Earp's Outdoor Enclosure

[littleginsu]

Ok. While I welcome constructive criticism, just be kind. Getting this enclosure done (enough) to get Earp out in it has been a harrowing experience.

The house (which is loosely based on Tom's outdoor house.. loosely because the person I had build it made it differently and it's wasn't an improvement) still needs caulking on the inside and the ramps primed and painted, heating for the winter, and few other things. I had it built 2+ years ago and it has sat out in the elements without any paint or sealant... So it's in rough shape but it'll do, for now.

I need to scavenge more rocks to put along the bottom of the house and eventually sink the pots deeper.

I do have a 10' x 22' shade cloth I am going to mount to the house and tie off in the trees near the enclosure.

Anywho. With all the caveats or if the way. Here it is.

26' x 20' outdoor enclosure with a 4' x 8' house.

Please be kind. 😬

 

[littleginsu]

Also, I know Earp has pyramiding, I had a bad couples years, when Earp was a baby, with my mental health and while I did what I could.. it wasn't the best. I'm much better now and trying to do right by Earp.

 

[littleginsu]

Those are Ring cameras (I have solar panels for them coming soon), and I have a CCTV camera pointed on most of the enclosure for 24/7 recording.

 

[Yvonne G]

You need shade over that shelter. Plant a mulberry tree to offer it shade, but in the meantime until the tree gets big enough pot up a fairly large tree and either set it on top of the house or in front of the house. I know it's insulated, but the Arizona sun can be brutal shining on a "dog house." Or maybe rig some shade cloth so the sun can't shine on the shelter.

 

[littleginsu]

You need shade over that shelter. Plant a mulberry tree to offer it shade, but in the meantime until the tree gets big enough pot up a fairly large tree and either set it on top of the house or in front of the house. I know it's insulated, but the Arizona sun can be brutal shining on a "dog house." Or maybe rig some shade cloth so the sun can't shine on the shelter.

Yes. I plan on having a shade cloth above the house very soon!

 

[Yvonne G]

It's a nice enclosure. And you can easily add more cindrblocks as he grow.

 

[SinLA]

I think it looks nice, given the caveats you've offered. After the main heat of the summer you could probably hoe a section and add seeds from somewhere like this

Grazing Tortoise Seed Mix 1/2 lb Free Shipping! USA only grazing tortoise seed mix [] - $14.95 : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce

The Grazing Tortoise Seed Mix is what I use in my pens. It contains: Crimson Clover Red Clover Creeping Red Fescue Turnip Greens Fescue Kentucy Blue Grass Orchard Grass Wheat Grass Oat Grass Rye Grass Barley Grass Chia Chicory Timothy Grass These seeds were picked for their nutritional value...

www.carolinapetsupply.com

or

Broadleaf mix 1/4 lb Free Shipping! USA only : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce

Zen Cart! Broadleaf mix 1/4 lb Free Shipping! USA only - All new broad leaf seed mix picked for their nutritional value and easy to grow inside (under lights) or outside. All new in this mix is mache, and Italian dandelion. It contains: Crimson Clover A perennial with trifoliate leaves and pink...

www.carolinapetsupply.com

to also give him food and coverage.

Right now your water bowl is in the center which appears to be very sunny/hot. I would move it to an area more covered either by the tree or the sunshade once you get it up...

 

[littleginsu]

I think it looks nice, given the caveats you've offered. After the main heat of the summer you could probably hoe a section and add seeds from somewhere like this

Grazing Tortoise Seed Mix 1/2 lb Free Shipping! USA only grazing tortoise seed mix [] - $14.95 : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce

The Grazing Tortoise Seed Mix is what I use in my pens. It contains: Crimson Clover Red Clover Creeping Red Fescue Turnip Greens Fescue Kentucy Blue Grass Orchard Grass Wheat Grass Oat Grass Rye Grass Barley Grass Chia Chicory Timothy Grass These seeds were picked for their nutritional value...

www.carolinapetsupply.com

or

Broadleaf mix 1/4 lb Free Shipping! USA only : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce

Zen Cart! Broadleaf mix 1/4 lb Free Shipping! USA only - All new broad leaf seed mix picked for their nutritional value and easy to grow inside (under lights) or outside. All new in this mix is mache, and Italian dandelion. It contains: Crimson Clover A perennial with trifoliate leaves and pink...

www.carolinapetsupply.com

to also give him food and coverage.

Right now your water bowl is in the center which appears to be very sunny/hot. I would move it to an area more covered either by the tree or the sunshade once you get it up...

Thank you! I have planted a bunch of tortoise grazing mix, it's just taking a while to grow.

There are two water bowls. One you see and one in the corner. The one in the corner gets shade for most of the day and once I get the shade cloth up, the water bowl in the middle will be under the shade cloth, too!!

 

[littleginsu]

It's a nice enclosure. And you can easily add more cindrblocks as he grow.

Yes! Eventually he'll get the whole backyard.

 

[littleginsu]

I have a question. I added a couple red, hard plastic balls in Earp's enclosure. I thought maybe it'd add some enrichment? Earp doesn't seem interested in them, at all... completely unphased. Are there things I can add to make things more fun and interesting, or is play not something tortoises do?

 

[Yvonne G]

Sight barriers. How boring it might be coming out in the a.m. and being able to see your whole world. Put up a fence across the middle but not attached, so he has to walk around it to see the rest of the yard.

Buy some clips and clip lettuce leaves, etc. then hang it so he has to stretch up to eat it.

 

[SinLA]

I’ve used this for site barriers , you may be able to find something similar:

Backyard X-Scapes Natural... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SGPFRP3/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20