New outside closure

[Donny's MaMa]

Donny has out grown his indoor home and is ready to 1. Be moved outside or 2. Be housed in my bonus room (hot in summer, pretty cool in winter has electricity) The only space that has enough shade during the AZ summer is around the tree. I was thinking round enclosure.. 8ft out from tree to start. No green grass during summer. The grassy area will stay all year long. What would you do? I have a medium pet carrier to use as a hide till i can get him something else built

 

[wellington]

The round enclosure by the tree isnt a bad idea at all. I would go with that. As big as possible.

 

[Yvonne G]

I like to use existing walls/fences as part of the enclosure's walls. That way you don't have to buy as many fence-building supplies.

 

[Tom]

I'd go from the wall on the left side of the pic with the tree, come out past the tree and do a 90 degree turn to the other wall. One big square with the tree in the middle. Then you will need to start a burrowing hole for him. The only way to escape the intense summer heat there in AZ is for them to get underground. The surface is just too hot.

You will need a night box for shelter during the winter months. Something like this: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

You still need a large indoor enclosure for nights and bad weather for a while longer.

 

[Donny's MaMa]

I like to use existing walls/fences as part of the enclosure's walls. That way you don't have to buy as many fence-building supplies.

I know once he gets really big I will be moving him around. he will have so much space! Cinder blocks don't cost all that much right now. I can go 1 1/2 feet high . I am in the city so I have never seen any hawks . never heard an owl. my chi's don't bother him. so I think I will prob be safe from any kind of screen top. but I can get one done If thinks its still a good idea.

 

[Donny's MaMa]

I'd go from the wall on the left side of the pic with the tree, come out past the tree and do a 90 degree turn to the other wall. One big square with the tree in the middle. Then you will need to start a burrowing hole for him. The only way to escape the intense summer heat there in AZ is for them to get underground. The surface is just too hot.

You will need a night box for shelter during the winter months. Something like this: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

You still need a large indoor enclosure for nights and bad weather for a while longer.

I had seen on a fb page that someone dug a "trench" blocks around it & in back so they can't dig. I am going to have to raise it a lil. this isn't my pic but something like this.....

 

[Tom]

I know once he gets really big I will be moving him around. he will have so much space! Cinder blocks don't cost all that much right now. I can go 1 1/2 feet high . I am in the city so I have never seen any hawks . never heard an owl. my chi's don't bother him. so I think I will prob be safe from any kind of screen top. but I can get one done If thinks its still a good idea.

You won't need a screen top with one that size. Pet dogs would be the only thing I'd worry about. Even if you don't have one, beware of visiting friends and family that bring their dog. I've personally seen tis lead to disaster. I do cinderblock 3 blocks high. Get some half blokes too. You'll need them so you can stagger the middle row of blocks, and to finish the ends as well.

 

[Tom]

I had seen on a fb page that someone dug a "trench" blocks around it & in back so they can't dig. I am going to have to raise it a lil. this isn't my pic but something like this...

Something like this can work but the issue with the one in the pics is that you have no access to the tortoise. This could be a problem. Underground is great for the hot summers, but come fall you don't want him to go down there and not come back out. I let mine burrow in summer, but I make them use their heated night boxes for winter. Here are two ways I made underground shelters that allowed me access to the tortoise, but really, if you get a shovel and start a couple of holes where you want him to dig, he'll probably do it himself and you won't have to build anything. Just catch him above ground in fall and block off the burrow entrance with a sheet of plywood and make him start sleeping in his heated night box.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/daisys-new-enclosure.28662/

This one was for Russians, so you'd keep it much warmer for a sulcata, but the idea works.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/semi-underground-russian-box.98590/#post-922226
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/heating-an-outdoor-russian-night-box.116180/#post-1077261

 

[Donny's MaMa]

Something like this can work but the issue with the one in the pics is that you have no access to the tortoise. This could be a problem. Underground is great for the hot summers, but come fall you don't want him to go down there and not come back out. I let mine burrow in summer, but I make them use their heated night boxes for winter. Here are two ways I made underground shelters that allowed me access to the tortoise, but really, if you get a shovel and start a couple of holes where you want him to dig, he'll probably do it himself and you won't have to build anything. Just catch him above ground in fall and block off the burrow entrance with a sheet of plywood and make him start sleeping in his heated night box.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/daisys-new-enclosure.28662/

This one was for Russians, so you'd keep it much warmer for a sulcata, but the idea works.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/semi-underground-russian-box.98590/#post-922226
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/heating-an-outdoor-russian-night-box.116180/#post-1077261

ok gotta ya. I will prob put him in my bonus room with heat lamp during the winter months or colder days. we do get a few of those out here in AZ I don't think I would make the tunnel that long anyways . as you can see by my pics, he is just over the size of my hand. I have a pet carrier, but since it had holes on the sides I would think that will not work since I can really bury it completely to keep him out of heat. or I could use the bottom! and 3 bricks high seems like a good start too.