New star enclosure

[Neal]

Here are pictures of the hide box I made for them. I used bricks instead of wood to avoid rotting (though I used wood steaks to hold up the bricks).


The steaks prevent the bricks from falling inward, this will be covered with dirt which will prevent the outer brick from falling the other direction.


top peices


Covered with dirt


I ended up changing the direction of the opening. Originally it faced south and that particular area has direct sunlight for almost the whole day and didn't provide much of an escape from the heat. I changed it to face east, and with the bricks and dirt together it should be well insulated.

 

[jdawn]

Very clever hide box! Thanks for sharing

 

[Tropical Torts]

Awsome hide I think I will put one in my enclosure! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Stephanie Logan]

Very nice! You could have used a couple "models" there for scale and to better show off the hide, though!

How do they like it?

 

[Neal]

Thank you for the comments! Well, as for right now the tortoises find the mound of dirt over it more exciting than actually inside. I've seen them in there a few times, but as you might be able to tell they are in my pool pump area where I have one of those green mesh cover things from home depot over to keep the pump from getting sun damage and they seem to enjoy being under that more. I just wanted to give them another option before the 110 + temperatures get here in a couple months.

The bricks are about 16" * 6" * 2", so the way I positioned the bricks the inside is about 16" * 12" *6". I'll put up some more pictures this week and try to get one with my tortoises inside.

 

[TortieLuver]

oh memories! I can recall doing that same thing along my masonry block wall. Good job with your enclosure.