New Enclosure... Not finished yet

[tadeusz]

Here are some pics of my new enclosure I'm building for an Oustalet's cham, I'm going to be getting in a few months. its 2x2x4 actual cage but stands a little over 5 feet tall. Still working to finish it. I have the mesh screen installed, a little hard to see though. No rush as I have some time till I get my cham. Thoughts

My 3 year old son is sitting inside:

My Sulcata Torts cage is in the background (little guys about 2 years old):

 

[hondataeg6]

Out of topic. Can I see you're sulcata set-up I'm really tempted in buying one.

 

[tadeusz]

Sure, my torts enclosure is 18"tall x 28" wide x 48" long. I have it split with the tunnel/cave and latch/cover for privacy. I have their substrate split between alfalfa Tort pellets (they can also eat them if they get hungry) and then a mix for their tunnel/cave with 50% play sand and 50% organic sphagnum peat moss. They love to bury deep inside it. I also have large aquarium stones in front of their water and food dish so they can reach in and out. As a precaution, I thompson sealed the entire enclosure, plastic sealed the bottom and then lined it with planter liner (grey shown in pics). I used 2x4's for the frame and then sized up some plywood. Its very sturdy and very heavy!! Torts love it, they were in a 40 gallon tank before this and now they have so much more room to roam and they are much more active. I keep it by a window and will open up the blinds during the day to help with the light. Let me know if you have any other Q's. Torts are very easy care and they are like little dogs... They follow you around when they are out and about! Seriously. They try to get your attention.

 

[summoner12]

Nice work! Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[eriksorg]

The torts are really cool when there small,But watch-out they get BIG. I had #2 70 pounders that I had gotten as babies.. They like to dig, eat and Poop(a lot), In the warmer months here I would let them out of there pens to run about. They would then proceed to move patio furniture, Dig 2' round holes werever they want,pushed my Rottweilers around and move the a.c. unit for my house!!!! Bottom line if you have the room to keep them "great". I do, but I chose to sell them...Broke my wifes heart...But they just get too darn destructive as adults.
p.s. very nice start on the cage.

 

[Justin Carl]

Are you using screen for windows? If so then you need to start over with metal screen. Crickets will eat a hole right into that stuff

 

[PedroANDAshley]

omg i want a tortoise.
How big do they get and how fast do the grow?
Im scared they might bite my fingers off though...
I once had a gerbile and it bit my finger and wouldnt let go
I dont want another experience LOL

 

[tadeusz]

The torts are really cool when there small,But watch-out they get BIG. I had #2 70 pounders that I had gotten as babies.. They like to dig, eat and Poop(a lot), In the warmer months here I would let them out of there pens to run about. They would then proceed to move patio furniture, Dig 2' round holes werever they want,pushed my Rottweilers around and move the a.c. unit for my house!!!! Bottom line if you have the room to keep them "great". I do, but I chose to sell them...Broke my wifes heart...But they just get too darn destructive as adults.
p.s. very nice start on the cage.

Yeah, I've heard some people telling me that they can be pretty bad with digging holes. I did have an idea for that... I have an area in my backyard for them once they are about 4-5 years or outgrow the indoor enclosure. The area I was going to use is an old garden we have on the side yard (about 10ft wide x 25ft long). But, my idea was to churn/dig up most of the area as its all old soil/dirt and line it with plywood about 2ft down so they could dig a 2ft or so down but no further... At least I don't think they could get through a 5-ply sheet?

 

[tadeusz]

Are you using screen for windows? If so then you need to start over with metal screen. Crickets will eat a hole right into that stuff

Good call, didn't think of that, but it is a metal screen for gardens I think to keep insects out? It seems pretty durable when I tried to stretch it out it didn't really budge, you think I will have issues with that? It wasn't for window screens though.

 

[tadeusz]

omg i want a tortoise.
How big do they get and how fast do the grow?
Im scared they might bite my fingers off though...
I once had a gerbile and it bit my finger and wouldnt let go
I dont want another experience LOL

Haha. I've had mine for about 1.5 years and when I got them, the lady told me she had them for over 2 years (which I found out was a lie) they were just babies when I got them (maybe 4 months at most). Right now both of mine are about 5-6" at 2 years. If you don't overfeed they can stay relatively small for a while (7-9 years), they shouldn't be more then 10-15lbs and 10-14". But, many people have told me that they dig like crazy, they are "lawn mowers" and have great personalities. I can feed mine by hand and they have never bitten me! No worries. I got them as the Phoenix climate is ideal for them and my wife and I wanted to get get some type of pet for our 2 year old son to take care of that wouldn't run away, wouldn't be hard to clean up, and also wouldn't die anytime soon (most live 20+ years with no problems.

 

[CleaTheChameleon]

Awesome cage. Both for the chameleon and tortoises

 

[tadeusz]

Hello All, I just wanted to post an update of my enclosure. Its still not 100%. I will probably add 1 tree inside, just not sure which kind yet (hibiscus, ficus, umbrella, or something like along those lines) and some more vines. I don't have a cham yet (hopefully in the next 2-3 months!!), but I have been monitoring my temps and at night, I'm seeing 67-73 degrees and 50%-60%% humidity, during the day, I'm at 82-88 degrees/55%-71% humidity. I'm going to be getting a oustalet's cham for this set up. Not too worried about humidity, but the temps seem right on par (could be a little higher). Let me know what you guys think and any ideas for improvements.

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[summoner12]

Not bad, but I would buy a ficus to replace the two plants on the ground. You can trim the ficus branches to however dense you want the foliage. If you aren't already using a 6500K lamp, I would get one. The 6500K lamp will help the plants grow and stay healthy.

 

[tadeusz]

Sounds good, I probably will lose the 2 plants on the bottom, I had them in there for the time being to see what type of humidity levels I would get. In AZ, humidity is hard to come by! lol The 6500k lamp was something I was back and forth with. I read posts of other members saying their Ficus didn't do good indoors. I was thinking of using a 4-5ft ficus as a free range on my patio/indoors (when too hot). I thought about a hibiscus, I know some chams like the leaves/flowers and so would my torts! Thanks for the info. Let me know if there is anything else I should change/swap.

 

[summoner12]

Sounds good, I probably will lose the 2 plants on the bottom, I had them in there for the time being to see what type of humidity levels I would get. In AZ, humidity is hard to come by! lol The 6500k lamp was something I was back and forth with. I read posts of other members saying their Ficus didn't do good indoors. I was thinking of using a 4-5ft ficus as a free range on my patio/indoors (when too hot). I thought about a hibiscus, I know some chams like the leaves/flowers and so would my torts! Thanks for the info. Let me know if there is anything else I should change/swap.

Hibiscus require a lot of light. You'd need at least one 6500K for that plant to do OK. Ficus do perfect in cages with 6500 lamps. Ficus don't need a ton of light, so they thrive with the 6500k lamp. I have hibiscus in a couple of cages and they don't seem to bloom as often as the ones outside... so i don't think it gets enough light. the plant grows fine, just no flowers.

 

[tadeusz]

Ok, I think I've finally finished my enclosure. I still have some time before I get my cham, but I went back and forth with what to add and take out, but right now my temps and humidity are perfect for the basking area and everything else (day or night). The only other addition will be a food bowl on the open area up top on the left side (I will try the famous 1 gallon technique). Any feedback or recommendations are welcome. I appreciate everyone's opinions and assistance thus far. Let me know what you think...

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[eriksorg]

That looks great!!! BUT,,, If you do get a sub-adult or even a baby cham your going to have a heck or a time finding it!!!! That cage is going to be perfect for any adult. You may want to invest in a smaller screen cage for a little one untill it gets bigger...It will also be better for feeding. Smaller crickets wont escape.

 

[tadeusz]

That makes sense, I was wanting to pick up one of your baby Ousties whenever you are going to start selling them (I figured 2-3 months from now). I was thinking it would be difficult for baby to navigate and I was hoping the food bowl would make it a little easier and once he gets bigger, I would do some free roam feeders... I will probably make a smaller one then, I have some wood and screen left over from this build, I could probably do one a little less than half this size around 16" or so. Thoughts.

Oh yeah... Any new pics of the babies?

 

[eriksorg]

I'll post some new pics in a few days..have #3 more hatch today...up to #14 babies now!!!!

 

[tadeusz]

Good and congrats. I'm glad they decided to come out and play!