Outdoor enclosure UK for spur thigh tortoise

Natbets said:

Hello fellow tortoise enthusiasts!

I want to create an out door enclosure for my spur thigh tortoise to use in the summer, I live in the UK and after reading bits online about the basic necessities I'd like some advice on what works well for others, how big, different ways to prevent escaping through digging, do I need a substrate or will the ground be okay and anything else you'd think would be useful!

My current idea is digging out an area, using slabs to prevent escaping, covering with substrate, plants/hides etc, and using the attached as the enclosure.

Any recommendations and advice would be great thank you!

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Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Natbets said:

I do also have some railway sleepers that I could use instead to make a bigger enclosure but I would want to make something to go over the top so she's protected from any predators, but I'm not that creative and don't know how I'd do that!

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Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Littleredfootbigredheart said:

Hey friend! I’m going to include a bunch of links below you’ll hopefully find helpful to look through

This includes lots of inspiration for an adult set up both indoors and out! The indoor bit has some good ideas to tackle indoor space whilst still providing the needed roaming room, and the outdoor section has some great examples of ways to dig proof, predator proof, landscaping, shade, boarder ideas, the lot! Check comments too, I’m always adding to it

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Theyre a good idea! Hopefully you’ll find some ideas in terms of a covering above

For the indoor side of things, This thread covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, definitely double check bulb types, folks unfortunately sold the wrong ones often), correct levels, appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and the tortoise table link

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Now that housing thread discusses an open top set up, which is fine for adult tortoises, but I will say, knowing how cold our uk winters get, for those who don’t brumate their temperate species, they can really struggle keeping their temperates where needed, a cover can come in really handy for maintaining your heat indoors, the most efficient closed set ups are melamine/pvc vivs. A place called Southdown aquatics actually does custom sized vivs in the uk If you’re ever considering an upgrade

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one here is good to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

I hope they come in handy! Always feel free to ask any further questions, welcome to the forum

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Natbets said:

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and provide plenty of different options and inspiration! You previously helped me to get my indoor set up right (thanks again Agnes seems to be loving it!)

I've decided to go for the sleepers on the outdoor enclosure, I'm looking into escape proofing and I think burying some mesh would be the best option. Would you recommend wire or plastic?

Thanks again!

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