Atrium Enclosure

Mr3dPHD

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Hi everyone! I've never owned a tortoise, but I have a unique opportunity most people don't get and I'm very interested in getting one. I just bought a house and there's an open air atrium in the center! Essentially, it's a huge animal enclosure. Since three toed sloths are a little hard to come by, I thought a tortoise would be the next best thing.

As a responsible pet owner, however, I need to know if this is feasible, and if it's going to be safe for my potential pet. He would be outdoors all the time, but he would be surrounded by huge two story walls. Currently, there's just stones on the ground, but I can convert the area into anything.

If anyone has any suggestions or advice, I would very much appreciate it. I attached photos of the enclosure.

-Mr 3D

IMG_20190419_190110.jpg IMG_20190419_191045.jpg IMG_20190419_191025.jpg IMG_20190419_185550.jpg
 

Mr3dPHD

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According to the floorplan, it's 105 sqft. You can see the general shape of the enclosure in the attached screenshot.

So I guess what I need to know is 1) what type of tortoise would be a good choice, and 2) how do I modify this enclosure to make it ideal if a tortoise?

I'm in central Florida so it's pretty hot and humid most of the year, but it does get as cold as 25/30 degrees in the winter (for very short spurts). It doesn't snow.
 

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theguy67

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That's what I want in my house some day.


That’s really cool! What are the dimensions/square footage?

Agreed. You can probably keep a tortoise in there forever, but it may have to be a small species (smaller than a redfoot). A small group of box turtles could be neat. Another way to go would be an arboreal species of lizard.

You do have a unique opportunity. I encourage you to go all out with landscaping and planting.
 

Mr3dPHD

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I know, I'm very excited! Someone suggested a bearded dragon, but for whatever reason, I'm way more interested in a tortoise. What max size variety do you think would be okay? Pretty small you say?
 

theguy67

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I know, I'm very excited! Someone suggested a bearded dragon, but for whatever reason, I'm way more interested in a tortoise. What max size variety do you think would be okay? Pretty small you say?

Ahh, I'm sorry. I didn't see your post when I replied. 105sqft should be enough for one adult redfooted tortoise, which would love your humidity. I couldn't tell how big/small it really was from the pics.
Ideas:

1) For winter, you could build a heated nightbox. If you could put it underground it would save you floor space (and add a little more room). OR, since the enclosure is conveniently located "in" your house, you could have a separate enclosure in your garage you just move him to.

2) A crazier idea,you could cover the top of the enclosure with a greenhouse style roof. This may not be worth it if the temps rarely get into the 40s at night. I see you have a palm in there, so your winters are clearly warmer than mine.

I personally would do the first idea. Build an underground burrow with a heater inside (on a thermostat). You could build it above ground too, its all a matter of preference. I just prefer most of what I see to be plants, with structures hidden. I would also recommend a separate enclosure located elsewhere, for the REAL cold nights. I worry about locking tortoises up in a confined space when fire ants are so prevalent. Some keepers work hard to eradicate them, but there is still a chance.
 

Yvonne G

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It looks like no actual sunshine ever reaches the ground, so you may have to mount a basking light somewhere in there. A redfooted tortoise or two or three box turtles would be good.

Oh, and Welcome to the Forum!
 
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Mr3dPHD

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Awesome ideas! Man, the greenhouse enclosure idea would be COOOOL! I bet it would cost a fortune though, and I have no idea how we would keep the inside of the glass clean from algae.

The hidden borrow sounds very reasonable. We'll most likely do that. So what about the ground? I'm a total noob here. All I know is fish, cats, and hermit crabs, ha ha. Does there need to be sand? Grass? Are just rocks okay? I suppose I should read up on the basics instead of asking every little thing in here.

Thanks for the welcome guys!
 

Yvonne G

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Remove all the rocks and add top soil, about three or four inches of top soil. Dig it into the virgin soil a bit, but not thoroughly, then rake it smooth. Plant ground cover. My box turtle yard has many plantings of ornamental strawberry. Viola is also a good ground cover. Years ago I planted one little 6" pot of button fern and now, years later, it has made a very nice 4' mound with trailings and they love hiding in and under it. Hosta would also be an eye pleasing plant in there, and also boston fern. I would NOT plant grass as it would really be a pain to keep mowed. Besides that, RF tortoises and box turtles don't really eat grass.
 

Blackdog1714

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That small of a courtyard had to make no sense when they built the house! But what an awesome area for a Tortie. Please keep the pictures coming so we may bask in your Good Fortune
 

Mr3dPHD

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These suggestions will be very useful, thanks Yvonne!

I'll definitely post photos if and when this all happens. I'm not moving in until July, so it will be some time after that. Until then, I'll research the heck out of this as I do with everything so I can be as close to an expert as one can be without actually owning a tortoise, ha ha.
 

Jenncreates

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Hi everyone! I've never owned a tortoise, but I have a unique opportunity most people don't get and I'm very interested in getting one. I just bought a house and there's an open air atrium in the center!
Cool. The house I grew up in was previously owned by an architect and he designed an awesome atrium in the center of the house. It was quite fun to have an outside space without needing to go outside my home. :)
 

Sue Ann

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chapin , South Carolina
Hi everyone! I've never owned a tortoise, but I have a unique opportunity most people don't get and I'm very interested in getting one. I just bought a house and there's an open air atrium in the center! Essentially, it's a huge animal enclosure. Since three toed sloths are a little hard to come by, I thought a tortoise would be the next best thing.

As a responsible pet owner, however, I need to know if this is feasible, and if it's going to be safe for my potential pet. He would be outdoors all the time, but he would be surrounded by huge two story walls. Currently, there's just stones on the ground, but I can convert the area into anything.

If anyone has any suggestions or advice, I would very much appreciate it. I attached photos of the enclosure.

-Mr 3D

View attachment 270313 View attachment 270314 View attachment 270315 View attachment 270316

That is an awesome area! Because of the height a bearded dragon or some such might be great. But I love my Sully. Maybe a leopard tort? Check with the experts here.
 

Christyk

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Hides are so important but personally I like to sit with my little box turtle. Maybe put a hide under a sitting bench? Put a plant box in the side of the bench? That would serve several purposes in a small space.
 

Mr3dPHD

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I definitely want to be able to sit and read while the tortoise shuffles around.
 

Relic

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Since you have a hose bib inside the atrium, I would also consider a small water feature, perhaps a small shallow pool with a small fountain in one of the corners. You really have a lot of great possibilities here that I am just a tad jealous over...
 

Brent L206

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That’s an awesome atrium! I’d like one for my Little guy. I’ll throw in Southern Iberia Greek tortoises as an option, too. I have a “Southern” Iocale and he/she is awesome! They don’t grow quite as big as the Northern subspecies and they can tolerate some temperature fluctuation from what I hear.
 

Blackdog1714

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Since you have a hose bib inside the atrium, I would also consider a small water feature, perhaps a small shallow pool with a small fountain in one of the corners. You really have a lot of great possibilities here that I am just a tad jealous over...
Oh Yeah an awesome bubbling fountain- an interior oasis!!!
 
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