u/DastheDruid

I'm about to take in a male BTS from a friend. It's a couple years old and about 16" long. I don't currently have a place for it but I want to put it on my entertainment center, making it the center piece of the living room. That sort of limits my options on size, so I want to build the habitat myself.

The biggest I could make it without modifying anything else would by 60 by 15 inches. I love the length, but is that wide enough? Also, how tall should it be? If 18" is okay, then I don't have to move my TV up the wall. I plan for 4" of substrate in the front, with it sloped up so there 5-6 in the back... You know , till he redecorates.

Also, do you guys suggest sliding glass doors or hinge doors? I'll have a removable screen on the top as well.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Light suggestions?

I have 3 large dogs: a border Collie mix (14ish), a lab/weim (12i), and a bull dog mix (8). The border collie has a sensitivity or allergy to chicken. Before we go down that rabbit hole, know I've tried different foods for years and any time I switch to one with poultry as a main ingredient, she sheds more and her skin dries out. The bull dog also has mild skin issues in general, but nothing my last two vets have been concerned about. Those two also are getting more difficult to exercise as they get older, and weight management is always on my mind for them. I don't free feed.

The lab/weim is basically part goat, part horse, and will probably outlive me while trying to pull me down the street no matter what she eats.

I'm looking for food that's good for senior pets and/or weight management, preferably that's salmon based as that seems to be the best for best for coats and skin of the two sensitive ones. Currently they're on Pro Plan Senior Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and that's been great for them, but at $80 for 24 pounds it's not exactly the best for me...

I'm not against supplementing other food with glucosamine or fish oil if it means getting the same benefits for less money, though I would love your joint supplement recommendations if you're suggesting that route.

Thank you!