tortoisetrustforum.org

Thanks Ruth, it is actually a beehive composter bin which I adapted. I wanted something with some head height so I could hang lamps /lights at a safe distance. Have got some foil backed insulation and ply off cuts from my local builders merchants which I will fit soon to keep the heat in.

Pat

Composter bin ?, I thought it was an actual beehive. What a great idea

I don't recall the exact size, Sue, but I will see if I have a photo with the tortoises, which would give you a better idea. We didn't, however, and still don't use a formula to determine the size an enclosure should be. It's more about what a given space can provide. Can it support the amount of vegetation for the animals in it? Does it have shade, slopes, or other features that would lend itself to a given species? Does it provide interest and space for a tortoise to explore and/or retreat from others if it wants to. I have seen very large enclosures that are totally inappropriate, and smaller units that have all the elements that meet the tortoises needs. It depends on how they're designed.



OK, I'll try to answer in a bit more detail. 1.6 sq. meters would be a fine size for some smaller juveniles or as a temporary enclosure for a tortoise (and could be easily be covered with a screen mesh), but I would definitely want more space then 1.6 metres as a permanent habitat for two K. belliana. This is not based on a formula, but I would think having a minimum of 3 X 2 meters (and that's the smallest I would suggest) would be more suitable.

Regarding what you get used to… The TT sanctuary pictured here was very large. It had good sized enclosures for the tortoises, but they weren't made excessively large just because it had the space. The habitats there were based on what was a suitable size and allowed us to easily monitor the animals. Andy and I also had our smaller property in Pembrokeshire where we dealt with many of the hospital cases and animals waiting to be rehomed. We had to use the space we had much more economically until we were able to relocate to a larger property. So I really can appreciate the difficulties of having to work within the limits of a given space.

I spent most of my life in the US, and I know what the habitats of the aquatic turtles that Rom keeps are like. Rom has done an excellent job in trying to recreate these conditions as closely as he can in the rather different climate of the UK. However, I wouldn't want people to think that they need a very large outdoor pond to keep a turtle in the UK. I certainly wouldn't keep a slider in a fish tank (!), but a smaller pond that has the correct depth, water quality, basking areas and needed shade, can provide an excellent habitat. And they can be made to look very natural and beautiful, and can even be set up indoors.

Nadine

It's a very interesting and attractive design, Pat!

Nadine

Thanks - I had my garden re-designed early last year before I knew I was having torts and luckily planted a wild life area at the bottom which is now where they are and wanted something which fitted the theme (it sits under a lilac tree and buddlea bush hence painting it purple) Ebay is a great thing - what did we do before it came along!

Pat

Another great Ebay find... It's lovely, Pat and it's even colour coordinated with the vegetation!

Nadine

Hellen, if you have 7m2 available, have a look at my enclosure (6m2). I have posted the pictures in that thread because I thought it was more appropiate.

Take into account the kind of graecas I have are small-medium animals. The bigggest females are 900 gr. and 16-17 cm. The enclosure is not the best in the World but...

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3307&start=20

Regards

Hi Marcos, your enclosure looks fantastic !! It is hard to believe that it is only 6 m2 there is so much in it. If only England had the same climate as Spain.....

Hi Nadine,
Did you plant these slopes up specifically, or did you just enclose what was there anyway? They certainly look very natural.

Hi Pat,
This is a brilliant solution to the problem of providing head room for safe lighting - and it looks good too!
I could imagine people with lots of tortoises having a row of these, with a run coming off each one, and they would look just like a row of beehives.
(Nice colour too - I've used the same stuff in my garden for a table and two chairs that are next to some lavender - they set each other of rather well, I think)