Testudo horsfieldii out enclosure question

[Pancake Dave]

I’m currently finishing my outdoor pen and have a few questions about fence depth.
What’s the best way to secure the bottom of the fence so the tortoises do not burrow out? Digging down 2-3” then filling with rock or gravel, or have other ideas worked better?

 

[wellington]

I laid fencing down and then built the sides on top of it along the edge. You can then either lay dirt and plant grass/weed seeds or let the grass and weeds that ate already there just grow thru. No digging.

 

[Tom]

You can lay a row of pavers all along the inside against the wall.

I buried wire in an 18 inch deep trench.

Be sure you have a visual barrier about 12 inches high all along the bottom.

 

[Pancake Dave]

Thanks all. I have a 16” tall fence with a lid. I ended up burying bricks and 4x4s around all sides of the 8’x8’ pen. Pics once finished.

 

[Pancake Dave]

Done and done. My only regret is that I should have made it larger. It is still cooler here, so one underground shelter will suffice for the week. There is a tree overhead that in spring will cover enough that they will have shade and access to sunlight. Clover and tortoise broadleaf are planted and just need to grow in.