Just a quick reminder.

We're always looking for members photos to load up onto our website. We are particularly interested in adding photos of members enclosures, but are also looking for good clear photos of members tortoises for our website slideshow, which will be changed every week or so.

We can't guarantee all photos will be loaded up, but we will try and make use of as many as possible.

Please send all photos to:-

photos@tortoise-protection-group.org.uk

Kindest Regards
Darren

Hi Darren. I will attach a link here to some photos that just might be of interest.  I have now got my much lusted- after plexiglass coldframe involving a man in yorkshire that knows all about plexiglass and some people in Germany that made the frame.  Its quite a complex build-up job and the instructings are in helpful German too.  I'm just getting started with finding out if its really worth the investment but I do know that the tortoises love it in there and they are getting 60% available UVB for a good part of the day. 

http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg265/Ozric_01/

Wow, that is impressive.  It will be good to hear the uv results.

Vivienne

Hiya,

Looks really impressive.

Thanks for the photos - will definitely load some up onto the website if that's OK?

The 60% - are these readings you're taking yourself?

Cheers
Darren

Hi Darren.  Yes please use the photos. I've taken some UVB readings myself with a solarmeter and the plexiglass does seem to allow the 60% through it that is claimed. This seems to be the case regardless of how much light there is in the sky. I'm told that it goes down a bit over time because the plexiglass gets scratched.

The coldframe is really very good at building up heat and keeping it in, even with the little door open.  When I have 'found my feet'  better with the coldframe I'll send more complete information as it might be useful to anyone else considering this option. 

That's great - Thank You.

Is the plexiglass actually glass? or is it more like polycarb. I was wondering whether it is a specialist job to cut it?

Cheers
Darren

That looks absolutely brilliant!  I know it's been a long journey for you ,  (I think 'perseverence' must be you middle name), but it's definitely been worth it!

Nina

Hi Darren / Nina.  Yes the material is more like an acrylic or polycarbonate. Its made like double glazing with two pieces with pockets of air in between.  This makes it really quite thick which means that all the standard greenhouse frames are no use as their slot is too narrow.  

I didn't have to cut any as this was all done for me.  I don't think it would be too difficult although care would be needed to prevent splitting.  Another problem with us using plexiglass to make our own housing is getting hold of it in the small amounts we would want.  Its tricky to send without getting broken too.  In theory a much cheaper housing could be made out of it using a home- made wooden frame and this is what I was aiming for at one point but I found there were too many obstacles to that.

Dare I ask........how much did this cost you? It looks fabulous!
Laraine

Yes Laraine of course you can.  Answer £718. 

Yes its a lot of money and only time will tell if its worth it but so far I've only got good things to say about it.  Except it was very difficult to assemble (German instructions didn't help!).

Anyone not fed up with seeing photos of this bloomin' coldframe might be interested in the attached link to a pic that actually has a couple of tortoises running about the enclosure.  The frame is about 1 meter square at the base.

http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg265/Ozric_01/new%20coldframe%20July%2009/?action=view&current=newframejuly099.jpg

Thanks for the pics and telling us how much, I was dying to ask!! lol

Regards Vivienne

Hello

Happy new year to you!! I just saw your set up!!! WOW!!! My god!!! Its absolutley fab!!! Superb!! your torts are lucky indeed :)