Forsten's Tortoise Enclosure

d3c

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Hi,

My son was gifted a Forsten's tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii) and needed some help as to what would be the best option for the substrate. I plan on keeping it in an outside enclosure. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated
 

Yvonne G

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I keep Manouria tortoises, also from Indonesia, and I just have them on the dirt my property came with. I don't add anything but extra leaves in the fall when the trees drop them.
 

d3c

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I keep Manouria tortoises, also from Indonesia, and I just have them on the dirt my property came with. I don't add anything but extra leaves in the fall when the trees drop them.

Ideally, I would like her to just roam freely in the patio area. But, she's too small and afraid she may wander under the wood fencing and into a neighbor or street when not supervised.
 

Yvonne G

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So you're saying you're going to build an enclosure for the tortoise on the patio, and you'll need to buy substrate to cover the cement? In that case, I'd buy lots of top soil to make it about 4" deep, then I'd buy some sort of hardwood bark to put over the top soil and tramp it down.
 

d3c

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May 19, 2020
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So you're saying you're going to build an enclosure for the tortoise on the patio, and you'll need to buy substrate to cover the cement? In that case, I'd buy lots of top soil to make it about 4" deep, then I'd buy some sort of hardwood bark to put over the top soil and tramp it down.

I have a wading kiddie pool that I'd like to use in the meantime until she gets a bit bigger and unable to fit through the fence. I'm sorry, I'm just new to all this. I appreciate all your guidance.
 
L

LasTortugasNinja

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Kidpools work ok for smaller torts but their low sides make it a climbing risk for a determined tort. It's always a good idea to have a specialized enclosure for any tort. All torts can dig - some better than others - and torts can use their shells as battering rams against fences. The slightest amount of disrepair on a fence will be the focus of a tort hellbent on escaping (they have no respect for the amount of time, effort, or money put into perfecting their life with you). Ideally, an enclosure with walls buried deep enough to prevent digging under and tall enough to prohibit climbing. As big as you physically can make it. The tiniest tort will make the make the most of the largest enclosure. They are very active reptiles.
 
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