there went my budget, and my back!!

[MollyNMM]

Hi everyone! I've been missing for a few weeks and here's why! At last, the outdoor enclosure we've been building is just about done.

Here are the details:
It measures 10' x 10', 2' tall. It is lined underground with wire 1' - 2' deep. It is made of brick and mort with redwood (unfinished) to frame the 4 wire side doors -(for roaming time), and top (to pred. proof). The hide is 2' x 3' and is heated. The "pond" is 2' x 1 - 2" deep. Starting planting from the edible list (soaked to clean) and dug out the starts of two burrows to encourage digging on the deeper side. Stacked rocks for basking.. and I think that's about it!

I've got blisters and slivers so please be kind - what have I missed??

Here are the pics:

Front shot, top open


front view, looking inside


looking in through side doors



and all closed up for safety

 

[jhaddad04]

that's awesome

 

[jdawn]

That's Fabulous! Superbly done!
~Now,... go indulge in ibuprofen or other drug of choice!

 

[DeanS]

Very ambitious and VERY NICE!

 

[terryo]

Wow!...now THAT's a professional looking enclosure. I am speechless. It reminds me of a little cottage with a yard and pond. All your work was well worth it. Wonderful!

 

[MollyNMM]

thanks all ~ so nice to hear! Now all I've got to figure out is what to put in it!

 

[terryo]

Wait a minute.....you don't even have a tort or turt and you built that beautiful enclosure. What are you planning to get? Damn....you could put almost anything in there.

 

[Kristina]

Definitely don't have to worry about predators, unless you have vicious brick eating squirrels around, lol.

Very beautiful. Impressive! Take a couple Motrin, you certainly deserve it

That looks like a Redfoot home waiting to happen!!!

 

[bettinge]

That is very impressive, and permenent for sure! Its easy to see it cost a lot in both effort and dollars, but well worth it.

Good job!

 

[Yvonne G]

That is just absolutely wonderful!! You and your husband did a great job making a safe and pretty home for a turtle or tortoise. I can see a couple of box turtles in there.

 

[Tom]

Holy cow. That's fantastic. Wow.

 

[terryo]

Yup...I was thinking boxie too.

 

[ChiKat]

Wow that is incredible!! I'm so impressed.

 

[TortieLuver]

So Awesome! Tortie is going to be spoiled!

 

[terracolson]

box turtles...i agree

 

[Jenilyn]

I <3 it!!!!!!!!!

 

[MollyNMM]

Wow! Thanks for all of the kind words.. sooths the muscles a bit! (Motrin is helping as well

Sooo- yes, I do have a tort. My drama unfolded on this forum.. I thought I had a Russian and built this for her - with the thinking that we would get more Russians - expand the herd (the "why" behind the size and materials used).

Here is where I learned that she is actually a Greek.. a Caspian Greek from Danny. Many thanks to him!! So expanding the herd is not as likely an option (as he also shared that they are not very common)

I'm now thinking since I'd still like to expand.. and now I've really go the space... something different. Love all the suggestions!! Had thought Russians, Greeks, etc. Had not thought boxie.. hmmm...

 

[Kristina]

Why not look into other Greeks? I believe that different subspecies can be housed together. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Mango]

this is the most beautiful outdoor enclosure I've seen--and I"ve been reearching for months! i wish we had a warmer climate to do something similar. great work and thanks for sharing. inspiring!

-mango's person

 

[Laijla]

Fantastic! thanks for sharing the pictures and some serious Motrin is well deserved!

Laijla