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would a 36 x 28 x 18" vision cage (with extra UVB light) be ok for a hatchling redfoot or russain I like to think it would house a redfoot for a while (as it can hold humidity just fine) or a russian for life.

I will put them outside when weather permits, but as far as indoor caging - would the vision be a bad idea?

thank you!

Concerning russians:

I have that particular size of vision cage and I've had russians for several years now. I've never tried to keep a russian in that cage, though. I keep them outside about 7 months, hibernate them 3 months, and maybe a couple months in tubs.

A russian tort isn't going to be happy unless he has something to dig into. I'd think you could put an inch or so of sand/soil mix, or some kind of bark mulch, etc in there. Maybe a thin layer in front by the sliding doors and a few inches in back where the tort could burrow in.

The biggest problem with the particular model of cage I have (sorry, it's been so long I don't recall the #) is lighting. I had to cut a hole in the top of the cage to pass a cord for a fluorescent light fixture, which I had to install on the inside of the cage. Otherwise I'd have to depend on just the basking light. These cages area really designed for snakes it seems.

It's only 7 sq ft of floor space, so as your tort grows you'll have to work to keep him happy in that small area. You should try to include things for him to crawl over and under, so that it's not just one flat space, but an area with levels. A playground and not just an empty field.

So if you can overcome the lighting problem and make a stimulating environment, your tort should be OK. A wild caught russian may have some trouble adjusting to the limited space, but a CB juvenile would be OK growing up in there.

Still, a larger enclosure, especially outdoors, would be even better.

Good luck!

I have a light in there...drilled a hole and put in an incandescent fixure running an arcadia light. I then in the area where the heat bulg goes I place a cermaic bulb. Used it for my bearded dragon female.

How much light do your russians like? Full sun? or do they generally stay in the shaded area? I could easily switch to a heating bulb that gives off light to brighten it up in the cage if need be.

thanks again

When outdoors my russians like to wake up, bask, eat, hide, bask, hide, eat, etc. Full sun then into the hide box awhile.

If you have two incandescent fixtures in there, be sure it doesn't overheat the enclosure for a russian. My russians have been OK when the daytime airtemps have been over 100 and the inside of the hide area is over 85, but not every day of the year. My vision cage, which now has a beardie in it, usually has a 40 to 60 watt incandescent bulb in the shroud. This creates a 100 degree basking area. Then there is an 18", 15 watt fluorescent tube for general lighting. In the winter this creates a range of 100 under the lamp down to about 75 in the corners during the day. In the summer it's about 10 degrees warmer overall. This would be OK for a russian.