Outdoor enclosure ideas! Please help!!!!!!

Charlottesuzie

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Liverpool united kingdom
We have a baby sully we think coming up to being 1 year old!
When we got him we where in the process of revamping our garden and making it grass free obviously them plans have changed and now we are looking at adding a tortoise area. I know we will need grass and plants for him to graze and a hide for him but i am unsure as to how big it will need to be as i want it to last him a long time he is still indoors at the min in a vivarium!
Can you please show me pics or give advice on best way to make his outdoor living perfect!
Its currently winter here in liverpool UK but we plan on having his area done so he can spend the summer days outdoors we will still bring him in of a night as hes still only small
Many thanks in advance xxxx
 

Tom

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Here are some ideas, but the species you've chosen can grow to over 100 pounds and destroy a backyard. An adult needs at least 50 x 50 feet, but much larger would be much better. This species comes from a very hot part of the planet. Daily highs are near 37 C year round. To bring them outside for sun and exercise, it needs to be around 27-30 in a climate like yours. They don't do well with cold, overcast skies.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/
 

Relic

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One thing to keep in mind - whatever you build is not necessarily permanent. Over the ensuing years you will want to change things, improve things, enlarge things, so start out with the notion: "this is only the beginning, what are the must-haves right now." Build it in such a way that you can expand it over the years as your tortoise grows; maybe start in the corner of the yard, with adjacent space available for adding-on later. There is so much info and so many great pictures on this site, you are bound to find inspiration and direction. Enjoy it and share photos with us all.
 

Blackdog1714

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I have a weee bitty Russian compared to your Sully and my Tort eats a whole plaintain in 3 days. That is a 12" accross mature weed- luckily my alley is full of them for transplant. Good Luck and enjoy the awesome guidnace available. Like a whole army of Been There Done That.
 

Charlottesuzie

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Location (City and/or State)
Liverpool united kingdom
Here are some ideas, but the species you've chosen can grow to over 100 pounds and destroy a backyard. An adult needs at least 50 x 50 feet, but much larger would be much better. This species comes from a very hot part of the planet. Daily highs are near 37 C year round. To bring them outside for sun and exercise, it needs to be around 27-30 in a climate like yours. They don't do well with cold, overcast skies.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/

Thank you i am putting outdoor heat lamps and uv bulb in a “hotbox” so he can have space to roam but still have some where at an ideal temp to hide in
 

Tom

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Thank you i am putting outdoor heat lamps and uv bulb in a “hotbox” so he can have space to roam but still have some where at an ideal temp to hide in
Once they start nearing the 12 inch mark, its best to move away from heat lamps. Due to the size and shape of their bodies heat lamps become ineffective at heating them, and very likely to damage the top of their carapace. Radiant heat panels, Kane heat mats, radiant oil heaters, and either LED or florescent lighting will serve you better at that point, or before if you don't want to have to re-do it all.
 

Charlottesuzie

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Liverpool united kingdom
Once they start nearing the 12 inch mark, its best to move away from heat lamps. Due to the size and shape of their bodies heat lamps become ineffective at heating them, and very likely to damage the top of their carapace. Radiant heat panels, Kane heat mats, radiant oil heaters, and either LED or florescent lighting will serve you better at that point, or before if you don't want to have to re-do it all.

Perfect thank you hes 6 inches at the min growing nice and steadily weve just got him a 6ft viv for inside would you recommend we swap out the heat lamp in there for the heat mats? And LED lighting? We havent finished the set up so he is still in his first home for now
 

Tom

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Perfect thank you hes 6 inches at the min growing nice and steadily weve just got him a 6ft viv for inside would you recommend we swap out the heat lamp in there for the heat mats? And LED lighting? We havent finished the set up so he is still in his first home for now
Not yet. Just watch the basking temp closely. Measure the temperature at tortoise shell height, not at the substrate. I usually put a brick directly under the heat lamp and let it cook for a couple hours. Then measure surface temp, or place a digital thermometer there and let it get baked for a couple hours. This will tell you your maximum basking temp at that height. Adjust the wattage or the height of the bulb accordingly. It should be around 35-37 C.
 

Charlottesuzie

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Location (City and/or State)
Liverpool united kingdom
Not yet. Just watch the basking temp closely. Measure the temperature at tortoise shell height, not at the substrate. I usually put a brick directly under the heat lamp and let it cook for a couple hours. Then measure surface temp, or place a digital thermometer there and let it get baked for a couple hours. This will tell you your maximum basking temp at that height. Adjust the wattage or the height of the bulb accordingly. It should be around 35-37 C.

Thank you so much ill do that youve been a great help x
 

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