Outdoor enclosure

[djhoff22]

We just finished our cute tortoise enclosure. Just wanted to share....!

 

[Tort Love]

Very cute

 

[Jodie]

It's very cute. What is the white stuff in the substrate? I am concerned your tortoise will eat those. I love the flowers. Can he get over the wall?

 

[Jacqui]

Jodie asked my first two concerns.. The white in the substrate and climbing issues. Might want to atleast put caps on those corners. What is going in here? I love the shape. will look even better as everything grows and spreads out. Does it get any shade from sources outside of the picture? Is this for when your out near it/them or all day long?

 

[WithLisa]

I would plant lots of edible weeds, add some stones and hides and cover the whole enclosure with hardware cloth or at least with a bird net.

The flowers look nice, but if you bought them from a store they were probably treated with pesticides and other harmful stuff.
What is that plant on the bottom left? I just ask because it looks like a tomato (but I guess you would not put poisonous plants in the enclosure).

 

[Maro2Bear]

Bottom left is definitely a tomato plant, I don't think they are good greens for torts. I see a pepper plant and strawberry plants, some petunias and one UI ornamental that looks like a dahlia, but i don't think it is.

 

[leigti]

I have heard that tomato leaves and stems are poisonous.

 

[Jacqui]

I have heard that tomato leaves and stems are poisonous.

You read that a lot, but at the same time I know many who have them in the enclosures. *shrugs*

 

[WithLisa]

You read that a lot, but at the same time I know many who have them in the enclosures. *shrugs*

But do you know for sure that those tortoises ate them (more than a bite) and survived? I don't know about reptiles, but tomatoplants are very poisonous for mammals.
I've never seen a tortoise eat something poisonous, they have quite good instincts, but I would rather not try, especially in an enclosure like this without many other edible plants to choose from.

 

[teresaf]

I love the looks! But can you add some height to the walls? And change the dirt? We're not nitpicking. we don't know whats going in there but unless it's REAL small it can get out. If it's that small a bird could get it so a cover would be good. But not to pleasing to the eye. If he's being watched all the time that's different. Doesn't help with the birds though. I love the looks though. beats the heck out of my temporary idea-baby pool.

 

[Jacqui]

But do you know for sure that those tortoises ate them (more than a bite) and survived? I don't know about reptiles, but tomatoplants are very poisonous for mammals.
I've never seen a tortoise eat something poisonous, they have quite good instincts, but I would rather not try, especially in an enclosure like this without many other edible plants to choose from.

No I do not recall the tortoise size in relationship to how much it ate. You will recall, I asked what type of tortoise is going in here. I would feel safe with a tomato in with my hingebacks or redfoots for instance, but not my Russians or dulcatas. No that I ever myself would plant a to.ato plant. I know many plants unsafe for mammals work with tortoises and we are discovering more and more all the time.

 

[teresaf]

Well, better safe than sorry, right? A big bushy romaine plant or collard would look just as good...

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Nice enclosure, but best remove the tomato plant, if that's what it is.
My Tidgy would be out of there like a shot, though.
Might be an idea to raise the walls a little.

 

[djhoff22]

Hey guys, My tortoise has not be in this "enclosure" I am keeping this as a garden. I will be setting up something similar to this with tort friendly edibles. The walls will be a bit higher its still small so I am not concern with escaping...yet. Its just a test run to get an idea of what I want the real enclosure to look like. I will also have some type of cover for it....not sure what exactly. The location is right outside the kitchen door. The enclosure will be for a cherryhead. I will start the actual enclosure once the semester ends in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for all your advise and concern. Any ideas are welcome. Thank you!!