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Indoor Sulcata Enclosure Help

partyboy6686

partyboy6686

Pythons Big and Small
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I want to build my sulcatas a indoor enclosure. I have to build a indoor inclosure cause I live in Indiana and the weather here isnt worth a crap. The enclosure is going to go in my dedicated reptile room in my house. Between all of my cages and my rack the reptile room always stays around 80 degrees. I need some ideas or maybe some pictures of enclosures that would be good for them. Hoping to build out of supplies you could buy at a local hardware or home improvement store.

Thanks
Brandon
 
Depending on how big it is. I would suggest making a square out of landscape timbers and lining it with a pond liner and fill it with organic humus.

We actually built a tortoise barn for wintering our tropicals.
 
I've had a Sulcate for the last 12 years and live in KY, obviously with similar weather as you. It weighs over 70 pounds and does great in a simple enclosure. Made of wood, 4 foot by 8 foot, 18 inches high and no top. The bedding is rabbit pellets, it gets dusty but is safe for him to eat and absorbant. I hang plastic from the celling to create a buffer to keep everything else from getting dusty and helps keep the heat in. He's never been sick and is very healthy.
 
These are 2 babies. Both under 4 inches. I got them from a person who was not aware of what they needed to do to care for them. They had both of them in a 20 gallon aquarium together with no hide, had them in a sandy/dirt mixture, and no uv bulb. They both eat like champs though and seem to love it in my reptile room. I just want to build them a proper inclosure.

Thanks
Brandon
 
For the "hide", I simply put a piece of foam over one corner, of course her size does not let me put anything in the cage. She either crushes it or just pushes it around. But for two babies, I'd just attach something in a corner that they can go under, it doesn't have to be fancy. Good luck. I'm sure you know to soak them a lot when younger, make sure they deficate, warm water will help them with that.
 
Yea they really enjoy soaking. I do it 3 times a week. Thanks for all the help.
 
Whatever enclosure you do decide to build, make sure to keep a high humidity level. This is fundamental for sulcata.
 
jozzep said:
Whatever enclosure you do decide to build, make sure to keep a high humidity level. This is fundamental for sulcata.
Click to expand...

Humidity will never be a problem. There in my reptile room which is very humid.
 
jozzep said:
Whatever enclosure you do decide to build, make sure to keep a high humidity level. This is fundamental for sulcata.
Click to expand...

Oh, I thought they were from a dry climate. Humidty is OK for them? Maybe I was thinking about a different kind of tortoise where humidity wasn't good for them. ?:shrug01:
 
KrazyHorses said:
Oh, I thought they were from a dry climate. Humidty is OK for them? Maybe I was thinking about a different kind of tortoise where humidity wasn't good for them. ?:shrug01:
Click to expand...

:iagree:
I have also read that spur-thighs require less, or zero humidity, they like it drier. Where did you get that info from?

Randal Berry
 
lanceheads said:
:iagree:
I have also read that spur-thighs require less, or zero humidity, they like it drier. Where did you get that info from?

Randal Berry
Click to expand...

I'm a long time member on various turtle and tortoise websites, so i know what i'm talking about.
Contrary to popular believe, sulcatas need high humidity levels to avoid (or control) pyramiding. In their natural habitat, yes they live in arid regions, but they burrow several feet underground and urinate in their burrows to keep cool and humid.
Take or leave it, i'm not here to start a debate with you.
 
I keep my sulcata in a fairly dry enclosure, but make sure there is a decent amount of humidity in her burrow/hide part of her enclosure. I've read from more than a few sources that humidity is very necessary for a sulcata, but I've also read that too much humidity can prove fatal. I use water soaked moss or fresh edible vegetation and change it on a daily basis.
 
My sulcata is not keep in my snake room. I've had her for 10 years, never sick and her humity is whatever it is in the house, say 18 - 20 in the winter and in the summer, she stays outside and therefore whatever the humity is it is.
 
This is Walle and he's almost a year old. We made his tank out of a chest. I hope it gives you some ideas. We're in the process of getting him a more "digging friendly" substrate, but he's very happy and healthy in this enclosure.
 

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jozzep said:
I'm a long time member on various turtle and tortoise websites, so i know what i'm talking about.
Contrary to popular believe, sulcatas need high humidity levels to avoid (or control) pyramiding. In their natural habitat, yes they live in arid regions, but they burrow several feet underground and urinate in their burrows to keep cool and humid.
Take or leave it, i'm not here to start a debate with you.
Click to expand...

:iagree: This kid knows his stuff

Only thing id debate is what is absolutely necessary to keep sulcatas nice and healthy, ive seen people who do absolutely nothing to their humidities and they do fantastic. Some people who even keep them dryer than id recommend and once again to my suprise do very well...

but jozzep is correct
 
For my baby Sulcata i bought a $10 kiddie pool and filed it with an eco earth plantation soil and sand mix threw in some fake shrubs water bowl and some hides, buil a light rack and she loves it I plan on building a larger indor winter table in a year or so when she is large enough to go outside Im lucky spring through early fall is good outside time.
 
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