NancyinSoCa
New Member
First time potential tortoise owner (on my own- had a desert tortoise as a child). I’m located in Eagle Rock (Pasadena adjacent in Los Angeles).
Trying to narrow down tortoise options before I build an outdoor enclosure. My yard has a few choices for location, but my house is too small for an indoor tortoise. My outdated dream was a larger yard tortoise locked up at night, but I realize we have way too many poisonous plants for a free range friend, not to mention other potential hazards.
The best option sun-wise is pictured in the attachment. The biggest drawback is that is a mandarin tree that I cannot remove. We pick fallen fruit daily to reduce critters, but if it’s an absolute no go, we can all stop here. ?. Raking leaves would not be an issue. We also have an avocado tree but the leaves don’t fall in this area, but we know to keep a lookout. On the plus side, we have organic grape vines around the corner that can be picked.
My choices are this:
-Fence in the whole garden area. Calla lillies and ivy would be removed. Sago palm could be cut back and be outside of an enclosure. The top of the gentle slope has an electrical outlet by that lamp post, so would be a good place for a heated box that could be locked at night- we have the usual raccoons, skunks, and possums. Even during Los Angeles mini monsoons, only the bottom couple feet of the slope stay damp for more than a day. We’d like to keep the raised beds. If we go for this option, I was thinking a Hermann’s or a Greek would be good options.
-If this doesn’t seem ideal, we could build a box approx 9x4 on the far side of the furthest planter box, add a hinged heavy duty wire lid, and get a Russian. Would a Russian need a heated box? Because getting electrical to this spot would be more difficult.
I don’t think I’m ideally set up for hibernating over winter (not consistently cold enough).
I’m a long time horse handler, and while they’re no reptiles, I am achingly familiar with obsessive level daily needs of persnickety animals. Plus this gives me great access to really good timothy hay. I will probably buy my time and try to purchase or adopt a true adult/ middle aged tortoise, because that’s how I like all my animals. I want to get an ideal enclosure settled first and then work around that.
Please hit me with anything that comes to mind.
TIA for reading this far!
Trying to narrow down tortoise options before I build an outdoor enclosure. My yard has a few choices for location, but my house is too small for an indoor tortoise. My outdated dream was a larger yard tortoise locked up at night, but I realize we have way too many poisonous plants for a free range friend, not to mention other potential hazards.
The best option sun-wise is pictured in the attachment. The biggest drawback is that is a mandarin tree that I cannot remove. We pick fallen fruit daily to reduce critters, but if it’s an absolute no go, we can all stop here. ?. Raking leaves would not be an issue. We also have an avocado tree but the leaves don’t fall in this area, but we know to keep a lookout. On the plus side, we have organic grape vines around the corner that can be picked.
My choices are this:
-Fence in the whole garden area. Calla lillies and ivy would be removed. Sago palm could be cut back and be outside of an enclosure. The top of the gentle slope has an electrical outlet by that lamp post, so would be a good place for a heated box that could be locked at night- we have the usual raccoons, skunks, and possums. Even during Los Angeles mini monsoons, only the bottom couple feet of the slope stay damp for more than a day. We’d like to keep the raised beds. If we go for this option, I was thinking a Hermann’s or a Greek would be good options.
-If this doesn’t seem ideal, we could build a box approx 9x4 on the far side of the furthest planter box, add a hinged heavy duty wire lid, and get a Russian. Would a Russian need a heated box? Because getting electrical to this spot would be more difficult.
I don’t think I’m ideally set up for hibernating over winter (not consistently cold enough).
I’m a long time horse handler, and while they’re no reptiles, I am achingly familiar with obsessive level daily needs of persnickety animals. Plus this gives me great access to really good timothy hay. I will probably buy my time and try to purchase or adopt a true adult/ middle aged tortoise, because that’s how I like all my animals. I want to get an ideal enclosure settled first and then work around that.
Please hit me with anything that comes to mind.
TIA for reading this far!
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