Enclosure size for Canada and best species

[Tortellini0000]

Hello and welcome.

You don't need a dig barrier for a leopard. They don't dig.

What sort of fence is the fencing company going to put up? You want something that is a visual barrier. Chain link won't work and the tort will likely injure itself on that sort of thing. Leopards aren't climbers and a 16 inch tall wall will hold them in nicely. I like to use slumpstone block stacked three high with the middle row off set with a half block for strength. This is nice because its easily moved, adjusted, or expanded, and it looks much nicer tan cinder blocks.

If you have dogs, a 4 foot tall cain link fence will keep most dogs out, but you'll need a visual barrier around the bottom for the tortoise. In this case a 12 inch tall strip of plywood will do it. You can get four 12 inch x 8 foot strips from one $20 sheet of plywood, and you can paint it a pleasant color if you like.

You can also use corrugated roofing plastic stuck vertically into the ground with a pressure treated frame around it. I'll show pics.

What do you mean a "locking top" on your fencing? Do you mean the night box? Or do you mean you are making this whole area into a giant cage? But if the latter were the case, you'd need a gate, not a locking top. Please clarify for me. What is the plan?

Also, this area looks great, but 10x20 really isn't large enough for an adult leopard. I'd recommend at least 30x30, or the equivalent. Some females will grow to 18 inches, and this area is really too small for that. SA leopards can get to 24 inches in some cases. If you are confined to just this area, would you consider other tortoise species? Any of the Testudo would fit nicely into an area this size and do well in your climate too.

You will need to ID the plant on the back wall and verify that it isn't something toxic. Though you might read otherwise, tortoises will absolutely eat toxic plants and kill themselves. Some people assert otherwise, but I've seen enough dead ones at my tortoise vet friends clinics to convince me otherwise. I think what happens is the sometimes, some tortoises will choose to not eat a toxic plant if given the opportunity. The short-sighted owner of that tortoise then erroneously concludes that no tortoise will ever eat a toxic plant under any circumstance, and loudly says so on the internet. Beware of what you find on the internet for tortoise care. Most of it is wrong.

Here are some pictures showing what I mentioned above:
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I hope these ideas help!

Here is some general tortoise info for you too:

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Hi Tom!

Curious your thoughts on which types of tortoises would be best suited for BC Canada climate with the space available outside mentioned above? TIA

 

[Tom]

Hi Tom!

Curious your thoughts on which types of tortoises would be best suited for BC Canada climate with the space available outside mentioned above? TIA

A small species that can be reasonably housed indoors for your long winters. Something that brumates, like one of the many Testudo species, make winter easy peasy. Something that stay up would just need to be small enough to live inside all winter. Egyptians, pancakes, stars, etc...

 

[Tortellini0000]

A small species that can be reasonably housed indoors for your long winters. Something that brumates, like one of the many Testudo species, make winter easy peasy. Something that stay up would just need to be small enough to live inside all winter. Egyptians, pancakes, stars, etc...

Thanks Tom!

Just thinking ahead - if I was to get a star and create an enclosed chamber say starting with a 3x4 for the first year and adding on to reach 3x8 ( like the one mark creates- I think) for when they are 3 plus years.. what’s the lowest temp I could put my star outside during the day for a few hours? Just trying to be super prepared! Thanks again

 

[Tom]

what’s the lowest temp I could put my star outside during the day for a few hours?

There are several important factors to consider here. Wind, rain, sun...
65F dry and sunny, would probably be fine because the tortoise could warm up by basking in the sun. 75F and overcast with a light wind after a rain might be too cool due to evaporative cooling, with no ability to get warmer since the sun is behind the clouds.

So the answer to your question is: It depends.

If its not sunny, there is really no point in putting the tortoise outside. If it is sunny, then I would watch the tortoise's behavior. If its too cold, the tortoise will likely go park in a corner or under a bush. If its warm enough, the tortoise will likely walk around, explore, and graze.

 

[SinLA]

Hi Tom!

Curious your thoughts on which types of tortoises would be best suited for BC Canada climate with the space available outside mentioned above? TIA

Flagging @Tom . Also this may be best as its own thread