The new outside Enclosure

[Robbo90]

I would love any and all advice...

I have my plans drawn out and my shopping list made. It is just going to be about 2 months to save up the money but after researching all I have and such this is what I have come up with the outside enclosure for my soon to be rescued Russian...

I honestly don't have much money to spend at all and this is what I have come up with...

I will be doing a 5ftx5ft enclosure out of cinder blocks. I plan on making a roof to lay over top of it that has a hinge in the middle for easy access into it. I plan on tilling the dirt up in the location with some top soil (no additives) and barring some bricks under it all for digging. I have two hides planned out to build under ground. Each one facing a different location. I found a few I really liked, digging large holes, placing bricks around the inside and laying a slab over top and then covering it with the dirt but leaving an entrance. Then plants! Our 1 acre of land is already weeds - so I am hoping a lot of those will naturally grow after tilling up the area again, then I plan on some of the seed mixes I found around online through the tortoise shops. I already bought a couple of the mixes. Of course a water dish, food slab, rocks. I plan on making some smaller hills in there... my first russian tortoise who I had for over 10yrs loved loved loved climbing up and down "mountains" we'd build him.

Um... I believe that is what I have so far...

 

[Sosakan]

Sounds like a rockin enclosure! How are you going to heat everything up? Also, will the underground hides be heated in any way? I'd like to see sketches of what you want to do for the underground hides, I am collecting ideas for a future project

 

[Robbo90]

I don't plan on doing any outside heat. He/She will only be out during the summer months. I will gladly upload some photos.

Do you believe an outside run of 5ftx5ft for 3 to 4 months of the year is good size for a russian?

 

[Sosakan]

I don't plan on doing any outside heat. He/She will only be out during the summer months. I will gladly upload some photos.

Do you believe an outside run of 5ftx5ft for 3 to 4 months of the year is good size for a russian?

I think the motto here is "bigger the better" but I would say that's enough, if you can make it bigger, do so, if you can't this is good enough, that's my thinking on it. Also, about the roof, make sure it doesn't block the uvb Rays, if the mesh is too tight they will block it, something like chicken wire works well.

 

[Robbo90]

Thanks for letting me know that, I had no idea! Chicken wire was what I was going to use. I have a lot of ducks and chickens so a lot of the building material I already have, thank goodness, makes it a tad easier.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Cinderblocks come in two sizes (maybe more). You can use the narrower cheaper ones to save money. If you're lucky you can find used ones for free or very cheap.

I'm not sure why you'd want to dig up the grass & weeds in the entire enclosure.

Why line the hide with brick? You want your tortoise to be able to dig down.

What are your thoughts about the roof? Not knowing where you are, I don't know about your weather or local predators. You do want sun & rain to enter, and still have shelter too.

 

[Sosakan]

Cinderblocks come in two sizes (maybe more). You can use the narrower cheaper ones to save money. If you're lucky you can find used ones for free or very cheap.

I'm not sure why you'd want to dig up the grass & weeds in the entire enclosure.

Why line the hide with brick? You want your tortoise to be able to dig down.

What are your thoughts about the roof? Not knowing where you are, I don't know about your weather or local predators. You do want sun & rain to enter, and still have shelter too.

I agree, why get rid of weeds if they are already there? Sow the seeds on the weeds and see what grows, but don't get rid of what you already have. Still waiting on pics, even drawings