I am planning out my first home-made enclosure and already have way too many questions. The most important issue is that it needs to be portable, as I'm planning on moving within a couple of years.
The plan so far is to make a 4x6x3ft box out of some leftover timbers we have after making a retaining wall. The bottom will be chicken wire to allow for drainage while also keeping the little rascal inside. I'm planning on maybe 5 inches of soil all around, which will also be covered by cypress mulch in some areas. I do have some landscaping rocks and things I've been collecting for an outdoor enclosure, but I have no idea what kind of plants to put in. The plan for right now is to also have chicken wire over the top but on hinges so that it can be fully opened from both sides.
My hope is this will be an outdoor enclosure for the remainder of Carl's life
My specific questions are:
Is 4x6 feet going to be a big enough area for a full grown Hermann's tortoise?
What kind of plants can I use in the enclosure for shade that tortoises don't particularly enjoy eating?
Is 5 inches of dirt going to be enough for a good root base while also being enough for a yearling Hermann's to dig in?
Any other helpful information and hints while I'm building this would be very much appreciated!
The plan so far is to make a 4x6x3ft box out of some leftover timbers we have after making a retaining wall. The bottom will be chicken wire to allow for drainage while also keeping the little rascal inside. I'm planning on maybe 5 inches of soil all around, which will also be covered by cypress mulch in some areas. I do have some landscaping rocks and things I've been collecting for an outdoor enclosure, but I have no idea what kind of plants to put in. The plan for right now is to also have chicken wire over the top but on hinges so that it can be fully opened from both sides.
My hope is this will be an outdoor enclosure for the remainder of Carl's life
My specific questions are:
Is 4x6 feet going to be a big enough area for a full grown Hermann's tortoise?
What kind of plants can I use in the enclosure for shade that tortoises don't particularly enjoy eating?
Is 5 inches of dirt going to be enough for a good root base while also being enough for a yearling Hermann's to dig in?
Any other helpful information and hints while I'm building this would be very much appreciated!