What a great idea!!!
Inflatable Outdoor Enclosure
- Thread starter algoroth1
- Start date
I love this idea. I wonder if I could put some chicken wire over the top of one and use it all summer, I am extremely worried about predators.
NEW UPDATE AND CHANGES
Thanks Moozillion. Compassrose26, attached are my latest pics with new additions. Chicken wire might be hard to use with an inflatable pool for reasons you can imagine. Nonetheless, predators have to be considered. I used Jobes deerblock to keep out predators. It is very light plastic netting that drapes over the entire enclosure. You can see the net's squares against the white vinyl of the pool, but it is nearly invisible otherwise. It is not all that strong but keeps deer out of plants and protects koy ponds from raccoons, so I'm hoping it will do the job for Ponce as well. It costs only about $7.00 for a roll 7ft. X 100 ft. I also added a shade over the whole enclosure as I found we were getting to much direct sun. Whether or not you do that depends on the kind of tort you have. Happily, Ponce continues to eat well and seems to like his new environs. So far so good
Thanks Moozillion. Compassrose26, attached are my latest pics with new additions. Chicken wire might be hard to use with an inflatable pool for reasons you can imagine. Nonetheless, predators have to be considered. I used Jobes deerblock to keep out predators. It is very light plastic netting that drapes over the entire enclosure. You can see the net's squares against the white vinyl of the pool, but it is nearly invisible otherwise. It is not all that strong but keeps deer out of plants and protects koy ponds from raccoons, so I'm hoping it will do the job for Ponce as well. It costs only about $7.00 for a roll 7ft. X 100 ft. I also added a shade over the whole enclosure as I found we were getting to much direct sun. Whether or not you do that depends on the kind of tort you have. Happily, Ponce continues to eat well and seems to like his new environs. So far so good
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- Jun 16, 2013
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Sorry I missed this post Ron. I am in New Jersey.
They are housed indoors in a 6x3 very warm/moist almost steam room like terrarium, with indirect (mostly convection) heat. They do make it outdoors couple times a week in summer months on higher humidity days. Mine came from Florida as well but from a different source I believe.
I have few "guesses" what causes pine coning of the spurs.
a) lack of protein (as hatchlings/juveniles these guys show strong hunting behavior for live protein as especially worms, snails, even mice a member wrote?
b) lack of wetness (not just humidity) mine are completely wet 3-6 hours a day due to morning condensation when the enclosure is warming up.
c) combination of a and b
d) very young mother
Do any of these fit your emys?
Last edited:
NEW UPDATE AND CHANGES
Thanks Moozillion. Compassrose26, attached are my latest pics with new additions. Chicken wire might be hard to use with an inflatable pool for reasons you can imagine. Nonetheless, predators have to be considered. I used Jobes deerblock to keep out predators. It is very light plastic netting that drapes over the entire enclosure. You can see the net's squares against the white vinyl of the pool, but it is nearly invisible otherwise. It is not all that strong but keeps deer out of plants and protects koy ponds from raccoons, so I'm hoping it will do the job for Ponce as well. It costs only about $7.00 for a roll 7ft. X 100 ft. I also added a shade over the whole enclosure as I found we were getting to much direct sun. Whether or not you do that depends on the kind of tort you have. Happily, Ponce continues to eat well and seems to like his new environs. So far so good
How did you secure the netting? How do you get into the enclosure when you need to?
I am mostly worried about birds if prey and raccoons. Possibly even coyotes
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- Aug 5, 2012
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....Ron, That is a grate enclosure and the emys look really good. VicOk, I thought this was crazy at first but please give it a chance
Ponce, our mee (brown mountain tortoise) is almost two years old. His carapace measure about 7in. by 5in. and he's big enough to live permanently outdoors here in South Florida. However, he's not yet big enough to roam the entire yard freely. I did not want to spend a lot of time building an enclosure he will outgrow in a year when, if he continues to grow at this rate, he could be a good foot long and big enough to roam and graze in the yard unsupervised.
I discovered a medium strength vinyl three level inflatable swimming pool made by INTEX. I assumed it would not be adequate, but decided to invest $25 or so to experiment. The pool is 10ft. by about 5ft. And once I'd inflated all three levels I found it stands nearly 2ft. in height. The air closure on each level is heavy duty and after inflation I left it outside for a few days to see if any of the levels lost air or shrank substantially during cool evenings after hot days. Size and inflation remained constant, though I still check them daily. I also figure that if one level goes down there are two that will maintain enough height to keep Ponce in.
I opened the drain on the bottom and spread 8 cubic feet of cypress mulch that gave a depth of an average of 3-5 inches. I may need to punch more holes in the floor if it gets too soggy, though mee's according to Vic Morgan have been known to live in mud.
Since mee's need lots of shade I placed the habitat under spreading palm and hibiscus trees. Add water dishes, food dish a hide and AView attachment 79131 locasia plants (mee's and mep's love to eat them and they also give great shade) and voila--an outdoor habitat in less than an hour. Just add Ponce (did that yesterday). He dug down and hid in the mulch overnight but today I found him surveying his new digs. Here's a photo. Comments positive or critical are very much appreciated. BTW, his claws do not gain traction on the vinyl sides so he should not be able to climb out.
Compassrose,
I secured the net by using the cement "O" rings used around in-ground sprinkler heads to keep them from being crushed by lawnmowers. If you don't know what I'm talking about I'll send you a photo. I used plastic ties to secure the O rings to the netting and let the weight of the ring hold the net flush to the sides/top of the enclosure. Any slack I tucked under the enclosure walls. I think it works for raccoon because the netting would catch on their claws as it is light (I've tripped on it because it catches on my sandals if I'm not careful.) Same would go for coyotes except that they could rip through it if they tried. I would hope the effort wouldn't be worth it to them, though I don't know how much they crave tortoise. Of course I can't make any guarantees as I'm experimenting myself.
In terms of the netting and food, I just lift the O ring at whatever location I choose, then pull up the net, reach in, take out or put in whatever food I'm dealing with and then put the net and O ring back down and smooth out the net again so it is lying flush on the pool edge surface.
Hope this helps! All the best.
I secured the net by using the cement "O" rings used around in-ground sprinkler heads to keep them from being crushed by lawnmowers. If you don't know what I'm talking about I'll send you a photo. I used plastic ties to secure the O rings to the netting and let the weight of the ring hold the net flush to the sides/top of the enclosure. Any slack I tucked under the enclosure walls. I think it works for raccoon because the netting would catch on their claws as it is light (I've tripped on it because it catches on my sandals if I'm not careful.) Same would go for coyotes except that they could rip through it if they tried. I would hope the effort wouldn't be worth it to them, though I don't know how much they crave tortoise. Of course I can't make any guarantees as I'm experimenting myself.
In terms of the netting and food, I just lift the O ring at whatever location I choose, then pull up the net, reach in, take out or put in whatever food I'm dealing with and then put the net and O ring back down and smooth out the net again so it is lying flush on the pool edge surface.
Hope this helps! All the best.
Very cool, thanks!!
Latest Update a month and a half in--
The rainy season in South Florida has begun. I was concerned that heavy rains would start to turn the enclosure into a pond, so I started puncing holes through the vinyl floor under the substrate. We've had heavy rains on and off over the past two weeks. The cypress mulch has absorbed almost all of the water making the substrate pretty moist except for the top layer where direct sun hits it, and it appears to agree with Ponce the emys emys. My only problem is that his appetite is increasing! That probably goes with mountain torts enjoying moisture and becoming more active in the rain.
Mikeh-- regarding pine-coning of front scales, if it is due to lack of moisture, we'll know soon
The rainy season in South Florida has begun. I was concerned that heavy rains would start to turn the enclosure into a pond, so I started puncing holes through the vinyl floor under the substrate. We've had heavy rains on and off over the past two weeks. The cypress mulch has absorbed almost all of the water making the substrate pretty moist except for the top layer where direct sun hits it, and it appears to agree with Ponce the emys emys. My only problem is that his appetite is increasing! That probably goes with mountain torts enjoying moisture and becoming more active in the rain.
Mikeh-- regarding pine-coning of front scales, if it is due to lack of moisture, we'll know soon
Eight weeks in and the first tropical storm of the year (Arthur) hits. Much wind, some downpours but the enclosure has held up well. Haven't even had to add air to the walls yet!
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Wow hope that Storm doesent come towards louisiana
Hey Sheldon, don't think that's going to be a problem. Hope the folks up North don't get hit badly.
Update at three months in:
Well, after three months of rain and heat I finally noticed that that inflated walls had begun to sag. Pumped them up and good as new. I guess if that's the biggest problem I have with this idea I'll call it a success. Ponce is loving the moist atmosphere and eats anything that raises its "green"head (like clover)
Well, after three months of rain and heat I finally noticed that that inflated walls had begun to sag. Pumped them up and good as new. I guess if that's the biggest problem I have with this idea I'll call it a success. Ponce is loving the moist atmosphere and eats anything that raises its "green"head (like clover)
Final review nearly one year in - two pools later - this is a good interim solution, but sooner or later a permanent enclsure will be necessary. The second pool only lasted three months. It deflated while we were away and a neighbor was caring for Ponce our emys emys. At nearly three years old he's pretty big so although he escaped and spent a night on the town, the neighbor found him (whew!). We're building his permanent pen now from plywood
Thank you for the update. I think your idea gives people a good option for a temporary enclosure.Final review nearly one year in - two pools later - this is a good interim solution, but sooner or later a permanent enclsure will be necessary. The second pool only lasted three months. It deflated while we were away and a neighbor was caring for Ponce our emys emys. At nearly three years old he's pretty big so although he escaped and spent a night on the town, the neighbor found him (whew!). We're building his permanent pen now from plywood
Final review nearly one year in - two pools later - this is a good interim solution, but sooner or later a permanent enclsure will be necessary. The second pool only lasted three months. It deflated while we were away and a neighbor was caring for Ponce our emys emys. At nearly three years old he's pretty big so although he escaped and spent a night on the town, the neighbor found him (whew!). We're building his permanent pen now from plywood
Whoa, glad your neighbor found him. What was the reason for the second pool, I mean, how did the first one get ruined? I loved the idea, but never thought about the sides deflating and the tort getting out. Another time I'm glad your neighbor was able to step up. Great neighbors. Can't wait to see what you build for him now,
Thanks Wellington and leigti. Yep, great neighbors. Why the deflation? A combination of constant heat and/or rain plus gardeners with weed wackers and big mowers. I am going to check to see if there are any tiny punctures from tortoise claws but I really doubt it. Will let you know if I'm wrong. It is curious, though, that the first one survived intact for eight months but the second one wasn't even three months in use before it failed. Maybe Ponce's claws are tougher than I thought :>)
Tortoise claws, a cat, any blown sharp object or simply perishing of the rubber/plastic.
Great idea, but only for a short term solution, methinks.
Great idea, but only for a short term solution, methinks.
I thought of that too! But then I would just add some flat rocks to weight it down. May keep out ants?What about wind? That would be my biggest worry. And I have this pool stashed somewhere in my garage.
Elohi(Earth)
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