Tort yard progress...

[pugsandkids]

This is what we have so far.
The area is 11x7...

2x12 untreated fir

Planted with iceplant, salvia, petunia, hosta, fescue, strawberry and fushia

Waterdish, Oscar, and hosta!

Can/should I seed the rest to fill it in? What do you reccomend for outdoor hides? I'll be adding plants to it as I go! There will be copper piping cut a little long to go over the enclosure, with netting or screening to keep him secure during the day. He'll come in at night.
I'm open to any and all suggestions

 

[Missy]

Looks great you have a lucky tort.Weed and grass seed would be a great source of nutrition. You can use plant pots on there side buried part way for hides.

 

[terryo]

I put a few hosta's (I know you already have one) because I have about 6 turtles in my enclosure. They all love to sit under them. I think that's a great size and when the plants get established it will be fine. You can put some half logs around for him to hide under too. Ground cover would be great too.

 

[Kristina]

I bought Russian Tortoise mix from Carolina Pet supply to seed my Russian pen. There is one particular weed that springs up FAST, but I only seem to see that one particular weed come up at all. I think I personally am going to try some different seed next time.

 

[dolfanjack]

I don't know about other peoples russians, but mine hates I mean HATES walking on grass. Rocks, wood planks, dirt, and weeds are ok but not grass. also are you going to have a cover? others wise the walls look really low. Your russian is going to love it. I see that you do.

 

[-JM]

That's a lot of space for one Russian! It's going to be so happy and spoiled I can't wait to see it finished! Keep posting pictures as you go along, please!

 

[goReptiles]

I'd definitely add a few more hostas. Try different species. Mine love munching on the smaller ones in their enclosure. I forget the species off hand, but I kept all the plant cards. I have about 5-6 different species. Some they use for shade, some to eat from, and some they don't bother at all.

 

[Floof]

It looks great so far! And so much space... I bet that's one happy little tort!

The Broadleaf seed mix from Carolina Pet Supply is a good option for Russians. If he doesn't eat it all as it springs up, it'd make a good choice for seeding the enclosure. Sedums are good, edible ground cover... Except for the one or two that're toxic--most notably, Sedum Acre. That Ice plant is supposed to be a good ground cover, too, once it gets established.

I agree with the suggestion of more hostas for hiding, as well as other bushy plants that won't give your Russian a tummy ache if he nibbles on them.

Another hide idea is to create burrows. Dig a few holes, add half logs or flower pots cut in half with the bottoms cut out or some other means of support (I suppose carefully stacked rocks/cinderblocks/bricks would work, too), and cover the "support" with dirt. You can also cover it in more ground cover and other plants. I try to make mine mostly level with the ground, except maybe a light incline at the top of the cave's mouth, so it doesn't take away from the enclosure's floorspace at all. This will give your Russian a nice burrow, as well as the option to expand it if it doesn't give quite enough security for him as-is. Of course, it goes without saying to point the butt end of the cave toward the inside of the enclosure so he doesn't end up accidentally digging out! Though it doesn't look like that'll be a big issue in your enclosure.. LOVE the underground cinderblock idea.

 

[pugsandkids]

Thank you for the ideas! It does seem big, but he does laps around it in no time flat. Yesterday he would come check out everything I planted, as soon as I was done messing with it. The cinderblocks were just what we had on site, they seem like they'll work out nicely. I'll be seeding for groundcover today, and of course always keeping my eyes open for potential yard plants. I have a group of hostas that I'm growing in a whiskey barrel, maybe I'll put one or two of them in the yard. The walls may get another 2x6 added to them before we add the cover, just to be sure. ;D