YESSS!

[Talka]

So I've had Sheldon for 2 weeks. And the first thing y'all said about him was that his enclosure was far too small.
Here's what he was in:

Today I built him this:

I've got a second lamp on the way! That way I can have a heating lamp and a basking lamp in the same enclosure which I'm sure he'll love!
He already seems happier. He's running around all over the place. And he can't look out, which is great since he always seemed really uncomfortable with glass walls. He'd run into them all the time and I don't think he felt safe when my friends visited. So, all better now!

Also, the old tank got melted (yes, MELTED) by the basking light. PetSmart, I'm sure, won't take it back. Any ideas what I could use it for?

 

[Yvonne G]

It might make a nice terrarium...that is, if you're into house plants.

 

[Jacqui]

Or use it to grow seed trays for him to eat (once the seeds have sprouted and grown ) .

 

[ascott]

Nice improvement! You could use the melted tank as glass art....LOL....no seriously maybe use it for plants????

 

[Talka]

Or use it to grow seed trays for him to eat (once the seeds have sprouted and grown ) .

Awesome idea! I still have space to do that, too

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

 

[Talka]

So, there's plenty of room there for a couple plants. Do y'all recommend real plants or fakes? I can pick up fakes at PetSmart or whatevs.
Also, I know torts like rocks. Should I have some under the basking lamp?
Thirdly, I'm horrible with building (I'm shocked I put that bookshelf together, and lining it with plastic took me a half hour. It was messy!), so are there any platforms I can buy, pre-built, that add a "second floor" of sorts?

 

[Lisa Anne]

As I have recently learned, to my dismay, watch it if Sheldon goes into the corners and works at them. Mine have torn through the shower curtain and I am working up to taking out all the substrate, redoing the corners and blocking them somehow.

 

[lynnedit]

They tend to trash real plants. I got some of the fake plants at a craft store that hang down, and hung them along the edge. You might try a real spider plant in a sturdy pot. perhaps even put it in the middle, might be safer there, because they like to walk the edges and mow things down.

 

[Torty Mom]

Looks great!! Love it!! Nice job!!!

 

[tortoise-kid]

Very much improvement! Sheldon well surely love it.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Where did you get the new thing?

 

[Talka]

I changed the substrate today. Made it about 50/40/10 coconut/cypress/sand. Took away the plastic bin, added a log. Added ceramic flowerpot bases to the basking area and under his food dish. This keeps him from digging up the corners and from eating substrate. He sorta goes nuts, gets food everywhere and then eats it with dirt and all.
I also got some flat stones to decorate the place a bit. He seems to like them.

He's kinda confused now, exploring and trying to dig up everything. I did end up moving the water bowl to a corner. He kept falling into it while walking around. It got dirty in about a minute.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

If he tries to climb the wall in that corner he could fall backwards into the water dish and drown. I would not put the dish into any corner..put it into the middle of the tank...

 

[Talka]

If he tries to climb the wall in that corner he could fall backwards into the water dish and drown. I would not put the dish into any corner..put it into the middle of the tank...

Thanks! I'll do that!

 

[pdrobber]

As I have recently learned, to my dismay, watch it if Sheldon goes into the corners and works at them. Mine have torn through the shower curtain and I am working up to taking out all the substrate, redoing the corners and blocking them somehow.

You could try using a pond liner...it's thicker and more durable. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E5T6XS/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[lynnedit]

I changed the substrate today. Made it about 50/40/10 coconut/cypress/sand. Took away the plastic bin, added a log. Added ceramic flowerpot bases to the basking area and under his food dish. This keeps him from digging up the corners and from eating substrate. He sorta goes nuts, gets food everywhere and then eats it with dirt and all.
I also got some flat stones to decorate the place a bit. He seems to like them.

He's kinda confused now, exploring and trying to dig up everything. I did end up moving the water bowl to a corner. He kept falling into it while walking around. It got dirty in about a minute.

Good suggestion about moving the water bowl. Otherwise, I like the looks of your substrate. Torts are funny, they like routine, but when there is something new, they like to explore. Go figure.