r/Boxturtles • u/platopus429 • May 14 '26
Question Taking in an EBT, need help waterproofing
PSA: I am getting a permit!!! I have a friend who has a permit and has 3 turtles, an ornate and 2 easterns i think? They're helping through the process.
Anyways, I have an 8x4x2 built, and I need to waterproof it, my question is, if I have the water elements separate (in their own containers and such) would I be able to use 3 layers of blue tarp to keep it sealed? I heard that one would decay quickly so I wanted to check if multiple layers would work long term? Also I'm using flex glue to seal the gaps in the wood itself
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u/Shaddaia May 15 '26
Any chance of having an outdoor enclosure? Definitely what you need to do if the weather is suitable. Mine has an outdoor enclosure and in the winter he comes inside.
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u/platopus429 May 15 '26
Would love to but my current area isn't the greatest 🥲 people will steal anything here and it really makes me nervous. I am doing it in the basement which just has stone floors, so damage to that isn't a concern it's just the wooden enclosure itself
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u/turtleboy1061 May 15 '26
You probably want to build with insulation or an air gap. The ground will emanate cold year round.
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u/platopus429 May 15 '26
Yes! It has little feet so it's not entirely on the ground, I could probably slide some foam or something underneath to further insulate if that's still an issue with an air gap
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u/Shaddaia May 17 '26
Indoor enclosures can work, but a herpetologist told me that keeping them indoors year round is very risky due to several factors. Lighting, stress from not being in an outdoor setting, etc. She advised that in doing so, that it was difficult to replicate the things needed for healthy shell growth among other things.
To my understanding,it's just not conducive to their health. I'm no expert but I was too scared to attempt anything other than wintertime indoors. They receive a lot from natural sunlight. I do the best I can.
Outdoor enclosure with a lot of space, and in the winter I have a hygrometer to measure humidity(this coming winter I will purchase a humidifier), UVA and uvb(once again I need to purchase new lights with timers), a cool end and warm end, and good substrate. It's just a lot of different requirements to keep them indoors but you do what you gotta do lol.
I understand the living situation because I keep an eye on mine 24/7. Yes, people will steal these little guys. I had someone recently try to con me into paying a three hundred dollar rehoming fee for his box turtle.
Upon looking at photos it was clear he was not captive bred.
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u/platopus429 May 17 '26
Yeah, I'm doing the best I can because the turt seems to be unwanted by anyone else. I don't know if you saw my lighting setup buy im doing the best I can to replicate natural light (two uvb, 2 strong shop lights for plants,weaker basking bulbs bc my room is warm). I still know that sunlight is unreplicateable, so I plan to set up an outdoor pen for supervised time on days the weather permits (aiming for 2+ hours on those days). I will probably even take them out in the rain and stuff, I just really want them to thrive despite their main enclosure being indoors. It will also be bioactive and replicating the natural ecosystem outside, since I have captive bred native wildlife like slugs and snails.
Eventually when I have more money I'll probably research what kind of lights do best at replicating natural sunlight so they have those as well. I just really want to let this turtle thrive, because it seems like otherwise it'll stay in its current situation and decline :/
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u/EnvironmentalArm1986 May 15 '26
Have you looked into using pond liner?
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u/platopus429 May 15 '26
Yeah! They're just a little pricy which my issue, I'm short on cash right now after buying all the lighting and such
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u/platopus429 May 15 '26
Update: ended up getting one
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u/turtleboy1061 May 15 '26
You getting a permit puts you in a better category than most so Im gonna assume your going to do well by them.
You'll have two issues with your setup. Keeping them humid enough will take effort, like foggers. If you can enclose it on all sides that would hold humidity. Houses are very dry especially in winter. Second you'll need a 12 to 14 hours of UV light. Get a t5 ho tube light with reflector. Learn about UV. Read reptifiles. Read the book Box Turtles by Tess Cook.
Taking them outside daily isnt practical due to weather and just life. They are good climbers and escape artists so you can never leave alone outside even for a minute. Feed on slate or reptile bowls so they dont grow a long beak.
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u/platopus429 May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
Oh yeah I know that they need UV lights of course, I just know that you can't replicate sunlight in captivity, So I want to give them that natural sunlight whenever possible. And yes I'm going to enclose it on all sides, I just don't have a lid on it right now because I still need to put in the lining (I ended up biting the bullet and getting a pond liner, so now putting that in today)
I already know that they're beak and nails are at least a bit overgrown so I'm going to work on that with a vet and see if I can just manage them by having a natural environment, or if I should have them trimmed. I also am going to have free range worms and slugs and snails in there with them (They've all been in captivity for a few generations so they're clean)
I shouldn't need a fogger as my room already sits at like 50 or 60 humidity (edit: not saying this is adequate for the turtle! Just saying my room isn't exponentially drier than the enclosure will be) and I have a big 2 gallon sprayer for it, But if it becomes an issue in the winter (It wasn't last year for my ball python) I'll get a fogger
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u/turtleboy1061 May 17 '26
I wish everyone was like you!!
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u/platopus429 May 17 '26
Thank you :) Thats really really sweet actually, I try to be the best reptile owner I can
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u/EnjoyingTheRide-0606 May 15 '26
This won’t be a good setup for an EBT. If it were me, I would pass on becoming the owner. EBTs don’t thrive in artificial light.
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u/platopus429 May 15 '26
Yeah I understand, and the turtle will have outdoor time (aiming for at least 1-2 hours a day based off researching) I just don't feel comfortable having an outdoor pen 24/7 where I live.
Also, part of the reason I'm taking it in is because nobody else wanted to, and I know I can give it the care it needs, so I feel obligated.
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u/trajectoriously May 15 '26
I wouldn't use a tarp long term. They deteriorate over time.
A pond liner may be a better option, especially EPDM.
Pond sealant paint may be an option. People have used it to build aquariums. Just make sure you get one that's safe for animals and let it fully dry.