Adult hermanns enclosure size?

[Doodle]

What would be a good size enclosure for an adult hermanns? I am looking for both inside and outside enclosure sizes. Pictures would be great!

Thanks!

I know bigger is better, just trying to get an idea of what "big" is.

 

[Doodle]

For an outdoor enclosure I would think in terms of modular units so you don't have to cut and measure as much. ie., a sheet of plywood is 4'x8' so multiples of 8 make a good perimeter. My set-up is 8'x16' and to me it seems adequate for a single tortoise as far as exercise space but this is not necessarily a large enough area to grow all the weeds that a tortoise needs to eat. In my case, all the clover, plantains, and dandelions growing in the enclosure have been eaten so I have to collect them from other parts of my yard and feed from a terra cotta flower saucer.

It's hard to provide a lot of space inside but the biggest area that you can provide and maintain within the correct temperature/humidity parameters should be your goal. My indoor set-up is an oval cattle watering trough that measures about 3'x4'. I know it will be a bit small for exercise (although the thermal gradient is adequate) but it's a lot bigger than any aquarium and hopefully I can hibernate for part of the winter.

That is along the lines of what size I was thinking for outdoors. I could probably go a little bigger indoors. Do you have any pictures of your setups? I am hoping to get a hatchling late this year so I guess I should start growing plants now lol.

Thanks!

 

[Tom]

Since this is purely a matter of opinion, I will state mine. I also think that 4x8' should be a minimum size for indoor housing. Outdoors, I think it best to utilize whatever space you have available and practical. In all my years and all the enclosures I have built, I have never once thought to myself upon completion, "Hmm... Should have made it smaller." I have, however, many times remarked that I wish I had made them bigger, and then I often do.

 

[Pokeymeg]

Our indoor enclosure is 6' by 2', and we break up Dante's sight-lines with looots of plants. Those keep him doing laps all day. We're considering adding a second level to his enclosure to maximize romping room....I really wish we could provide a larger enclosure, and an outdoor enclosure, but our living situation changed suddenly not long after we got Dante He still gets outside, but they are supervised visits to the backyard which annoys him. How dare I stop him from plummeting down the rocky ledge at the edge of our yard! The NERVE!

 

[Doodle]

Since this is purely a matter of opinion, I will state mine. I also think that 4x8' should be a minimum size for indoor housing. Outdoors, I think it best to utilize whatever space you have available and practical. In all my years and all the enclosures I have built, I have never once thought to myself upon completion, "Hmm... Should have made it smaller." I have, however, many times remarked that I wish I had made them bigger, and then I often do.

I have a small fenced in yard so I will have to see how big I can go while still leaving room for the dogs to run. He will probably stay outside most days and come in at night or when it snows.

Our indoor enclosure is 6' by 2', and we break up Dante's sight-lines with looots of plants. Those keep him doing laps all day. We're considering adding a second level to his enclosure to maximize romping room....I really wish we could provide a larger enclosure, and an outdoor enclosure, but our living situation changed suddenly not long after we got Dante He still gets outside, but they are supervised visits to the backyard which annoys him. How dare I stop him from plummeting down the rocky ledge at the edge of our yard! The NERVE!

I would love to see pics of your enclosure! Lol at trying to keep him from falling down the ledge!

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Currently, my three live in an enclosure of a bit less than 8' X 5', which is really much too small, for 3, but it was built for a single tortoise, Jennifer...my plans were to build it into a much larger enclosure, but we now know that we're moving out of state in about 6 months, so after the move, I plan to build a new enclosure of at least about 16' X 16', preferably 24' X 16' or even a little larger...like Tom, I doubt it's possible to given them too much room.

And, like Dan, I currently have to bring them more edible plants than can be grown inside of their present home, so whenever I run across a good weed patch, I harvest and dry quite a bit, to be mixed with soaked Marion tortoise kibble for winter feed, along with cactus pads and dark green vegetables.

 

[Pokeymeg]

Re: RE: Adult hermanns enclosure size?

Since this is purely a matter of opinion, I will state mine. I also think that 4x8' should be a minimum size for indoor housing. Outdoors, I think it best to utilize whatever space you have available and practical. In all my years and all the enclosures I have built, I have never once thought to myself upon completion, "Hmm... Should have made it smaller." I have, however, many times remarked that I wish I had made them bigger, and then I often do.

I have a small fenced in yard so I will have to see how big I can go while still leaving room for the dogs to run. He will probably stay outside most days and come in at night or when it snows.

Our indoor enclosure is 6' by 2', and we break up Dante's sight-lines with looots of plants. Those keep him doing laps all day. We're considering adding a second level to his enclosure to maximize romping room....I really wish we could provide a larger enclosure, and an outdoor enclosure, but our living situation changed suddenly not long after we got Dante He still gets outside, but they are supervised visits to the backyard which annoys him. How dare I stop him from plummeting down the rocky ledge at the edge of our yard! The NERVE!

I would love to see pics of your enclosure! Lol at trying to keep him from falling down the ledge!

Here you go!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using TortForum mobile app

 

[Doodle]

Here you go!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using TortForum mobile app

What a nice enclosure! Thanks for the pic. It gives me a few ideas.

 

[Sulcata_Sandy]

I like that your plans are in containers. I am not good with plants, so I will give that a try vs plastic plants.


Sandy
.......................................
Oregon Tortoise Rescue

 

[AnnV]

That looks like a very nice indoor home. Is the water a fountain?

Ann from CT

 

[jeffreyc1203]

RE: Adult female hermanns

i want to breed my hermans tortoise

 

[Pokeymeg]

That looks like a very nice indoor home. Is the water a fountain?

Ann from CT

Yes, it is! I have a thread about the fountain somewhere on here!

It's technically a dog water bowl, but it fits our needs

 

[reatrocity]

Pokey, I love your enclosure! Definitely think something like that is useful for me to see while I'm planning to create my enclosure for when I get my lil' baby Hermann. Love the idea with the real plants.

 

[Pokeymeg]

Pokey, I love your enclosure! Definitely think something like that is useful for me to see while I'm planning to create my enclosure for when I get my lil' baby Hermann. Love the idea with the real plants.

Oh thank you! I'm always trying to improve it

I wouldn't use the fountain (at least not this model) for a baby tortoise. It is too big and dangerous for a little guy, even with rocks on the bottom!

Real plants are the best! Spider plants make their own babies and take a beating, AND are safe (though Dante doesn't nibble on them).