Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does any one have any pics of there red foots indoor pen? Or any info I get get to make one? ( For Babies and Adults)

I have a whole series of digital ones of our indoor Redfoot pen (we have 3, 2 year olds). It's custom built and designed to hold even temps (80-90) and have a humidity gradient(40-80%).

Send me your e-mail address as ernie_j@hotmail.com and I can send the whole series.

Here is a pic of one of my indoor setups.
It measures 8ft x 3ft and seems to work quite well.

How did you plan this out? Is there directions on a site? That would really help me.

First buy a standard 8ft x 4ft x 3/4in piece of plywood and cut it down to 8ft x 3ft. This will serve as the bottom piece.
Then purchase the wood for the 4 sides(I use solid 3/4in Birch but 3/4in plywood will work also). Two of the sides will need to be cut 8ft long by 12in high. The other two side should be cut to 37 1/2in long by 12in high.
Attach the two long sections to the bottom piece of plywood using 1 1/4in galvanized decking screws(be sure to pre drill and countersink all holes!). Next attach the other two sides using the same technique.
The legs are made of 3/4in pine which is cut into 24in x 8in pieces. You will need 8 pieces total.
Take two of these pieces and screw them together to form a corner once again being sure to predrill and countersink the screws.
Once you have completed all of the legs they are then attached to the enclosure using 4 screws per piece(1 leg gets a total of 8 screws).
To add a nice finishing touch, once you install the laminate inside the enclosure use "L" molding along the top edge to create a nice clean look. Fill all of the screwholes with wood filler and let dry.
Lightly sand the entire enclosure and then using the stain/finish of your choice apply as per the manufacturers' directions.
It takes me about $150.00 in materials and 4 hours of time to complete each enclosure.

Right... it's that easy. Did you build that? That is skill.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Ed,
Thanks for the compliment!
It is actually quite simple since every step involves square edges. Also, Lowes will cut the wood for you which saves a huge amount of time.
The whole thing can be built, stained and polyurethaned in one day. Then just sit back and wait for it to dry and air out.

I remember seeing pictures of one of your enclosures that consisted of several levels. I am putting serious thought into applying your idea to my next project.
Jackie

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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

>>Here is a pic of one of my indoor setups.
>>It measures 8ft x 3ft and seems to work quite well.
>>
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Leopard Geckos
1.1 Tangerine trempor albino
0.2 blizzards
1.1 Super Hypo Carrot tails (both Baldy)
1 amel corn snake

1.0.0 Common snapping turtle
0.1.0 Belize slider
0.1.0 Egyptian tortoise
0.0.1 blackknobbed sawback
0.0.1 stripeneck musk
0.0.1 nothern DBT

Can you go into detail as to how you built this pen please?
Does it offer misters or anything like that?
Please tell about the different bulbs used and how you keep it quite humid for your redfoots.

Thanks! We'll all appreciate it..beautiful pen!

Please see the above post for detailed assembly instructions.
The fluorescent fixture came from Lowes and is outfitted with a 48in 8.0 bulb and a 48in Chromalux bulb. The clip lamp is fitted with a 160w Active UV bulb.
The overhang is equipped with a radient heat panel controlled by a Helix thermostat. The opening to this area has black rubberized cloth hanging down which gives the animals a place to escape prying eyes. It is misted twice a day to create a humid microhabitat should the tortoises choose to use it.
Cypress mulch is used throughout the enclosure and is moistened once each morning to achieve the desired humidity.
If you look at the far end you will notice a rubbermaid lid inside. The tub has actually been sunk into the bottom and is used as the nesting area. When not in use the lid is placed on the container and serves as a feeding area.
If you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask
Jackie

As was mentioned moistening the mulch daily is a good idea but in addition I like creating a micro environment for my redfoots and yellow foot. In their hide box I have one of those simple reptile humidifiers. It constantly pumps moist air into the hidebox and it is alway warm and a humid in their for them. That way after the heat lamps have dried out the mulch in the rest of the enclosure they can always retreat to the hidebox for humidity.