HELLO

A TORTOISE TABLE WORKS WELL 4' BY 6' OR 4' BY 8' IS SUFFICIENT FOR AN INDOOR HABITAT FOR A WHILE

HEAT AND A U.V. LIGHT WILL BE NECESSARY PUT THE LIGHT ON ONE SIDE TO ALLOW THEM A HOT AND COLD SPOT

SUPER SOIL,STRAW,HAY OR RABBIT PELLETS WORK OR A SOIL/SAND MIX

SOIL MUST BE ORGANIC AND FREE OF FERTILZERS

AN OLD BOOK CASE CAN BE USED IF THE SHELVES ARE REMOVED AND IT WAS MADE FROM SAFE MATERIALS

MAKE YOUR OWN OUT OF MELAMINE SEAL THE CORNERS WITH SILICONE TO PREVENT WARPING

A PLEXY GLASS WINDOW IN THE FRONT MAKES VIEWING BETTER FOR DISPLAYS

I DO NOT ADD WINDOWS TO MINE BECAUSE IF THEY CAN SEE OUT THEY WANT OUT

THEY NEED SPACE TO STOMP AROUND AND GET THAT METABOLISM GOING

AN OUTDOOR PEN IF PREDATOR PROOF AND IF YOU HAVE WELL BEHAVED DOGS OR NO DOGS

IF YOU JUST TURN IT LOOSE IN YOUR YARD AND HAVE A POOL YOU WILL NEED TO SECURE IT SO THE TORTOISE CAN NOT FALL IN

I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU JUST TURN IT LOOSE THIS MAKES IT VERY HARD TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE TORTOISE

I INTRODUCE THEM TO MY DOGS EVERYTIME I GET A NEW ONE IN THE YARD

THEY ARE ALL KEPT IN PENS WITHIN THE YARD I ALSO BELIEVE THIS GIVES THEM SECURITY AND THE DOGS CAN PROTECT THE PENS BY PATROLING AROUND THE PERIMETERS

RICHARD FIFE WROTE ARE GREAT BOOK ABOUT THE LEOPARD TORTOISE AND THEIR CAPTIVE HUSBANDRY.

NICE PICS AND ONLY $15.00 DOLLARS AT MOST REPTILE STORES

YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ORDER IT DIRECTLY FROM HIM ALSO

HE SELLS TORTS ON KINGSNAKE.

CHELONIA.ORG IS AN ONLINE SOURCE FOR CHELONIA CARE ALSO

CINDER BLOCKS, LANDSCAPE TIMBERS, OR BURRIED CORRUGATED SHEET METAL WORK WELL FOR OUTDOOR PENS

LEOPARDS DON'T DIG SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GET CRAZY 2 BLOCKS HIGH WORKS OR TWO RAILROAD TIES HIGH WORKS ALSO GREESE FREE PREFERABLY

A PLANT SAUCER WORKS WELL FOR WATER AND PLANTS FOR SHADE SHOULD BE ADDED

A NIGHT TIME SHLTER IS IMPORTANT

I MAKE HINGED TOP HUTS FOR THEM

I ISULATE THE BOXES WITH SHEET FOAM FROM HOME DEPOT

I USE THE PALET THE CINDER BLOCKS COME ON

I SHEET THE PALET AND BUILD A FRAME WITH 2" BY 4"'S

I DOUBLE THE INSULATION MAKING IT 4 INCHES THICK

I FRAME THE INSULATION COMEPLETELY IN

THE HUT IS 3 FEET HIGH

I CUT A SQUARE DOOR OUT OF THE FRONT PANEL AND USE CARPET RUNNER STAPLED AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR WAY

I SLICE THE BOTTOM MAKING IT EASY FOR THEM TO GO IN AND OUT

BUT THIS PREVENTS A DRAFT AND HELPS MAINTAIN THE TEMP

I ADD A CERAMIC PERLCO HEAT EMMITER ON A THERMOSTATE OR A HEAT PANEL WORKS MOUNTED TO THE TOP OR SIDE

MY EXPERIENCE WITH HEAT PADS OUTDOORS HAS NEVER BEEN GOOD BUT THIS WORKS WELL FOR OTHERS AND KANE HEAT PADS ARE RECOMENDED

I PUT STRAW ON THE FLOOR AND CHANGE IT OFTEN

HINGE TOP MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO PUT THEM IN AT NIGHT

OR GET THEM OUT IF NEEDED

MINE ARE ALL TRAINED TO USE THESE HUTS AND ALWAYS DO

MY SULCATAS NEVER EVEN DIG UNLESS THEY ARE LAYING EGGS

ALL THE SPECIES I KEEP USE THESE BOXES FOR BIGGER TORTS I USE MORE PALETS

LINOLEUM LINING MIGHT MAKE IT EASIER TO CLEAN OUT

SILCONE THE EDGES WITH NUMBER 2 SILICONE

DON'T TRY TO USE THE SQUARES THEY DON'T STICK

THE ROLLED LINOLEUM WITH LIQUID NAILS AND SOME TACKS IN THE CORNERS WILL WORK

OR IF YOU WANT TO BE FANCY TILE IT

I NEVER PUT A TORT UNDER 5 INCH OUT IN OPEN TOP OUTDOOR PENS THEY MUST BE PROTECTED FROM PREDATORS WITH A TOP

HOPE THIS HELPS

JEFF

OWNER OF

PLANET REPTILES

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