Hi everyone

                   Im new to the forum, and just after a little advice im after a new home for my 2 torts and seen in a few places that indoor rabbit cages are used does anyone else use or recomend these;

Hiya,

Welcome to the forum

I've used this style of enclosure for a few years now with my new hatchlings and have found them very good. They're easy to clean and, providing it's high enough, you can hang the lamp from the inside of the cage.

HTH

Darren

Oops

Meant to add this link for an example

http://tinyurl.com/cm9zlw

We don't recommend heat mats at all though

TC

Darren

Thanks for that why are heatmats not recomended ive had one in there current viv for over a year now,

What torts have you Paul?

They are dangerous and can burn a tortoise if placed on the floor.

Some do use them in the evenings placed on the wall to keep the ambient temps correct if they're in a cold room - which is OK

But, it's also more natural and beneficial for a tortoise to be heated from above rather than from below.

May I ask what sort of heating/lighting system you use?

D

I have 2 hermans

I have a uv strip light and a basking lamp

Hi Paul

It's good to hear you are changing over from a Viv to a guinea pig type cage.  Your tortoises will definitely appreciate their new found freedom and will do much better in the long run.  Do go for the largest you can as hermanns can get quite large when full grown and they do need lots of room to exercise.  One of my femal hermanns weighs in at 2kg and she on her own would need all the space of the largest size you can get.  Obviously, if yours are young tortoises it will take a few years before they grow to Fleur's size.

Helen

I have had them 2 years now and they seem to be doing great so a uv strip light and basking lamp would be sufficient ? Wot would would you reccomend as substrate as ive been using cat litter and that too seems fine all help appreciated

Oops I forgot to mention the substrate.

Hi,

I use a rabbit/guinea pig cage, and the framework is great for hanging lights from. But I think you can probably only use a UV strip light and a basking lamp, as the combined mercury vapour bulbs would have to be hung a bit higher. I use a Reptisun 10.0, which is the best of the strip lights, and it lasts for up to a year, instead of 6 months like the other lights (if you have anything other than a 10.0, you must change it every six months, even though it still produces light). The main thing about these lights, though, is that your tortoise really needs access to the sun, as that is by far the best source of UVB, so I hope they have a secure outdoor enclosure too.

I use a cage similar to the one Darren linked to. Mine is the Galizzi Rodent Cage Mezzo on this page: http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/rodents/cages/rabbit_cage (but the cage Darren linked to is bigger, and I would definitely go for that one).
The nice thing about these is the tray is deep, so you can get a good depth of substrate (I use a mixture of 70% topsoil and 30% playsand -- some people use 50/50). The other nice thing about the deep tray is that you can build a ramp up to another level at one end, thereby giving your tortoise more exercise.

Nina

Yeah just read the care sheet and it was an eye opener especially with the feeding side of things as well as we have been giving them apple,spinach which they love kale also, and t rex tortoise pellets,

Just like to say thanks for all the advice and tips keepem coming thanx again

I have now ditched the viv and got this

Looks really good Paul:-)

The one thing I'd consider changing is the location of the UVB tube. A tortoise will be attracted to the heat from your lamp and so will bask there without any benefit from the UVB. They absorp the vitanmin D3 from the UVB souce more efficiently when warmed up. It would be best if the tube was located as close to the basking lamp as possible.

I'm sure you'll see the benefits of using a table instaed of a viv and your tortoises will be much happier in there:-)


HTH
Darren

Hi Paul,

That looks absolutely brilliant! And the layout and ornaments (rocks, etc.) are good too. I think your torts will love this new posh residence.

I agree with Darren that moving the UVB strip closer to the basking light is good (you could have one end of it near the basking light and the other end going towards the other end of the cage, so you still get good coverage all over. The only other suggestions I would make is to move the sleeping quarters (I assume that is what the upturned flower pot is for) to the cooler end of the enclosure, and I would also get a clip on reflector for your UVB tube. You can get these at most places that sell the tubes and they are only a couple of quid, but they have two benefits: they will increase the amount of UVB reaching the tortoises by up to 30% (by reflecting downwards rays that are now going up); and it will protect your eyes (it's not really good for you to look directly into the light from the tube).
You have done really well with this, and your tortoises should thrive in their new home.

Nina