hi! i’m planning on starting to build an outdoor enclosure (i measured the area at 10ft x 3 or 4ft) for my ≈1.5yr old redfoot and just wanted to know if i’m missing any crucial steps. first i’m thinking of pouring boiling water on the area to kill any ants or anything that might be there. then i’ll dig up the grass since it’ll be difficult to keep it mowed. i bought 50ft of tenax multipurpose net which is made of polypropylene and was thinking of lining the bottom with that so he won’t dig his way out (please let me know if that is a good idea) and i will add extra dirt so he can burrow. after i finish that is there anything else i should do, maybe to keep out bugs or anything else, before i actually start on the frame and whatnot?
Next steps for outdoor enclosure?
- Thread starter neelia
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- outdoor enclosure redfoot
A few things:
1. Boiling water might kill the ants that come into direct contact with it, but it won't do anything to the majority of the colony underground. You need to use Amdro ant granules and let the ants carry it down into the colony. They will usually make all the pesticide disappear in a couple of hours. Do NOT let the tortoise have access to the granules at any time. Start in the enclosure area and then radiate out across your whole property. The farther back you push them, the longer it will take for them to come back. Stay vigilant. You can also try Terro Ant Baits. These are close to non-toxic. It's just sugar water and boric acid, so harmless to pets and us. Sometimes they work and sometimes not as much.
2. Some grass might be good. If it grows tall, they can use it to hide in. You can always weed whack part of it or most of it as needed to keep it under control when the tortoise is not in there.
3. RFs don't burrow or dig and they don't dig out. Just be sure the walls are opaque and not made of see-through fencing.
4. 10x3 is pretty small for a 1.5 year old. Can you go bigger? 12x6? 10x10? You will need to go much bigger one way or anther in the next year or two.
