Enclosure inspiration

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Back at it with some more great photo references!

Hides/burrows


Sheds


Greenhouses


Bricks/rock boarder


Utilising existing walls


Fencing with visual barrier


Raised garden bed with lid


Indoor DIY set up


Hope everyone has had a nice weekend!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

New year, new photos!

Dedicated room set ups


Hides



Utilising existing walls/fences


Greenhouses



Also wanted to take this opportunity to shout out @Mrgeez whose enclosure progress is coming along great! I featured the beginning stage of his set up in post#20 here(third photo under ‘L’ shaped enclosures) with every update it’s looking better and better! Do feel free to click on his profile and watch his progress! This is his latest post, can’t wait to see it complete!

Barn tortoise enclosure build update 1/1/2025

Happy New Year to all tortoise lovers! I attached a video update 1/1/2025 of my progress on my tortoise enclosure. I have addressed most of the comments you all gave me. Please, if you see any need for improvement, I surely appreciate comments. This is my 1st enclosure attempt. Mark.

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

What’s this? Two days in a row?! Indeed! Some gems in this one!

Brick/stone boarder


Hides/shady areas









Wooden boarder



Landscape/terrain

 

[sunnyD31]

WOW what an amazing visual guide of so many different enclosures! Thank you for taking the time to put this together, it's exactly what I'm looking for for inspo

Now I just need to look up YT videos on how to build a secure wooden box haha

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

WOW what an amazing visual guide of so many different enclosures! Thank you for taking the time to put this together, it's exactly what I'm looking for for inspo

Now I just need to look up YT videos on how to build a secure wooden box haha

Aw yay I’m so glad you like it! I saw on your other thread it’s a baby Herman you have? As babies need a closed chamber to maintain the humidity, I think you’ll really like looking through this one too!

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

Also feel free to check this one out! It’s always good to double check your bulbs, substrates etc because folks are often sold the wrong stuff for a starter set up, it’s unfortunate but all too common, this thread covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc), correct levels, importance of a closed chamber for younger tortoises(only way to maintain the humidity you need), appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a really handy diet link to check out! If going with a greenhouse, the lower the ceiling height, whilst still allowing for recommended bulb height, the better! But hopefully you like those other ideas above too!

Housing young Russian/Herman

Hello there! In this thread, I’m going to include some information on an effective way to tackle a starter set up/a way you can build a bigger size once your baby is an adult. I know it looks a lot to go over, I like to make sure all bases are covered, I’m happy to break down any information...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one is probably most important 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

Hope you like them and they come in handy!

 

[sunnyD31]

Ahhh I wish I had seen these guides before I got my tort bc it would have saved so much trouble returning stuff and having an improper home temporarily until the right items got delivered.

I think I have the right set up now and Tom corrected me on a few things already. So currently I have a 120L sterilite container in a greenhouse (it seems too small). I have a 10.0 t5 uvb bulb and 75W basking lamp. and an adorable tree stump humid hide that he loves to sleep in. I catch him waddling off to bed right before the lights shut off. He has a terracotta water bowl and food bowl and cuttlefish which he totally ignores. I read through the "common keeping errors" thread and I think the only thing I need to change is the substrate. it's a mix of coco coir and reptisoil.

In the course of typing out this comment, I decided I'm gonna upgrade the enclosure so I can get him a hamster wheel lol really I can't thank you enough for all the information and inspo!!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Ahhh I wish I had seen these guides before I got my tort bc it would have saved so much trouble returning stuff and having an improper home temporarily until the right items got delivered.

I think I have the right set up now and Tom corrected me on a few things already. So currently I have a 120L sterilite container in a greenhouse (it seems too small). I have a 10.0 t5 uvb bulb and 75W basking lamp. and an adorable tree stump humid hide that he loves to sleep in. I catch him waddling off to bed right before the lights shut off. He has a terracotta water bowl and food bowl and cuttlefish which he totally ignores. I read through the "common keeping errors" thread and I think the only thing I need to change is the substrate. it's a mix of coco coir and reptisoil.

In the course of typing out this comment, I decided I'm gonna upgrade the enclosure so I can get him a hamster wheel lol really I can't thank you enough for all the information and inspo!!

I’m so happy you made your way to the forum before an upgrade at least! Sounds like you’ve made some great changes and have exciting plans ahead!
I’m glad you liked the posts and found them helpful too

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Some more lovely photos coming your way!

Wooden barrier





Cinder blocks


Raised garden bed with lid


Metal barrier


Pollytunnel/grow tent



Dog kennel with visual barrier


Hides/burrow

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

The night boxes in these ones look both well made and very aesthetically pleasing I must say

Cage/avery with visual barrier


Divides


DIY raised garden base table


Utilising existing walls


Wooden bases


Night boxes

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Just a few for today

DIY multilevel


Greenhouses



Outbuilding


Wooden barrier

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Night boxes



Wooden barrier


Garden bed

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Wooden bases


Brick


Base with lid



Base with cage/fencing


DIY indoor


Indoor multilevel


Polly tunnel


Utilising existing wall/fence


Nightbox

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Metal boarder


DIY table



Night box/winter shed


Hide


Garden bed

 

[NamedNut]

Fantastic post!!!!! Inspiration overload!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Fantastic post!!!!! Inspiration overload!

Thank you! I love adding to this thread, it’s so much fun! Got a whole lot more on the back burner for now

 

[NamedNut]

Thank you! I love adding to this thread, it’s so much fun! Got a whole lot more on the back burner for now

We moved to Idaho a year ago and our Russian has been in a temporary table the entire time... I had a new table sketched out... scrolled through this page this evening and am now working on an entirely new sketch haha!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

We moved to Idaho a year ago and our Russian has been in a temporary table the entire time... I had a new table sketched out... scrolled through this page this evening and am now working on an entirely new sketch haha!

Aw amazing!!! Feel free to post any update pics! Would love to add the finale product here!

 

[Tortoise on the Hill]

@Littleredfootbigredheart These threads are great, thanks for putting them together!

I just ordered a pallet of cinderblock today from the local hardware store for the summertime expansion! It won't be fancy but hopefully I can provide some photos later on this spring when I get things how I want them!

Thanks again, will watch the thread for more updates!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

@Littleredfootbigredheart These threads are great, thanks for putting them together!

I just ordered a pallet of cinderblock today from the local hardware store for the summertime expansion! It won't be fancy but hopefully I can provide some photos later on this spring when I get things how I want them!

Thanks again, will watch the thread for more updates!

Aw glad you like them!! Look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Got plenty more additions on the back burner for this thread too