That is awesome! I will be using your set-up as an example when I go to build my Red Foot enclosure! Thank you for all the info and especially the info on the humidifier. I was going to go out and get a repti-fogger and now I know I don't "need" that specific kind, just a humidifier will work just fine. I love the use of the PVC pipes too! Awesome!
I really like your enclosure. Great ideas going on there. It's so cool to see all the different ideas people come up with. Yours is great! I have a russian tortoise. She was rescued from a fire (her story on my channel) but until she heals from her burns etc. she can only have carpeting. It's working so far. But I love the natural look so much.
It’s been about six months and the soil has been doing pretty good. I have some earthworms in there that aerate as well as take care of the poop and leftover food. I also turn the soil up once a month.
I had that same problem anytime I use peat moss. I find the best thing do is mix it with heavier soil like garden or potting soil also, keeping it moisten should help. Tortoise do burrow, so I wouldn't think it would irritate him but make sure he has a water dish that he can soak in.
I just bought a red foot today and I really like your enclosure :) I'm trying to get ale ideas on what to do and I really like how you set everything up
ecjm santos Congrats on getting a red foot I am sure you will enjoy taking care of that little guy. You might want to check out the www.tortoiseforum.org they have a lot of great info about these guys. Good luck
To clean the enclosure I just scoop most of the soil into a 5gal bucket then remove the visqueen and wipe away any moister. However the soil was in good condition and could have lasted a year or more. I also had some earthworms that was taking care of the organic matter as well as aerating the soil
I tend to keep some earthworms in the substrate which keeps the soil pretty healthy so, I try to hold off on changing it as long as I can. Before I had the worms I change it every 3 to 5 months.
Yes, I did make another video years ago that showed a little bit more about the setup of the updated version of that enclosure th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
The pipes help to get water to the plants as well as keep the soil moist and most importantly the pipes allow me to be lazy by not needing to spray every day.
so, I'm building a wooden enclosure for my Russian tortoise right now as the matter of fact, I was just wondering if it's possible to use garbage bags instead of visqueen and just wondering if it was safe. I hope you can respond quickly or someone can for that matter. Amazing enclosure by the way probably the best I've seen.
Ok Thanks, I did that and the enclosure looks good :D. I was just wondering I'm looking at him right now and he's trying to dig out and scratch out of the walls even though its wood is that a problem? Should I put stuff around the walls like plants? Oh now he's climbing on his log :3
The soil I use is Miracle gro organic choice garden soil with a brick of zoo med eco earth. I also have a few earthworms in there just to keep the soil healthy and aerated. Really any soil that doesn't have lot of chemicals or any large debris would be fine.
Yes, there are tortoise owners that actually prefer to keep them outside. I am planning to have mine outside once she gets bigger. There are few things to think about like weather and other animals. I would recommend that you take a look at Tortoise Forum .org they have a lot of information about outdoor enclosures
what kind of soil are you using? ive been looking for soil thats safe to use for my tortoise as well but idk whats good and what isnt good, i hear good things and bad things so please if you can, let me know what type of soil and brand, and by the way it looks great well done
Great set up! Do you have water underneath to Retain moisture? Also, does your fogger just come from the top or is it underneath the substrate as well?
Yes this version of the enclosure did add water underneath to retain moisture but just enough to be absorbed. I believe back then I was adding water about once a month to keep it moist but it could easily flood the bottom if I did it too often. In this version for the fogger I had a hose coming over the side however I did do an update video a few years ago with it coming from the bottom.
Hi Bryan Theriot This looks amazing and it's functional as well. I need some advice for my Star Tortoise who's 6cm long, and I'm planning to make an enclosure at home. I have researched a lot for its food, environment, etc., but could you please suggest what should be the approximate size for the table? I'm from India and you know things are way difficult to find online :) Thanks
Abinash Mohanty A good rule of thumb is to always make the enclosure as big as possible. For a young star tortoise I believe a 4ft X 2ft would be a good starting size however, if you are planning for longer term housing I would recommend something larger. You may want to check out www.tortoiseforum.org they have a lot of good information about tortoises there.
bobby austin That’s not a bad idea. I had changed a few things with the enclosure in addition to the lid since this video. So yes I’ll post an update video with the lid next week.
Hello, I have a Red Footed tortoise and I am looking to change up his enclosure and I was doing some research and stumbled upon your video here. I was curious on what the demetions of your table are. could you give me the demetions of your table also could you give me a list of items that you purchased? Such as the size of the PVC pipes that you used and the size holes that you put into the pipes. Also, what type of lighting are you using for this enclosure? Sorry for the novel but I am asking for all of the information that I need to recreate the enclosure you made. lol. And one more thing, how did you get fog? Thank you! you did an amazing job with this cage!
There is an updated video that shows more of the enclosure and the setup th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.html., however the interior of the enclosure was 4ft by 2ft. The original ideal was for housing a hatchling. Since then my tortoise has grown and I am currently planning a new enclosure that would be 6ft by 3ft. For the lighting I have used both uvb 5.0 compact fluorescent and mercury vapor bulb. I do prefer the mercury vapor bulb light over the uvb compact fluorescent because it also provide heating. For the PVC pipes was something I changed from this video, it was just for watering under the soil. In the updated video I drilled 4 1in holes and slipped a pvc connector in each hole so, I can run a heat cable and attached an hose directly to the humidifier. Hope this helps and good luck with your red foot
How often do you have to replace her soil?? Does she ever try to eat it? If so, is that bad? I have been using indoor/outdoor carpet for my tortoises enclosure for as long as I've had him, but I've realized it is harder to provide humidity for him with that type of bedding and I'd like to move on to wood chips or soil. Thanks!
Kassidy Sharp I change out the soil about every six months, mostly just to add new plants. I haven’t seen her eat any of the soil, even now that I am use cypress much. The most she would do is dig into. Small amounts of soil shouldn’t hurt them but just like every change keep an eye on him for the first few days to see how he acclimates to it.
If your tortoise just stays in that one spot you might want to check the temperature and humidity to see if there something different. Tortoises will seek out microclimate to self regulate. My tortoise tends to go on the rights side of the enclosure where the water dish and heat emitter are during the day than she moves to the left side which is cooler at night.
The enclosure was one that I made myself out of two sheets of plywood. I also have another video that shows a little bit more of the enclosure and the lid that I added. th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.html
Lately, I've been going about a year before messing around the substrate. Usually, I reused the same substrate just adding to it. Cypress mulch is pretty good, I tend to just add in with the soil. The key thing is keeping the substrate healthy by having some earthworms and a drainage layer. I find Just going with straight soil or mulch only lasts about 3 months or so.
Hey Bryan How long does that Humidity mist last for in that enclosure ? i'm planning on making a setup just like yours except a bit wider for the 4 tortoises I have this summer I have 3 female Red Foots and 1 Male Russian that would love that I plan on making two one for a dry side and another for humidity Thanks for reading this
B - rad Unfortunately with the repti fogger the mist doesn't stay. I ended up upgrading to a room humidifier from Walmart that has much better output. also since the video I added a lid to the enclosure which vastly improves the temperature and the humidity level. You might want to check out www.tortoiseforum.org I got a lot of ideal from their when I was build mine. Good luck and I would be excited to see what you come up with
My family and i are planing to get a tortoise soon. But we don't know what type of tortious is the best for our family. I am 15, sister 17, and my brother is 19 so we are mature enough to be able to take care of anything it will need. We would like one that will be pretty large as an adult, like up to 11-14 inches as a male. Please we need help since there are many to chose from. :(
Liliana Serrano choosing the right tortoise is mainly about what type of environment you can provide. Considering you are looking for a larger species, means you will probably be housing it outdoors at some point. So think about how hot and cool it gets as well as the humidity. A few Species to look at would be Forstens and Marginated Tortoises which are more arid species that grow up to 10-12”. Personally I like Redfoots they will be 12-14” right at your size range and Yellowfoots can be bigger at 14-18” both of them are more tropical species. All of these tortoises would be good pets. This should give you a good starting point.
My tortoise is juvenile / all most adult size so, it is hard to keep plants in with her. The only one I have success with is pothos. For a baby however, I had spider plants, parlor palm, aloe, and red lettuce. I would try to keep more edible plants when they are young. When I buying any plants I would check the tortoiseforum.org and redfoottortoise.com both of them tend to have a good list of safe plants.
I rarely change out the soil probably once every couple of months or so, mainly I spot clean any old food or poop just so things won't start smelling bad. I also mix the soil around to loosen it up about once a week.
I tend to feed her about 4-5 days of the week. Mainly her diet is spring mix or kale. I also alternate it with mushrooms, squash, strawberries, apples and once in awhile I give her some dry mealworms.
Thank you so much. A coworker of mine found a box turtle on the side of the road when she was driving. I didnt think they had box turtles here in NJ. But she brought it home but couldnt afford to take care of it so she gave it to me. Lol so iam trying to learn how to take good care if it
I am not too familiar with box turtles but I believe that the eastern box turtle are native to New Jersey and the care is probably little bit different so, you might want to take a look at the tortoise forum’s box turtle section www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/american-box-turtles.98/
I actually have been playing around with my setup lately. Currently I have a repti fogger that's going off 3 times a day for about 30 minutes and I also have a cheap room humidifier from Walmart that I have running. However I am planning on making a lid for my table to keep the humidity from escaping.
In the video I had a Zoo Med Reptile Fogger going however, since then I switch to the Monsoon rainfall system. I found that the fogger look great when it’s running but the moment it goes off the mist dissipates.
EdenRS7 The PVC pipes were just an easy way to get water to the plants as well as moister under the soil. There were several holes drill into the pipes so when I poured water down the open end it would water the soil. However I no longer use this because I find it make the soil too wet. I recently made an updated video which shows what I am doing now for the enclosure.
Hope Sohn It depends on the tortoise species, tortoises from more arid environments can be easily sprayed few times a day. However for tropical species like my redfoot they need a more consistent and higher level of humidity. Humidity is important especially for young tortoises because it helps to prevent pyramiding. For heating I have MVB bulb for the day time and night I have a heat emitter which keeps the enclosure in the mid 80’s
Hope Sohn first thing would be to get a hygrometer, which will give you the approximate humidity in the enclosure. From there you can see if you need to change anything or add a humidifier. If you get a humidifier I would recommend going to Walmart or a grocery store for room humidifier they tend to be cheaper and do a better job than the ones for reptiles.
Hey, I made an updated video of that enclosure a while back that had the lighting listed. For that enclosure, I was using a UVB fluorescent bulb and mercury vapor bulb. My current setup is now a 3x6ft using a UVB fluorescent tube bulb in the center and two ceramic heat emitter at each end with one of the emitters only be used on only cold days. All of the fixtures I bought from the hardware store.
can you show how you connect the humidifier to your system? cus my setup more deluxed then yours and i want to add that to my setup. plus never use potting soil more bugs...
+Pedro Esquivel Actually the PVC pipes in this video were just to get water under the soil and the humidifier was off to the side of the enclosure. However I did some modifications to the enclosure since then. Where I drilled a hole in the bottom and use a PVC connector and a hose to attach the humidifier. I have another video that shows the changes I made since. Yes, I do have few bugs in the soil but nothing bad and they are harmless to the tortoise.
+Pedro Esquivel Here is the video th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.html yeah even with the changes I still would love to build something much better
weili zhang For the heating I have a ceramic heat emitter 60w that is on at night and day I have a 120w mercury vapor bulb. This is what I have year round. The enclosure is inside and I also live in Texas so, it doesn't get that cold. You may want a higher watt ceramic heat emitter and you could also use so heat cable in the soil. Hope this helps
How did you get it to be so humid in there? Was it from that PVC pipe thing you laid down in the beginning? If so, how did you make that or where did you get it? Thanks!
Catarina C. Actually I had a humidifier off to the side to wasn’t in the video. I made an updated video recently that shows how I currently have the humidifier setup and also shows more of the enclosure th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.html
tomorrow I'm getting redfoot tortoise, you know what gallon aquarium tank is perfect for fully grown ones? I know they don't become huge over 1 night but I still want to get everything ready so I don't have to rush it later on
Hey I would recommend getting a large rubbermaid container like a 50gl to start off with. Tortoises need a lot of room because they like to roam around. For an adult Redfoot would need an enclosure about 8ft x3ft. Yes, they don't grow that fast so you do have some time to plan as he grows. Hope this helps and good luck with your tortoise
Nawal B yes, you can go with almost any soil. I find most potting soil is basically peat moss. So you don’t need to spend that much on it. Just look at the ingredients make sure there isn’t any chemicals or vermiculite use and it should be fine
+Jennifer Otoole also - a uva and uvb light (as well as a heat lamp) to make sure they get the proper light that mimics the rays of the sun in order to be healthy...
+Jennifer Otoole for turtles yes but, for tortoises no. They are land dwelling animals that can’t swim however they do need a shallow dish for water to go into without being completely submerged.
Yep, that's my biggest regret with this video is not showing that. At the time I just used a funnel and pour water into the PVC ends above the surface.
Unfortunately, I no longer have that enclosure, I lost it in a flood. However, I am finally getting ready to build a new one soon so I might be doing a video on that one instead.
The tortoise is alive and well. The water didn't make it above the enclosure lip so, she didn't notice anything until my brother save her, while I was buying the largest Rubbermaid container I could find for a temporary enclosure.
I have a red foot, and I was wondering if I should get a mister for his/ her (idk what gender it is) tank because you are really the only video I have seen with it but it seems like your tort likes it. Do you recommend I get one?
Yes, having some kind of mister or humidifier would be good to have. Redfoots normally will become more active when the humidity jumps up.I also would recommend to get a hydrometer that would tell you how much humidity is in the air. For me I tend to run the humidifier once to twice a day for only a few minutes to balance out the humidity.
Ozone The enclosure was all DIY, I made it from two sheets of plywood and some 2x4 for support. My goal was to have the top side for the tortoise and the bottom would be a cabinet for supplies.
So i am assuming you use the heat emitter at night? also how many watts is your mercury bulb. im only asking these questions because i have a set up similar to yours but i want to make sure i have the proper lighting and heat for my enclosure.
Adonis The Mercury vapor bulb I have is 125 watt and yes, the heat emitter goes on at night. The enclosure’s temperature during the day time is about 80 degrees and night I let it drop down to the mid-70s
I'm two years away from going to university (15 years old) and its my dream to have a pet tortoise in university, what breed would you recommend and how do you take care of them? I've already done some research but I'd like an opinion on it, also is it worth it, I wouldn't want a pet tortoise if I won't be able to take care of it and it'll get sick, because that would be cruel. So yeah, and thank you very much! :) I'd need the tortoise to be small, non violent and easy to take care of if possible. Thanks!
LPS Hypocritykat Two good tortoises that stay small are the Greeks and Hermanns. They both will grow to be about 6 inches to 9 inches. Tortoise over all are non-aggressive species. I haven't been bit nor heard of anyone getting bit by theirs. They are really a great pet to have. once the habitat setup the daily care is pretty minimum. The hard thing you need to think about is where you are going to live when you are in college. A house or apartment should have enough room for one. However Dorm rooms will most likely be too small and most college dorms would not allow pets beside for a betta fish. It is good that you are looking in to this early. good luck and I hope this helps.
Thank you very much! I've atually decided, after some research, to wait until after university to get a pet tortoise as it makes more sense to have one then. Thank you for your help though :) I think I'm gonna get a Herman but I'm still not sure as both Herman and Greek tortoises just look adorable and have awsome personality. Anyways thanks :)
Speedy bird It Depends on the tortoise species, for smaller tortoises like the Greek and Hermann an enclosure at less 4ft X2ft would work. Other larger species like my redfoot this would be more suitable for hatchling to juvenile. For an older tortoise I would say double the size. A good rule of thumb is to always make the enclosure as big as possible. For their personalities they are friendly however they do not need that much interaction like other pets.
Hi! I am getting a Hermann tortoise soon and I have a question; if I keep my baby tortoise in a 100 by 45 cm tortoise table, will it be able to live there most of its life (with daily outside walks, and supervised daily roaming around the apartment) ? If no, how long can I keep him in there?
+Mimi GreenFox I believe that size would be good for a baby tortoise for a year or two. However I don't have too much experience with that Hermanns so you might what to check out the tortoiseforum.org they have a lot information there that can help you. Good luck with your baby Hermann.
Jr Nuguid For tortoises they like to roam around so the rule of thumb is to make their area as big as you can. My tortoise is getting real close to outgrowing the enclosure so I would recommend something at least 8ft by 3ft. For the substrate I use organic garden soil but I also used cypress much in the past
are the plants safe for here if she does eat them? an what plants are they? an im still looking to find a great idea for a sulcata an Russian tortoise enclosure .
Personally, I like to have some plants in the enclosure with the tortoise. I feel it gives more enrichment but, with that said plants tend not to last long with my tortoise. There are some she with just eat down to nothing and other she will bulldoze over but, there are the few lucky ones that she actually leaves alone. I don't know why, whether it is the type of plants or just the location of it. Either way, I would say give it a try just make sure they are safe for your tortoise.
yes, you could spray your enclosure down or have a humidifier. the PVC system was just one idea I had with maintaining my humidity. Since then I turn to having a humidifier on a timer . What you need is a hygrometer that would tell you what your humidity is in the enclosure and from there you can see what solution would fit your needs
hi ı saw that u use garden soil, does it any harm to the tortoise? ı have a greek tortise, ı am trying to choose the most suitable substrate for her please answer and help me :)
Sand is typically not the best substrate because it can cause digestion problems as well as eye irritation. It’s much better if you mix the sand with some soil.
I would recommend tortoisesupply.com ,which is where I got mine, and also tortoiseyard.com. keep in mind with any online breeders there is overnight shipping cost.You could look at the different species of tortoises some will cost less than others. You may also want to take a look at the tortoises with extra or split scutes they tend to be reduced in price. A tortoise is an investment, you will be getting a great pet that will live for very long time. Good luck finding your new tortoise
+Bryan Theriot I'm thinking about getting a leapard gecko it would be my first reptile then I would upgrade to a tortoise just want to make sure I can handle a reptile first. what do you think?? good idea or bad idea??
Just be aware By saying you want a cheap tortoise tells me several things Most cheap tortoise are un-healthy.It's really the place you get it from that counts.And even if you get one and it by some miracle survives ,raising a tortoise is not necessarily a cheap enterprise. Be prepare for the cost of housing and health issue's that can come up. This shouldn't be a whim.I did research on Redfoot's for a year before I got mine. Got her,love her but have spent quite a bit of money doing it. Good luck
Glass tanks are not the best for tortoises they need some kind of visual barrier. For a Russian tortoise, you would want an enclosure about 2ftx4ft. People have been able to use large plastic storage containers, stock tanks, and even kiddie pools in lieu of building an enclosure. Good luck, hope this helps.
I had a Zoo Med Reptifogger off to the side with the hose coming in. you can use any ultrasonic humidifier for that. I personally stop using the Reptifogger because it keeps on having issues.
bryan good video but i was wondering i am building a habitat for my year old russian and if you could could u send me mail or somthing with feedback on how you would build one im clueless rightnow on how i want to do it and with seeing your video your clearly better in knowing what is what and how to set it up
The fog was something I was trying out at the time and it's been working pretty good. The fog boost up the humidity in the air without making the soil too wet and with the humidifier I can set a timer on it so i don't need to worry about remembering to spray everything.
I love the proffesionality of this video. Something that sadly, I don't have.
That is awesome! I will be using your set-up as an example when I go to build my Red Foot enclosure! Thank you for all the info and especially the info on the humidifier. I was going to go out and get a repti-fogger and now I know I don't "need" that specific kind, just a humidifier will work just fine. I love the use of the PVC pipes too! Awesome!
I really like your enclosure. Great ideas going on there. It's so cool to see all the different ideas people come up with. Yours is great! I have a russian tortoise. She was rescued from a fire (her story on my channel) but until she heals from her burns etc. she can only have carpeting. It's working so far. But I love the natural look so much.
This is by far the best tortoise enclosure iv ever seen
The budget on this enclosure is alot! shows how much you care man! Good job
My tortoise always drags around his leafs and gets them all over the place
Same as mine
Same
It’s been about six months and the soil has been doing pretty good. I have some earthworms in there that aerate as well as take care of the poop and leftover food. I also turn the soil up once a month.
How you did this smoke come out??
@@bambino2180 In this enclosure I had a fogger on the side with a hose coming over. Unfortunately I forgot / didn't think of videoing it back then.
I own an eastern box turtle, and over winter I put moss in his enclosure because he makes a nest in his log shelter with it
A fantastic set up x
I had that same problem anytime I use peat moss. I find the best thing do is mix it with heavier soil like garden or potting soil also, keeping it moisten should help. Tortoise do burrow, so I wouldn't think it would irritate him but make sure he has a water dish that he can soak in.
best and most clever enclosure till date
My best friend growing up was a girl.named Charlie..its a cute name for a girl tortoise
Nice One! The Little Red Foots Got A Nice Pad!
I just bought a red foot today and I really like your enclosure :) I'm trying to get ale ideas on what to do and I really like how you set everything up
ecjm santos Congrats on getting a red foot I am sure you will enjoy taking care of that little guy. You might want to check out the www.tortoiseforum.org they have a lot of great info about these guys. Good luck
Nice job. Your tortoise should be happy for years to come.
I just have a humidifier near my box turtle aquarium and spray the bedding 3 times a day to keep moist with a spray bottle
My tortoise always gets dirt in his water bowl 😒
Same, but I love her so much, so I don't mind!
make a seperate feeding area with rocks or a unteeated tile...keeps the beak in shape and no risk of impaction
Same here
Hope Sohn mine does too
Hope Sohn Omg same I hate this. But still love her sm
To clean the enclosure I just scoop most of the soil into a 5gal bucket then remove the visqueen and wipe away any moister. However the soil was in good condition and could have lasted a year or more. I also had some earthworms that was taking care of the organic matter as well as aerating the soil
I tend to keep some earthworms in the substrate which keeps the soil pretty healthy so, I try to hold off on changing it as long as I can. Before I had the worms I change it every 3 to 5 months.
alrighty thank you, ill have to go to my local garden center and check it out, and again, amazing setup
Do you have another video of the enclosure? Would have loved to see how you put the fogger in here
Yes, I did make another video years ago that showed a little bit more about the setup of the updated version of that enclosure th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
The pipes help to get water to the plants as well as keep the soil moist and most importantly the pipes allow me to be lazy by not needing to spray every day.
so, I'm building a wooden enclosure for my Russian tortoise right now as the matter of fact, I was just wondering if it's possible to use garbage bags instead of visqueen and just wondering if it was safe. I hope you can respond quickly or someone can for that matter. Amazing enclosure by the way probably the best I've seen.
LogiclessMC yes using garbage bag would work just tape up the edge so it harder for him get to
Ok Thanks, I did that and the enclosure looks good :D. I was just wondering I'm looking at him right now and he's trying to dig out and scratch out of the walls even though its wood is that a problem? Should I put stuff around the walls like plants? Oh now he's climbing on his log :3
ok thank you so much☺
nice
nice enclosure
The soil I use is Miracle gro organic choice garden soil with a brick of zoo med eco earth. I also have a few earthworms in there just to keep the soil healthy and aerated. Really any soil that doesn't have lot of chemicals or any large debris would be fine.
Great set up really like it. Im getting my own red foot in about a month and i need some ideas so it can be ready (sort of) once i get him/her.
Yes, there are tortoise owners that actually prefer to keep them outside. I am planning to have mine outside once she gets bigger. There are few things to think about like weather and other animals. I would recommend that you take a look at Tortoise Forum .org they have a lot of information about outdoor enclosures
OK thank u
what kind of soil are you using?
ive been looking for soil thats safe to use for my tortoise as well but idk whats good and what isnt good, i hear good things and bad things so please if you can, let me know what type of soil and brand, and by the way it looks great well done
Great set up! Do you have water underneath to Retain moisture? Also, does your fogger just come from the top or is it underneath the substrate as well?
Yes this version of the enclosure did add water underneath to retain moisture but just enough to be absorbed. I believe back then I was adding water about once a month to keep it moist but it could easily flood the bottom if I did it too often. In this version for the fogger I had a hose coming over the side however I did do an update video a few years ago with it coming from the bottom.
Hi Bryan Theriot This looks amazing and it's functional as well. I need some advice for my Star Tortoise who's 6cm long, and I'm planning to make an enclosure at home. I have researched a lot for its food, environment, etc., but could you please suggest what should be the approximate size for the table? I'm from India and you know things are way difficult to find online :) Thanks
Abinash Mohanty A good rule of thumb is to always make the enclosure as big as possible. For a young star tortoise I believe a 4ft X 2ft would be a good starting size however, if you are planning for longer term housing I would recommend something larger. You may want to check out www.tortoiseforum.org they have a lot of good information about tortoises there.
How did you set up your top piece or are you going to make a video soon?
bobby austin That’s not a bad idea. I had changed a few things with the enclosure in addition to the lid since this video. So yes I’ll post an update video with the lid next week.
How did u set up the huminity in the cage
Just remember damp grass can cause shell rot or cuts so just be careful :-)
Hello, I have a Red Footed tortoise and I am looking to change up his enclosure and I was doing some research and stumbled upon your video here. I was curious on what the demetions of your table are. could you give me the demetions of your table also could you give me a list of items that you purchased? Such as the size of the PVC pipes that you used and the size holes that you put into the pipes. Also, what type of lighting are you using for this enclosure? Sorry for the novel but I am asking for all of the information that I need to recreate the enclosure you made. lol. And one more thing, how did you get fog? Thank you! you did an amazing job with this cage!
There is an updated video that shows more of the enclosure and the setup th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.html., however the interior of the enclosure was 4ft by 2ft. The original ideal was for housing a hatchling. Since then my tortoise has grown and I am currently planning a new enclosure that would be 6ft by 3ft. For the lighting I have used both uvb 5.0 compact fluorescent and mercury vapor bulb. I do prefer the mercury vapor bulb light over the uvb compact fluorescent because it also provide heating. For the PVC pipes was something I changed from this video, it was just for watering under the soil. In the updated video I drilled 4 1in holes and slipped a pvc connector in each hole so, I can run a heat cable and attached an hose directly to the humidifier. Hope this helps and good luck with your red foot
Bryan Theriot thank you so so much for all of your help! I really appreciate it!
Corissa Martinez maybe with reptile foggers
How often do you have to replace her soil?? Does she ever try to eat it? If so, is that bad? I have been using indoor/outdoor carpet for my tortoises enclosure for as long as I've had him, but I've realized it is harder to provide humidity for him with that type of bedding and I'd like to move on to wood chips or soil. Thanks!
Kassidy Sharp I change out the soil about every six months, mostly just to add new plants. I haven’t seen her eat any of the soil, even now that I am use cypress much. The most she would do is dig into. Small amounts of soil shouldn’t hurt them but just like every change keep an eye on him for the first few days to see how he acclimates to it.
My tortoise would always go to the left top corner of his tank I wonder why
If your tortoise just stays in that one spot you might want to check the temperature and humidity to see if there something different. Tortoises will seek out microclimate to self regulate. My tortoise tends to go on the rights side of the enclosure where the water dish and heat emitter are during the day than she moves to the left side which is cooler at night.
@@BryanTheriot same he sometimes does the same as your tortoise
What kind of table/cage/tank is that? Something like that would be perfect for my Redfoot while he's growing up.
The enclosure was one that I made myself out of two sheets of plywood. I also have another video that shows a little bit more of the enclosure and the lid that I added. th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.html
Tortoises are pretty tame they won’t be aggressive towards you but they do prefer not to be handled a lot
i love your enclosure it gave me some great ideas but one question what are you using to run the watering system off of? hose to the faucet?
I don’t add water that often so I just end up using a funnel and pour a little bit in each corner.
What kind of live plants do u use??
Caden Jones I normally have parlor palm and pothos which I get at Walmart or Lowes. However right now I am trying a pony tail palm and some fake plans
I have a question, about the substrate if I'm using Cyprus mulch .. how often should it be replaced.
Lately, I've been going about a year before messing around the substrate. Usually, I reused the same substrate just adding to it. Cypress mulch is pretty good, I tend to just add in with the soil. The key thing is keeping the substrate healthy by having some earthworms and a drainage layer. I find Just going with straight soil or mulch only lasts about 3 months or so.
@@BryanTheriot okay thanks for the info!
Hey Bryan How long does that Humidity mist last for in that enclosure ? i'm planning on making a setup just like yours except a bit wider for the 4 tortoises I have this summer I have 3 female Red Foots and 1 Male Russian that would love that I plan on making two one for a dry side and another for humidity Thanks for reading this
B - rad Unfortunately with the repti fogger the mist doesn't stay. I ended up upgrading to a room humidifier from Walmart that has much better output. also since the video I added a lid to the enclosure which vastly improves the temperature and the humidity level. You might want to check out www.tortoiseforum.org I got a lot of ideal from their when I was build mine. Good luck and I would be excited to see what you come up with
when i use coconut fibers, the fibers get stuck to my tortoises face and i think it irritates him i was wondering if you have the same problem.
My family and i are planing to get a tortoise soon. But we don't know what type of tortious is the best for our family. I am 15, sister 17, and my brother is 19 so we are mature enough to be able to take care of anything it will need. We would like one that will be pretty large as an adult, like up to 11-14 inches as a male. Please we need help since there are many to chose from. :(
Liliana Serrano choosing the right tortoise is mainly about what type of environment you can provide. Considering you are looking for a larger species, means you will probably be housing it outdoors at some point. So think about how hot and cool it gets as well as the humidity. A few Species to look at would be Forstens and Marginated Tortoises which are more arid species that grow up to 10-12”. Personally I like Redfoots they will be 12-14” right at your size range and Yellowfoots can be bigger at 14-18” both of them are more tropical species. All of these tortoises would be good pets. This should give you a good starting point.
What are good plants to add to a bioactive set up for a baby /young red foot? What if I can’t obtain the plants in the video?
My tortoise is juvenile / all most adult size so, it is hard to keep plants in with her. The only one I have success with is pothos. For a baby however, I had spider plants, parlor palm, aloe, and red lettuce. I would try to keep more edible plants when they are young. When I buying any plants I would check the tortoiseforum.org and redfoottortoise.com both of them tend to have a good list of safe plants.
@@BryanTheriot Thank you so much!
how often do you change the dirt ? Or do you do just spot cleaning daily? Thank you so much in advance ☺
I rarely change out the soil probably once every couple of months or so, mainly I spot clean any old food or poop just so things won't start smelling bad. I also mix the soil around to loosen it up about once a week.
Thank you so much for the advice and how often do you feed him
I tend to feed her about 4-5 days of the week. Mainly her diet is spring mix or kale. I also alternate it with mushrooms, squash, strawberries, apples and once in awhile I give her some dry mealworms.
Thank you so much. A coworker of mine found a box turtle on the side of the road when she was driving. I didnt think they had box turtles here in NJ. But she brought it home but couldnt afford to take care of it so she gave it to me. Lol so iam trying to learn how to take good care if it
I am not too familiar with box turtles but I believe that the eastern box turtle are native to New Jersey and the care is probably little bit different so, you might want to take a look at the tortoise forum’s box turtle section www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/american-box-turtles.98/
what do you use to keep humidity? we just got one and have a wooden enclosure but can't seem to keep it humid... we spray and water is down 3-4x a day
I actually have been playing around with my setup lately. Currently I have a repti fogger that's going off 3 times a day for about 30 minutes and I also have a cheap room humidifier from Walmart that I have running. However I am planning on making a lid for my table to keep the humidity from escaping.
In the video I had a Zoo Med Reptile Fogger going however, since then I switch to the Monsoon rainfall system. I found that the fogger look great when it’s running but the moment it goes off the mist dissipates.
Hi, sorry if this was already asked but, what were those pvc pipes under the substrate for? thanks. :)
EdenRS7 Like how did the water system work? what did it do?
EdenRS7 The PVC pipes were just an easy way to get water to the plants as well as moister under the soil. There were several holes drill into the pipes so when I poured water down the open end it would water the soil. However I no longer use this because I find it make the soil too wet. I recently made an updated video which shows what I am doing now for the enclosure.
ok thank you :)
Could you just spray it instead of the humidity stuff? and what about the heat? thanks
Hope Sohn It depends on the tortoise species, tortoises from more arid environments can be easily sprayed few times a day. However for tropical species like my redfoot they need a more consistent and higher level of humidity. Humidity is important especially for young tortoises because it helps to prevent pyramiding. For heating I have MVB bulb for the day time and night I have a heat emitter which keeps the enclosure in the mid 80’s
Bryan Theriot I have a young redfooted tortiouse too. He has the heat he needs. How could i make sure its always humid for him?
Hope Sohn first thing would be to get a hygrometer, which will give you the approximate humidity in the enclosure. From there you can see if you need to change anything or add a humidifier. If you get a humidifier I would recommend going to Walmart or a grocery store for room humidifier they tend to be cheaper and do a better job than the ones for reptiles.
How did you set up the humidity system?
what about lamps and stuff?
Hey, I made an updated video of that enclosure a while back that had the lighting listed. For that enclosure, I was using a UVB fluorescent bulb and mercury vapor bulb. My current setup is now a 3x6ft using a UVB fluorescent tube bulb in the center and two ceramic heat emitter at each end with one of the emitters only be used on only cold days. All of the fixtures I bought from the hardware store.
can you show how you connect the humidifier to your system? cus my setup more deluxed then yours and i want to add that to my setup. plus never use potting soil more bugs...
+Pedro Esquivel Actually the PVC pipes in this video were just to get water under the soil and the humidifier was off to the side of the enclosure. However I did some modifications to the enclosure since then. Where I drilled a hole in the bottom and use a PVC connector and a hose to attach the humidifier. I have another video that shows the changes I made since. Yes, I do have few bugs in the soil but nothing bad and they are harmless to the tortoise.
Thanks for the information,it helped.
can you forward the link? cus i can't seem to find your improvements? like i stated my setup more deluxed but i dig the humidifier improvement
+Pedro Esquivel Here is the video th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.html yeah even with the changes I still would love to build something much better
Great set up. How to keep warm during winter?
weili zhang For the heating I have a ceramic heat emitter 60w that is on at night and day I have a 120w mercury vapor bulb. This is what I have year round. The enclosure is inside and I also live in Texas so, it doesn't get that cold. You may want a higher watt ceramic heat emitter and you could also use so heat cable in the soil. Hope this helps
Bryan Theriot Great! Thank you. What is temperature of your enclosure?
weili zhang The enclosure is in the mid 80s for the day and the night is in the high 70s
Bryan Theriot Thank you.
Bryan Theriot Do you keep humidifier running 24hours?
How did you get it to be so humid in there? Was it from that PVC pipe thing you laid down in the beginning? If so, how did you make that or where did you get it? Thanks!
Catarina C. Actually I had a humidifier off to the side to wasn’t in the video. I made an updated video recently that shows how I currently have the humidifier setup and also shows more of the enclosure th-cam.com/video/Due4MRiLHFY/w-d-xo.html
Ooh ok! Thanks! By the way, your tortoise is really cute hehe
How did you work the pvc watering system? Did you just pour water into the end or pump water from a hose?
it worked by pouring water in the pvc which he kept a bit out of the soil
read at 1:24
pulkit sansi thanks!
No problem
tomorrow I'm getting redfoot tortoise, you know what gallon aquarium tank is perfect for fully grown ones? I know they don't become huge over 1 night but I still want to get everything ready so I don't have to rush it later on
Hey I would recommend getting a large rubbermaid container like a 50gl to start off with. Tortoises need a lot of room because they like to roam around. For an adult Redfoot would need an enclosure about 8ft x3ft. Yes, they don't grow that fast so you do have some time to plan as he grows. Hope this helps and good luck with your tortoise
How do u clean his habitat I mean do u change the dirt or is it ok to leave year long
wow ! amazing!! :)
Is it okay to just use normal soil? Someone help please, I have a horsefield tortoise by the way
Nawal B yes, you can go with almost any soil. I find most potting soil is basically peat moss. So you don’t need to spend that much on it. Just look at the ingredients make sure there isn’t any chemicals or vermiculite use and it should be fine
How much was your redfoot?
Jar Kas She was $300+shiping from an online breeder tortoisesupply.com/ as a Juvenile cherryhead
Do they not need a proper area to swim? Everything i have been reading says 10 gallons per inch of turtle... 6 inches - 60 gallons of swim room.. no?
+Jennifer Otoole also - a uva and uvb light (as well as a heat lamp) to make sure they get the proper light that mimics the rays of the sun in order to be healthy...
+Jennifer Otoole for turtles yes but, for tortoises no. They are land dwelling animals that can’t swim however they do need a shallow dish for water to go into without being completely submerged.
+Jennifer Otoole Yes, UVB and UVA light are good for tortoises. Personally I like to have a MVB (mercury Vapor Bulb) which give off both UVB and UVA
You used pvc under but you didn't show how you filled it up
Yep, that's my biggest regret with this video is not showing that. At the time I just used a funnel and pour water into the PVC ends above the surface.
Bryan Theriot could you do an update?
Unfortunately, I no longer have that enclosure, I lost it in a flood. However, I am finally getting ready to build a new one soon so I might be doing a video on that one instead.
Bryan Theriot is ur tortoise still alive
The tortoise is alive and well. The water didn't make it above the enclosure lip so, she didn't notice anything until my brother save her, while I was buying the largest Rubbermaid container I could find for a temporary enclosure.
I have a red foot, and I was wondering if I should get a mister for his/ her (idk what gender it is) tank because you are really the only video I have seen with it but it seems like your tort likes it. Do you recommend I get one?
Yes, having some kind of mister or humidifier would be good to have. Redfoots normally will become more active when the humidity jumps up.I also would recommend to get a hydrometer that would tell you how much humidity is in the air. For me I tend to run the humidifier once to twice a day for only a few minutes to balance out the humidity.
Bryan Theriot - ok thank you so much :)
love it. what is your budget for this?
Thanks, I spend about $148 on the enclosure however, some of the materials were leftover from family members and also the tiles were on sale.
Great! thanks :)
How did you make it so the mumidity come from da bottom
Lance Kalbach I have a humidifier underneath the enclosure. I also made an update video that show more of the setup
Thanks
Bryan Theriot how big is the enclosure?
can i leave a tortoise in a grassy habitat or in this case a backyard
What is the enclosure box from? Or is it DIY?
Ozone The enclosure was all DIY, I made it from two sheets of plywood and some 2x4 for support. My goal was to have the top side for the tortoise and the bottom would be a cabinet for supplies.
What did you use the toobing for?
What kind of lights you running?
Adonis I currently have a mercury vapor bulb, a heat emitter, and acompact fluorescent. The fluorescent bulb is more for me balancing the light
out.
So i am assuming you use the heat emitter at night? also how many watts is your mercury bulb. im only asking these questions because i have a set up similar to yours but i want to make sure i have the proper lighting and heat for my enclosure.
Adonis The Mercury vapor bulb I have is 125 watt and yes, the heat emitter goes on at night. The enclosure’s temperature during the day time is about 80 degrees and night I let it drop down to the mid-70s
Ok thanks
How did u get the fog in there
Norman Collins I have a fogger with a hose connected that I just drape over the side of the enclosure
I'm two years away from going to university (15 years old) and its my dream to have a pet tortoise in university, what breed would you recommend and how do you take care of them? I've already done some research but I'd like an opinion on it, also is it worth it, I wouldn't want a pet tortoise if I won't be able to take care of it and it'll get sick, because that would be cruel. So yeah, and thank you very much! :) I'd need the tortoise to be small, non violent and easy to take care of if possible. Thanks!
LPS Hypocritykat Two good tortoises that stay small are the Greeks and Hermanns. They both will grow to be about 6 inches to 9 inches. Tortoise over all are non-aggressive species. I haven't been bit nor heard of anyone getting bit by theirs. They are really a great pet to have. once the habitat setup the daily care is pretty minimum. The hard thing you need to think about is where you are going to live when you are in college. A house or apartment should have enough room for one. However Dorm rooms will most likely be too small and most college dorms would not allow pets beside for a betta fish. It is good that you are looking in to this early. good luck and I hope this helps.
Thank you very much! I've atually decided, after some research, to wait until after university to get a pet tortoise as it makes more sense to have one then. Thank you for your help though :) I think I'm gonna get a Herman but I'm still not sure as both Herman and Greek tortoises just look adorable and have awsome personality. Anyways thanks :)
Bryan Theriot thanks for the info, how big would you recommend an enclosure being for the tortoises? do they like human interaction? thanks
Speedy bird It Depends on the tortoise species, for smaller tortoises like the Greek and Hermann an enclosure at less 4ft X2ft would work. Other larger species like my redfoot this would be more suitable for hatchling to juvenile. For an older tortoise I would say double the size. A good rule of thumb is to always make the enclosure as big as possible. For their personalities they are friendly however they do not need that much interaction like other pets.
Bryan Theriot how big should I make my table for a Hermann's tortoise
Hi! I am getting a Hermann tortoise soon and I have a question; if I keep my baby tortoise in a 100 by 45 cm tortoise table, will it be able to live there most of its life (with daily outside walks, and supervised daily roaming around the apartment) ? If no, how long can I keep him in there?
+Mimi GreenFox I believe that size would be good for a baby tortoise for a year or two. However I don't have too much experience with that Hermanns so you might what to check out the tortoiseforum.org they have a lot information there that can help you. Good luck with your baby Hermann.
+Bryan Theriot thank you!
how big do u recommend the pen should be for an adult, also what substrate do u use? Great vid btw u should make a care vid too
Jr Nuguid For tortoises they like to roam around so the rule of thumb is to make their area as big as you can. My tortoise is getting real close to outgrowing the enclosure so I would recommend something at least 8ft by 3ft. For the substrate I use organic garden soil but I also used cypress much in the past
Ok thanks!
do you still gives him vegtabels
+Must defeed Yes, I still offer vegetables to her. I try to vary up her diet with fruits, squashes, greens, and once in awhile some mealworms.
are the plants safe for here if she does eat them? an what plants are they? an im still looking to find a great idea for a sulcata an Russian tortoise enclosure .
I use zoo med repti fogger and exo terra’s monsoon rainfall system
My tortoise will eat anything so I don't know whether I should put plants in
Personally, I like to have some plants in the enclosure with the tortoise. I feel it gives more enrichment but, with that said plants tend not to last long with my tortoise. There are some she with just eat down to nothing and other she will bulldoze over but, there are the few lucky ones that she actually leaves alone. I don't know why, whether it is the type of plants or just the location of it. Either way, I would say give it a try just make sure they are safe for your tortoise.
Do you completely change out her substrate,if so how often?
do u need a pvc system or can u just keep the ground damp with a spray bottle
yes, you could spray your enclosure down or have a humidifier. the PVC system was just one idea I had with maintaining my humidity. Since then I turn to having a humidifier on a timer . What you need is a hygrometer that would tell you what your humidity is in the enclosure and from there you can see what solution would fit your needs
Are you running the misting system through the pvc pipes under soil?
what is the fogger you use
The idea of the planet saucer is so good because The bowls for tortoises are expensive and using plastic tubs is very ugly
hi ı saw that u use garden soil, does it any harm to the tortoise? ı have a greek tortise, ı am trying to choose the most suitable substrate for her please answer and help me :)
I have no trouble with the soil I been using it for quite a while now. I do try to make sure I get the organic one so there no unwanted additives.
looks amazing, thanks for the reply
Sand is typically not the best substrate because it can cause digestion problems as well as eye irritation. It’s much better if you mix the sand with some soil.
i want to get a tortoise but they are very expensive do you guys know of a place to get one for cheap and it being healthy??
I would recommend tortoisesupply.com ,which is where I got mine, and also tortoiseyard.com. keep in mind with any online breeders there is overnight shipping cost.You could look at the different species of tortoises some will cost less than others. You may also want to take a look at the tortoises with extra or split scutes they tend to be reduced in price. A tortoise is an investment, you will be getting a great pet that will live for very long time. Good luck finding your new tortoise
+Bryan Theriot I'm thinking about getting a leapard gecko it would be my first reptile then I would upgrade to a tortoise just want to make sure I can handle a reptile first. what do you think?? good idea or bad idea??
+Freddy Villasenor I think that is a great idea to start off with a leopard gecko
+Bryan Theriot yeah I figured thanks...
Just be aware By saying you want a cheap tortoise tells me several things Most cheap tortoise are un-healthy.It's really the place you get it from that counts.And even if you get one and it by some miracle survives ,raising a tortoise is not necessarily a cheap enterprise. Be prepare for the cost of housing and health issue's that can come up. This shouldn't be a whim.I did research on Redfoot's for a year before I got mine. Got her,love her but have spent quite a bit of money doing it. Good luck
what was with the pipes?
Can a 55gal tank work for one Russian tortoise?
Glass tanks are not the best for tortoises they need some kind of visual barrier. For a Russian tortoise, you would want an enclosure about 2ftx4ft. People have been able to use large plastic storage containers, stock tanks, and even kiddie pools in lieu of building an enclosure. Good luck, hope this helps.
Hello! This might sound stupid but is it ok if I put sand in my tortoise's tank? :)
Could you give us the dimensions of the enclosure?
Originally the enclosure was design for a hatchling so I made it about 4 ft long, 2 ft wide, and 3 ft tall.
Bryan Theriot oh ok thanks I will be trying to make something similar to yours.
are the plants real or fake???
In this video the plants are real however, I had use some fake ones before but nothing last too long she is a little bulldozer.
do a vid on the fogger is it diy
How to make a fogger?
I had a Zoo Med Reptifogger off to the side with the hose coming in. you can use any ultrasonic humidifier for that. I personally stop using the Reptifogger because it keeps on having issues.
@@BryanTheriot what kind of issues is that?
bryan good video but i was wondering i am building a habitat for my year old russian and if you could could u send me mail or somthing with feedback on how you would build one im clueless rightnow on how i want to do it and with seeing your video your clearly better in knowing what is what and how to set it up
why the fog?
The fog was something I was trying out at the time and it's been working pretty good. The fog boost up the humidity in the air without making the soil too wet and with the humidifier I can set a timer on it so i don't need to worry about remembering to spray everything.
Nice :)