Frankie Tortoise Tales Frankie Tortoise Tails sulcata care tortoise sulcata husbandry Frankie Tortoise Tails Frankie Tortoise Tails: Frankie's Luxury Shelter for up to 50 pound sulcata

Frankie

Frankie

Frankie's Luxury Shelter for up to 50 pound sulcata

Frankie's Luxury Home
This is Frankie first house that lasted 5 years.

Inside.  When Frankie could no longer turn around we knew it was time for a new shelter.


For new enclosure, an area was leveled and a concrete pad poured.

Inside there is plenty of room for a growing Frankie.

Greg build this box to go inside the larger Rubbermaid box. We sprayed the inside with "truck bed" spray to waterproof and protect the wood.  The stuff had had to cure for two weeks before it was safe for Frankie.

Box inside the box.

First half lifts for maintenance. 

The back top lifts.  Heater pad attached to wall. Warm cozy area.

Both lids open.  Electric panel safely set above right.


This shelter worked for four years before Frankie began to outgrow it.  In 2015 we've started to make modifications to accommodate the 105 pound Frankie




Frankie managed to destroyed the front doors so I custom built a new front cover while we waited for Frankie's new BIGGER house to be built.

The saga of sheltering Frankie continues.  In December 2015, we begin the install of a grander, bigger Frankie shelter.  Follow the link to see the next big build:

6 comments:

  1. This is amazing, Leann! You sure put in a lot of love in building Frankie's new house :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 23, 2014

    Photo SHE HAS EXCELLENT HOME, GOOD FOR YOU

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is awesome! It's always good to have some ideals and yours are certainly some of the best. It's a lovely home for Frankie, and thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. where did you get the heating pad?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The red heat pad is a Kane Manufacturing Livestock Heat Mat. The mats come in various sizes. Find them in farm stores, Amazon and http://www.kanemfg.com/livestock-heating/

      Delete
  5. I have a baby african sulcata named Olive and she is one year, had her since a hatchling. I love finding ways to make enclosures. Yours is super!

    ReplyDelete