!!
Well, when I woke up this morning it was 54 degrees. Checked in on the tortoise box and it was a toasty 81 in there. I'll sleep much better at night now knowing she's warm and cozy. Super proud of my work!! Now if I can convince my stubborn girl that it's okay to put herself away, we will be in business!!
TerrapinStation
Well-Known Member
Awesome build!
Good luck convincing her to put herself away...... Going to take some serious bribery haha. I am sure she will grow to enjoy it.
Good luck convincing her to put herself away...... Going to take some serious bribery haha. I am sure she will grow to enjoy it.
She takes her time coming out of that box, let me assure you of that. She's great once she's in it, but I can forsee her refusal to put herself away.
The inside.
I'm concerned with my temps. I check it all throughout the day and a lot over night also. The temps range from 77-89 degrees. I have the thermostat set for 81. Is this normal?
