Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
[IMG]http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_0130.jpg[/IMG]
bigger one is red foot you saw Al, I had 2 but I made a pen outside and one disappeared (hawk?) so I bought another red foot and a cherry head. the big red foot is about 2.5 years and 9" the newer ones are a little over 1 year.
I will need a bigger pen soon, but for now they do fine. I use dampened moss in a heated (ceramic) sleeping area for their moistness, cypress mulch on the main floor. give them the dish with clean water they drink and sometimes soak in, but not often. I also added a uv lamp when I got the 2 new ones and see better/ faster growth. I don't worry about letting them soak, I spray them with a sprayer 1x a day when they eat. I was told no water over there face height is needed. yours are bigger and older so i agree a bigger water area is needed. what about a deep 1/2" to 1" cookie/baking pan that can be removed and cleaned every day? set on bluestone or cement board that will soak the water? I've had all kinds of ideas of bigger deeper water areas too, but too much to keep up with. I guess from the discus, my canaries, finches, tortoises and newt all get fresh clean water every day. seems to be a habit that will not go away!
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
Jim,
Bummer on the lost tortoise.:( The group you have now look very promising very healthy. I've got to keep my eyes out now for an adult male... out of 6 babies, all were female.:(
Thanks for sharing the pics...Nice blending of fishroom/turtle room!:)
al
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
You showed me one time how you sex them... I forgot! I will keep my eye open for a male. the lady I bought the latest 2 from said she hatches them as female hoping for a $600.00 female egg layer over a $100.00 male. the other guy I got the first batch from said similar. so I guess most we get are female.
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jimg
You showed me one time how you sex them... I forgot! I will keep my eye open for a male. the lady I bought the latest 2 from said she hatches them as female hoping for a $600.00 female egg layer over a $100.00 male. the other guy I got the first batch from said similar. so I guess most we get are female.
Thanks,
My first time breeding these, but If the bottom of the shell is flat, then its most likely female. Males bottom of the shell is concave. Males usually have a bigger tail, and the v of the shell around the tail is more triangular...females are more "u" shaped in the shell around the tail.
unfortunately I guess is hard to see when they are young. I keep hoping one of mine is a late developing male!
al
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
thanks mine all look female too, so far. they'll get there! they eat better than me, 1x a week boiled shrimp or chicken then mix of fruit/greens, mostly greens every day. a couple times a month I sprinkle calcium powder on their food, may need it a little more as I can see the red foots are not as smooth/even growth as the cherry head.
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
I did some more work this past week on the tortoise tank ...I decided to go with the pond liner, and found one that was 7X10 feet at Lowes onsale as a offseason closeout...It was just what the doctor ordered.
So I fastened it in place with screws and 1" flat washes to help prevent tears...
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...pseonhou4l.jpg
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...psx0rmhv5x.jpg
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...pspyrvb991.jpg
A also added a strip of a LED lights from Lowes along inside for ambient light.These work well... just peel the backing off and stick on... I did one side for now... Will do another side latter.
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...psdplcmf71.jpg
Basically divided the tank top into 4 sections...
One side gets the heat light... It goes on the screen here...
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...psfmbaadu2.jpg
2 sections get plexiglass lids and the 3rd gets a plain plywood board... Thats there shelter area... So over a 10 foot span they have a heat source, a temperature gradient and cool spot..This is critical for reptiles so they can thermo regulate.
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...pskag6nqex.jpg
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...pssmsbrqfr.jpg
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...psgmvnwoly.jpg
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
I'm currently trying to use a poultry waterer to see if they won't knock it over, I did that when they were small and it worked well..I was using a small one then and they eventually got so big they knock it over..This one is bigger now too.
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...psxaqfkejk.jpg
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
Next up I need to make a custom light hood for it..... I also want to make a supplimental light panel I can swap out with one of the plexiglass ones for when its really cold. all 4 pieces of the top easily come off...I did that to make cleaning easier and modifications easier.
Lastly, would like to include either a mister to bump up humidity or I am thinking of replacing the watering can with a small water fall, with a reservoir. That may bump up the humidity a Tad..
Its a work in progress.
al
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
Looks great Al. This is the type of misting system I'm looking at http://www.livefoods.co.uk/product_i...8848e9c1a0eca1 - I'm waiting for a mate to get back to me on the one he has.
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pcsb23
yep Paul, Something like that would meet my needs exactly!
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
Well first night in the new tank went great. These girls are walking about all over. The basement here is not heated except by a wood stove and can get rather cold...as in 50s. I let the stove go out last night to see how the turtles did.
When the turtles were in the glass tank I'd have had to wrap the tank with a blanket to keep it even remotely warm enough for them. But this new tank with with the plywood sides and plexiglass lids is doing a great job of keeping them warm, Theres a perfect gradient in the tank from 80s t0 70s.
I have been meaning to build this tank for a while. I am so glad I got off my rump and did it...and so are the girls.
Btw ..They do have names as given by my kids... Aria, Lanalee, Sunny, Ichi, and Singer.
al
Re: Tortoise Tank Build out..
looks good Al! what are you going to do about a soaking basin?