snailpeekoutofshell
Member
I’m currently working on the outdoor enclosure for my Russian and the hardest part has definitely been his hide.
The dirt in my area is no good so I have been buying blocks of coco coir, which I don’t mind, but because there’s no good area to dig into, I’m having to artificially create a deep enough space for Beans to have a cool area. I live in Las Vegas so the temperatures can get up to about 120 F in the summer, although I also have an indoor enclosure so on those days I would certainly keep him inside. However, at the moment my indoor enclosure is way too small so Id like him to have a cool enough space outside that he can spend more than just an hour outside every 2-3 days.
Right now it’s 90 F and cloudy and the temperature inside the hide is about 77-78 F so it’s definitely not deep enough to be the right temperature on a day where it’s 100+. I need to create a larger mount on top, but is what I have right now too steep for him? I plan to add Reptichip on top to hopefully help him climb with more grip and make sure the soil underneath stays wet in the summer heat. I usually check outside every 10-20 minutes to manage his temperature, but I’m afraid of finding him upside down and not getting to him soon enough
Im also attaching a picture of what the ground in the rest of the enclosure is like which is the same coco coir with Reptichip on top with a mixture of Testudo mix, red clover, and dandelions.
Currently there is only that single very sad and dead fountain grass in there, but I plan to add more fountain grass when I have the general layout finished in order to provide some shade, and ideally the weeds all grow enough to provide a small amount as well. Despite the space being 3x14 ft, Beans is ALWAYS trying to get out. Is this because there’s not enough breaking his line of sight? I’ve read that Russians are very good escape artists and love to climb. Because the enclosure isn’t finished, he’s kept in with retaining wall blocks that arent tall enough, but I do plan to build up and I keep an eye on him long enough that he couldn’t escape. Aside from the fountain grass, does anyone have any suggestions for what I can add inside the enclosure to help him feel better about being in there? There’s nothing in there yet besides the weeds and that single fountain grass, the hide is right in the center, but I don’t want to add decor that isn’t going to be beneficial to him until he’s comfortable with what exists.
The dirt in my area is no good so I have been buying blocks of coco coir, which I don’t mind, but because there’s no good area to dig into, I’m having to artificially create a deep enough space for Beans to have a cool area. I live in Las Vegas so the temperatures can get up to about 120 F in the summer, although I also have an indoor enclosure so on those days I would certainly keep him inside. However, at the moment my indoor enclosure is way too small so Id like him to have a cool enough space outside that he can spend more than just an hour outside every 2-3 days.
Right now it’s 90 F and cloudy and the temperature inside the hide is about 77-78 F so it’s definitely not deep enough to be the right temperature on a day where it’s 100+. I need to create a larger mount on top, but is what I have right now too steep for him? I plan to add Reptichip on top to hopefully help him climb with more grip and make sure the soil underneath stays wet in the summer heat. I usually check outside every 10-20 minutes to manage his temperature, but I’m afraid of finding him upside down and not getting to him soon enough
Im also attaching a picture of what the ground in the rest of the enclosure is like which is the same coco coir with Reptichip on top with a mixture of Testudo mix, red clover, and dandelions.
Currently there is only that single very sad and dead fountain grass in there, but I plan to add more fountain grass when I have the general layout finished in order to provide some shade, and ideally the weeds all grow enough to provide a small amount as well. Despite the space being 3x14 ft, Beans is ALWAYS trying to get out. Is this because there’s not enough breaking his line of sight? I’ve read that Russians are very good escape artists and love to climb. Because the enclosure isn’t finished, he’s kept in with retaining wall blocks that arent tall enough, but I do plan to build up and I keep an eye on him long enough that he couldn’t escape. Aside from the fountain grass, does anyone have any suggestions for what I can add inside the enclosure to help him feel better about being in there? There’s nothing in there yet besides the weeds and that single fountain grass, the hide is right in the center, but I don’t want to add decor that isn’t going to be beneficial to him until he’s comfortable with what exists.