Outdoor Tortoise Enclosure Fence

[JOREK Sulcata]

Hello, Bogart, our 100lb sulcatta currently has a 32’x32’ outdoor “fenced” in area which we want to replace with a larger area almost twice as big. When we got her, already full grown we were told her fence could not have holes or gaps which would allow her to see outside her area because she would attempt to escape to eat the “greener grass on the other side”. So her current enclosure is made of two foot high plywood which has no gaps anywhere. It was a lot of work for me to install and I am looking to find an easier solution for the new enclosure. I got some regular wood fence quotes, but there will be some gaps at the ground and definitely at the gates.

My main question is; do sulcattas truly try to escape if they can see beyond their enclosure?
Also, does anyone have any enclosure fence ideas for a approx 50’x50’ area?
Last one, does anyone have a “house” idea for a large sulcatta? All insulated dog houses seem too small.

Thanks!
Bogarts dad

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Some will try some wont.. depends on the individual ( i would just go without the gaps. Ur cheapest way out would be plywood cut into 16 inch strips with 4x4’s or 2x4’s sunken 2 ft into the ground to screw or nail ur plywood to. That gets u 24 ft per 4x8 sheet of plywood. Paint the plywood with a good outdoor paint to make it last longer. Hope this helps

 

[jaizei]

CMU/cinder blocks are probably the most cost effective and longest lasting.

 

[Yvonne G]

I used 16' corral planks on 4'x4' posts. For a full grown sulcata I went four planks high.

 

[Maggie3fan]

This shed was outfitted for my 100+ Sulcata...it's 20'x12' heated and insulated.
there is a "sleeping box" with an Osborne heat mat in it...
This heater helps keep the temperature at a steady 85 degrees...
and a doggie door for ease of movement
My pens are made using cinderblock and 3 ft cedar fencing.
Part is the cedar fence
Mary Knobbins plays with the tires...

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

CMU/cinder blocks are probably the most cost effective and longest lasting.

Id agree longer lasting. But cost effective and the amount of manual labor would suck cactus pads for that size enclosure lol

 

[Tom]

Id agree longer lasting. But cost effective and the amount of manual labor would suck cactus pads for that size enclosure lol

I don't agree. The labor part is no big deal. I've laid out 1000s of blocks 3 and 4 blocks high and run through dozens of leather work gloves in the process. I bought a truck load of 11 pallets at one time, plus all the ones I already had, and I've set them out, removed them, and re-set them many times over the years. It actually goes pretty quickly.

The problem is that unless you mortar them in and make them permanent, a large sulcata will knock them over and escape fairly easily. Ask me how I know this...

Your post and plywood idea is the best way I know to do it for sulcatas. Same basic premise with Yvonne's planks.

@JOREK Sulcata
Minor gaps here and there, like around the gates, are not a problem. You just don't want something completely see-through like chain link or hog wire for a sulcata. Some species seem to be able to live behind that with out injuring themselves, but not sulcatas. Gaps on the ground should be remedied with dirt, and maintained over time.

Here are the night box threads for you:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Here is the 4x8 rendering of Tom's Night Box. With Exploded view.

This is a rendering I did based off of @Tom 's heated night box enclosure. Its probably not a 100% accurate. Door is offset to one side for my personal needs but can easily be moved. Let me know if you see any issues with it. Feed back appreciated. High res renderings can be downloaded here...

tortoiseforum.org

What You'll Need to Build A Night Box

I just typed up a list of the needed supplies to build a night box and thought I'd copy paste it here: For sulcatas, I make the doors 26x16". This will fit all but the largest of large males for their entire life. If you end up with one of the giants, you will eventually have to make another...

tortoiseforum.org

Dog houses are designed for dogs. You are correct that they don't work well for tortoises.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Id agree longer lasting. But cost effective and the amount of manual labor would suck cactus pads for that size enclosure lol

Habitat for Humanity Restore sells cinder blocks for $1. Every 6 months or so, I change the pens around so the grass can rest...I am 78 years old...and it's nothing to moving them around. Those photos were taken a couple of years ago, Mary K is now in pens that are 3 high with the block. She gets on her back legs and simply uses Sulcata strength to pound against the top blocks and eventually knocks them over. But because she is my only big tort I pay much more attention to her and am able to catch her before she creates a hole...I pound iron posts in or t-posts in a spot that she favors until I change them around again..I'm just grateful she doesn't dig...