How does this tank look.?

Question

It is a 20 gal. long. It is for a baby red foot tortoise. I will get a bigger one when my dad comes home from Iraq in October. This is just temporary the plants are live plants, and non-toxic. I have not yet put a water bowl in but I will, so that is not a big deal. What do you think of it?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035709@N08/

Answer 1

good.but you might want to put rocks ang pebbles so it wont get bored!

Answer 2

very nice

Answer 3

The tank looks fine but you have to move the light.  The light should be on one far end of the tank so the tortoise can move to the cooler area away from the light if he wants to.  Put the light on one end and the water bowl on the other end and it will be just fine.

Answer 4

You actually could do much better just using the largest size rubbermaid tote. Tortoises don't understand glass and he'll constantly be trying to walk through it..  It does look pretty, but, it won't be very practical with a tortoise in it..  I can tell you put a lot of work into it though!

Is that bulb a Mercury Vapor bulb? If so, spot on, that's what I use with mine. Is the substrate coconut fiber? If it is, that's not a totally awful substrate, it's actually how I set mine up initially, but, sphagnum moss which you can buy in a garden department, will work a lot better. It holds humidity better without molding as easily, which of course is vital with the rainforest species you plan to keep in it. The coconut fiber was all different colors of mold like the second week my tortoise was in it, but, sphagnum has worked very well for me..

The other thing, you don't want any substrate at all on the side where you plan to feed and water. Substrate can get ingested over time and you can end up with a blockage in your tortoise.   You want to keep that side completely clear, but, he'll track dirt over everyday, so just make sure you clean it up before you feed him.

I wouldn't put any decorative plants in with a baby red foot either, he WILL eat them.

Be careful with leaving the water bowl in there initially. I've seen some baby tortoises in pet shops that always end up flipped over in the water bowl, and then they drown cause they can't get their head out of water. It's best to just put the bowl in and set him in it a few times a day. Mine is a yearling now and he seems to be fine with leaving the bowl in all the time.

I'm assuming your getting a hatchling, but, if not you can refer here to other set ups depending on the age your getting..

http://www.redfoots.com/henclose.htm

I would like to add that I think you did a beautiful job. If you are set on using the tank, you could make it work by putting brown paper on the sides so that your tortoise isn't confused by the glass.. Unfortunately though, your little plants will get eaten right away..  If it was me, I'd pick up a large rubbermaid tote for the tortoise for about $10. Then, I'd probably save that tank setup for something like a pair of fat tailed geckos. That's about right for them, the only thing you'd have to change is creating a humid hide with moist moss, and, they don't need UVB as they're noctornual. SO, all you'd need is some kind of heat source to keep it about 90 in the basking area under the bulb and then in the 70's for the rest of the cage.

I hate to see a nice set up go to waste, but, while it is pretty, it's not quite right for a tortoise..

Answer 5

looks great to me.

Answer 6

Looks cool to me.

Answer 7

Looks like your tortoise has a very nice home.

Answer 8

I like it!

Answer 9

your a great parent...

Answer 10

Looks nice! I don't see a UVB light. They need that in addtion to a heat lamp. And a hide would be good, although the tortoise will probably end up digging holes to hide in. And I'd use a food dish when feeding to keep dirt from sticking to its food.