Outdoor Enclosures, Digging out??

[mia.leopard.tort]

Hi! I'm planning on building Scooter, my one and a half year old Leopard, an outdoor enclosure soon. I don't plan on leaving him out there at night, just during the day. However I'm still worried about his digging out. I don't want to put a bottom to the enclosure because he loves the grass and weeds so he should have access to the ground. Will he dig out? Could I just put those dig spikes on the outside of the enclosure or do those not work? Let me know, thank you! Also any other types of tips are welcome!

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

He will love it outside if he can see outside of the enclosure he may try to dig out but if he can't see out he shouldn't try to dig out Leopards are not big diggers

 

[Tom]

Hi! I'm planning on building Scooter, my one and a half year old Leopard, an outdoor enclosure soon. I don't plan on leaving him out there at night, just during the day. However I'm still worried about his digging out. I don't want to put a bottom to the enclosure because he loves the grass and weeds so he should have access to the ground. Will he dig out? Could I just put those dig spikes on the outside of the enclosure or do those not work? Let me know, thank you! Also any other types of tips are welcome!

I agree with Grandpa. Leopards aren't diggers.

 

[wellington]

I have 3 leopards and they can all see outside of their fence. They are not diggers and have never attempted to dig. No need to worry about that.

 

[Renee_H]

Mine isn’t a digger or a climber at all. Never been an issue.

 

[mia.leopard.tort]

Okay thank you all!! I'll probably post some updates on the build

 

[TammyJ]

Okay thank you all!! I'll probably post some updates on the build

Please do keep us updated!

 

[mia.leopard.tort]

Any recommendations on how big I should make it? He's obviously not too big yet. 4x8 sound good?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Any recommendations on how big I should make it? He's obviously not too big yet. 4x8 sound good?

Excited to see this! I’d maybe go a bit bigger than that for outdoors, gives him longer until you’d have to expand

 

[Tom]

Any recommendations on how big I should make it? He's obviously not too big yet. 4x8 sound good?

Much larger than that if possible. 4x8 is a good size for babies. GO BIG! You will see your tortoise explore and walk every inch of whatever you make for it. No one ever thinks they should have gone smaller with their outdoor enclosures. Always bigger.

 

[P Birch]

Any recommendations on how big I should make it? He's obviously not too big yet. 4x8 sound good?

I definitely agree with the above. Maximizing what your situation allows would be something you would not regret.

I'm entering Year 3 with a single male Russian tortoise. The enclosure is irregularly shaped, but roughly 12' X 16'. He's a rambling man and every bit of that space is used.

The larger the size the more available microclimates can exist. I think this is critically important. A tortoise with a greater diversity of conditions to choose between is a tortoise that's better off. And less stressed. One side of a large rock will be different than the other. The north side of the south wall will be different from the south side of the north wall. Under the rose bush vs. on top of the flat stones. In rock cave vs. in cold frame. Variety is good! I have found it fascinating to watch him make his choices during the day and during different seasons. Much can be learned from a tortoise.

Best wishes, and enjoy.

 

[Tom]

I definitely agree with the above. Maximizing what your situation allows would be something you would not regret.

I'm entering Year 3 with a single male Russian tortoise. The enclosure is irregularly shaped, but roughly 12' X 16'. He's a rambling man and every bit of that space is used.

The larger the size the more available microclimates can exist. I think this is critically important. A tortoise with a greater diversity of conditions to choose between is a tortoise that's better off. And less stressed. One side of a large rock will be different than the other. The north side of the south wall will be different from the south side of the north wall. Under the rose bush vs. on top of the flat stones. In rock cave vs. in cold frame. Variety is good! I have found it fascinating to watch him make his choices during the day and during different seasons. Much can be learned from a tortoise.

Best wishes, and enjoy.

Excellent post!