Star Tortoise Paludarium

[clayjen]

I have a pair of star tortoises housed the majority of the time indoors. Is it safe to add a paludarium to their enclosure. More like a flat rocky stream (Just trickling water running over flat rocks, nothing elaborate.) Maybe I could put their water dish at the end for soaking. Thoughts?
Thanks for the feedback. I am trying to make thier enclosure a bit more stimulating. Are there any other reptiles or amphibians I can add to the enclosure?

 

[TammyJ]

Hi and welcome. Some pictures of your tortoises and the enclosure would be helpful if you would like to get our expert keepers to comment and offer their advice.

 

[clayjen]

I have a pair of star tortoises housed the majority of the time indoors. Is it safe to add a paludarium to their enclosure. More like a flat rocky stream (Just trickling water running over flat rocks, nothing elaborate.) Maybe I could put their water dish at the end for soaking. Thoughts?
Thanks for the feedback. I am trying to make thier enclosure a bit more stimulating. Are there any other reptiles or amphibians I can add to the enclosure?

Hi- yes here are a couple of pics. The enclosure is approx 8'-6" long x 3' wide. I marked a blue line where I was thinking of putting it.

 

[TammyJ]

@Tom @wellington @zovick please respond.

 

[clayjen]

Hi- following up on if installing a narrow shallow paludarium would be ok for my star tortoises? Can any other reptiles be put in with them? What plants are safe to put in their enclosure? Thanks!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi- yes here are a couple of pics. The enclosure is approx 8'-6" long x 3' wide. I marked a blue line where I was thinking of putting it.

That's really nice. Are you the talented builder?

 

[clayjen]

I do enjoy building, I was thinking of putting a second level below. Anything for these guys!

 

[SinLA]

I can't answer your question about the plants, but its really an impressive build job, congrats.

Do you have two in there? If so I'd split it into two sections so they are separate.

 

[clayjen]

I have a male and female about 3 years old. Is there a reason to keep them seperate?

 

[SinLA]

Yes, they cannot be kept in pairs. One will be aggressive to another, in ways which most people don't recognize as bullying. Eventually one will become big and strong, and the other will stay small and weak and not thrive. The male will most likely bully/pester the female to death.

Please read this as a good place to start:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Tom]

I have a pair of star tortoises housed the majority of the time indoors. Is it safe to add a paludarium to their enclosure. More like a flat rocky stream (Just trickling water running over flat rocks, nothing elaborate.) Maybe I could put their water dish at the end for soaking. Thoughts?
Thanks for the feedback. I am trying to make thier enclosure a bit more stimulating. Are there any other reptiles or amphibians I can add to the enclosure?

You could, but it will be a constant mess. They will forever be tracking substrate and poop into it, but it would be super cool if you don't mind cleaning it all out every day.

Tortoises should never be housed in pairs. Groups can work, but never pairs.

Species should never be mixed. You should not add any other animals of any kind to the enclosure.

 

[clayjen]

Yes, they cannot be kept in pairs. One will be aggressive to another, in ways which most people don't recognize as bullying. Eventually one will become big and strong, and the other will stay small and weak and not thrive. The male will most likely bully/pester the female to death.

Please read this as a good place to start:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Thanks for the info, I'll start building a space for my boy tomorrow!