RT's enclosure is coming along. The weeds are growing and I've found lots of advise online to make his living conditions the best I can. I wish I could have uploaded the photos my gallery, but that doesn't seem to work. 
RT's Outdoor Enclosure
- Thread starter Foursteels
- Start date
Nice!!!
Looks great what plants have you been using in there
I have clover, aloe, succulents, a flowering cactus plant, grass covered hides, common beggar tick, cucumber, squash, and I planted a bunch of seeds that I bought from www.tortoisesupply.com that have weeds growing around the enclosure.
Tortoise_Wrangler
Member
Nice work, it looks really good.
You're so lucky to live where what we call "house plants" here in my area actually grow in the ground in your area. That plant in back of your new habitat with the gold, green and red leaves is a croton. House plant here.
That Croton is used to hide the enclosure from view. I live in an HOA community and need to make it as unnoticeable as possible.lol
Very nicely done. I love it.
AnimalLady
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2015
- Messages
- 1,134
I love it! It looks AWESOME!
I agree; very nicely done! 
And such a cutie!
I can't identify all the plants but it's nice to see a variety, which is key for the Russian tortoise! If you haven't already used it, www.thetortoisetable.org.uk has more great tortoise plants, many of which I was able to cross-reference against a list of native Michigan species to make my garden even hardier! He has enough evening primrose to last a lifetime!!
And such a cutie!I can't identify all the plants but it's nice to see a variety, which is key for the Russian tortoise! If you haven't already used it, www.thetortoisetable.org.uk has more great tortoise plants, many of which I was able to cross-reference against a list of native Michigan species to make my garden even hardier! He has enough evening primrose to last a lifetime!!
I rarely see RT nibble on any of it yet. He eats Raddichio, Belgian Endive, Boston Lettuce, Romaine Lettuce and sprinx mix that I put out each morning. He doesn't seem to like weeds though. lol
Aww, I feel like my Russian recently discovered dandelion and it's still so amazing to him every time he eats it! If you slowly introduce small amounts of new plants, like more weeds, he will start to adjust and try new things.
I like to try to make sure he's getting a little bit of veggies, like radicchio and lettuce, as well as weeds, like dandelion, and this year I've had another option available to him: flowers and other nursery plants. Although it's more of wildflower than something you'd find at a nursery, the evening primrose has grown immensely this year (max of 5') and Steve loves the leaves -- his Mommy just has to pick them for him because the plant is too tall for him to reach!
Other flowers I have for him are hollyhock, some Viola (pansies), Aster, Coreopsis, and Echinacea. A mix of many of these plants seem to be treating him quite well!! And his garden displayed some lovely colors this year.
I like to try to make sure he's getting a little bit of veggies, like radicchio and lettuce, as well as weeds, like dandelion, and this year I've had another option available to him: flowers and other nursery plants. Although it's more of wildflower than something you'd find at a nursery, the evening primrose has grown immensely this year (max of 5') and Steve loves the leaves -- his Mommy just has to pick them for him because the plant is too tall for him to reach!
Other flowers I have for him are hollyhock, some Viola (pansies), Aster, Coreopsis, and Echinacea. A mix of many of these plants seem to be treating him quite well!! And his garden displayed some lovely colors this year.
The enclosure is surrounded by small hibiscus plants and can you believe RT will not touch their flowers or leaves.Also, being in Florida, you have the perfect climate to get your tortoise a favorite treat: Hibiscus!!
What a mysterious little dude!!!The enclosure is surrounded by small hibiscus plants and can you believe RT will not touch their flowers or leaves.
Too bad my RT doesn't like hibiscus.
That's beautiful. It looks tort heaven.
Definitely tort heaven!! Until your tort decides to give them a try, the hibiscus add some lovely color to your yard!! 
Hopefully it doesn't grow too tall too fast for your garden though. I'm sure he'll become a more adventurous eater the more he's out in the enclosure. And he's probably getting optimal vitamin D levels in that delightful Florida sun (lucky!)!!
Hopefully it doesn't grow too tall too fast for your garden though. I'm sure he'll become a more adventurous eater the more he's out in the enclosure. And he's probably getting optimal vitamin D levels in that delightful Florida sun (lucky!)!!
Definitely tort heaven!! Until your tort decides to give them a try, the hibiscus add some lovely color to your yard!!
He's been out in the enclosure since we got him. He has never been in our house, although I have a 55 gallon tub in my pool enclosure under cover in case of bad weather. It's been over 2 months and he still won't use that water dish in the picture. If I place him in it, he'll take a drink and run...will never soak himself in it. He does like the rain though and if I mist the enclosure he comes right out of hiding to enjoy the moisture.
My Russian hates water too! He can't stand "bath time" when I give him a soak. Or when I'm bringing him in from his outdoor enclosure, I will be sure to wash the dirt off of him, and he just cannot stand it! If he had his way, he would be covered in a layer of dirt all the time! XD
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