Backyard build for Hermann’s

[LobsterOfJustice]

Are build threads a thing here? My main hobby is reef aquariums and over on those forums people like to document their builds so I figured I’d do the same thing here. This build is for a Hermann’s to live outside full time. This will be my first tortoise but I have been keeping herps all my life.

I don’t have a true “before” picture since I didn’t think to take pictures before I raked out all the leaves and pulled up some old vegetation which isn’t tort safe. So for the purposes of this thread I’ll start the pics after clearing out the area - more or less my “blank slate”.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Looks like it is coming together well. Yes we have some build threads, and at least I enjoy following them!

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Finished lining the interior base of the fence with concrete and put up most of the hardware cloth to keep anything unwanted out.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I am curious, what are your plans for the underside of the deck? Some kind of shelter?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Yeah I’ll build some kind of insulated box under there for proper overnight/over-wintering. Mostly under the deck was just unused space that happened to be adjacent to the pen and I figured it would provide shade and general shelter and be a fun “cave” environment. Might as well include it. I also included some space under the circular deck as well, again just for general hide/shade/shelter/enrichment purpose

 

[Tom]

I love the under-deck space. What a fantastic use of the available area. I'm not a fan of the rocks under there, but I think they are big enough to not hurt anything.

What are the bushes? I'm no plant expert, but the leaves look like azaleas.

This looks like it will be a great enclosure. Looking forward to updates as you progress.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Here’s a closer look at the rocks under there, let me know if you think it’d be a problem. I’m hoping it will be okay since there will be plenty of other substrate throughout the enclosure. I can remove them if needed, just some more work.

The bushes are gardenia. It’s listed as do not feed on tort table, but seems mostly out of lack of information, and mentions the occasional nibble should be okay. I’ve trimmed the lower branches to keep the leaves out of reach. I’m not attached to them so I can remove them if needed.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

With smaller rocks you have to make sure they aren't small enough to swallow, otherwise having a small part of the enclosure covered in rocks shouldn't be a problem

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Spent the last week working on a shallow water feature

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I also picked up a bunch of plants over the weekend.

False Spirea (Astilbe x arendsii) “Moccachino”
Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum) “Purple Dragon”, “Orchid Frost”, “White Nancy”
Bellflower (Campanula) “Clockwise Deep Blue”, “Pearl Deep Blue”
Geranium: Cranesbill (Geranium macrorhizum) “Bevans Variety”
Geranium: Rozanne (Geranium x ‘Gerwat’) “Rozanne”
Geranium: Biokovo (Geranium x cantabrigiense) “Biokovo”
Evergold Sedge (Carex oshimensis) “Evergold”
Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) “Little Bunny”
White Gaura (Gaura lindhermeri) “Belleza”
Tickseed: Threadleaf (Coreopsis verticillate) “Zegreb”
Tickseed (Coreopsis) “Uptick Gold and Bronze”, “Double the Sun”
Sedum (Sedum spurium) “John Creech”

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

All of those plants sound good for a tortoise enclosure. But I haven't found any info on the toxicity of White Gaura. Some say tortoises don't like the taste. But since there is to definite info on it's toxicity and plants closely related to it are safe, I would assume that it is also edible. Sedum can lead to diarrea if eaten in excess

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Some progress