Faux Burrows or Limited Burrows

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Josh

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now many people have constructed a burrow for the tort that is actually underground and mimics what the tortoise would carve out in the wild?
anyone let their tortoise carve his own burrow but maybe limit how deep and long it is?
 
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greekgolden

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I have a Greek Golden tortoise, I let her dig the burrow, I make sure she does'nt build one so big that she's in the neighbors yard. During the winter she comes in at night, she burrows in shredded paper. There is not a lot of info on these tortoise's.
 

Josh

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how do you keep her from digging too far?
if i adopt a tortoise i would try my best to let it dig its own burrow if it wants. my only concern is keeping the burrow a reasonable size.
 
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Bansh88

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I took halves of a resin dog house and buried them. Works good for my bigger tortoises. I used smaller tupperware type things, buried them for my smaller guys.
My 2 sulcatas (4 years old) dug a burrow. I thought it was cool till i realized it was about 2 feet deep. I caved it in and prevented them from digging anymore holes.
 

Josh

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Bansh88 said:
I took halves of a resin dog house and buried them. Works good for my bigger tortoises. I used smaller tupperware type things, buried them for my smaller guys.
My 2 sulcatas (4 years old) dug a burrow. I thought it was cool till i realized it was about 2 feet deep. I caved it in and prevented them from digging anymore holes.

:( this is exactly what im afraid of... is it possible to reinforce naturally dug burrows?
 

Tiffany

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I have several made for them, a animal carry case half with dirt over most of it, wood. But the sulcata are too good of diggers to let them go so we have fencing under their cages so they can't dig out.
 

LeopardLover

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I let my tortoise free roam its pen but just watch to make sure she doesn't make to big of holes. If you don't want to make a burrow . When you make your pen dig about 2-3 feet then line it with chicken wire and then put tarp over that and just fill it with dirt again. So the tortoise can't dig out of the pen. I've seen people do this. I hope this will help.
 
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greekgolden

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Josh,
Golden's are very small so they don't dig to far under the fence. I got a Golden because they are small I planted a lot of plants in her section of the yard so hawks don't see her. If you don't have a lot of space Golden's are great to have, very easy to care for LOL they don't eat a lot, and only need a small yard.
 

Jentortmom

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josh said:
now many people have constructed a burrow for the tort that is actually underground and mimics what the tortoise would carve out in the wild?
anyone let their tortoise carve his own burrow but maybe limit how deep and long it is?

I have heard of people going both ways on that subject. I personally let mine dig where ever they want, I just make sure I have wire or concrete going down deep enough to contain them. Of course I don't have the big torts yet, but I am sure I will let them dig where ever they want ( as long as it is in the enclosure). :)
 
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Bansh88

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josh said:
:( this is exactly what im afraid of... is it possible to reinforce naturally dug burrows?

If they dig it, they will make it strong enogh. They keep a well rounded hole which is quite sturdy. They are extremely hard to remove because they make the holes the same size as their shells.
 

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greekgolden said:
Josh,
Golden's are very small so they don't dig to far under the fence. I got a Golden because they are small I planted a lot of plants in her section of the yard so hawks don't see her. If you don't have a lot of space Golden's are great to have, very easy to care for LOL they don't eat a lot, and only need a small yard.

Actually no matter the tortoises side they can dig very far under impossible to find them afterwards.
My tortoise looi is only 1 year old and is only 2 inches SCL, and dug nearly 2 foot under the ground!if it wasnt for the whole we found we wouldnt of found him.

Also, theres alot of tortoises that stay small:
Hermanns, russians, greeks, iberas, marginates, and many others!
 

terryo

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jenrell23 said:
josh said:
now many people have constructed a burrow for the tort that is actually underground and mimics what the tortoise would carve out in the wild?
anyone let their tortoise carve his own burrow but maybe limit how deep and long it is?

I have heard of people going both ways on that subject. I personally let mine dig where ever they want, I just make sure I have wire or concrete going down deep enough to contain them. Of course I don't have the big torts yet, but I am sure I will let them dig where ever they want ( as long as it is in the enclosure). :)

Can you tell me what is a Golden Tortoise? I have never heard of one.
Thank you
 

Jentortmom

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Can you tell me what is a Golden Tortoise? I have never heard of one.
Thank you
[/quote]

I don't believe there is an actual golden tortoise, They do have different tortoises through breeding that are golden. Golden greeks, golden russians, etc. etc.

Please correct me if I am wrong.
 

DEBRA MERKLE

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We recently (4weeks ago) adopted a lrg male sulcata tortoise. He weighes approx 90lbs. We were letting him dig his own burrow however he has yet to do so. He has what I would consider dug a bed under several large bushes. Do you think we should build one for him? We have a large back yard with many garden areas (watered daily) that he enjoys laying in during the heat of the day. Did I mention we live in Phoenix, Arizona?
 
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Bansh88

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Personally, i would'nt let him dig any tunnels. It opens up a lot of potential problems for you and him.
 

AWAaviatrix

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josh said:
now many people have constructed a burrow for the tort that is actually underground and mimics what the tortoise would carve out in the wild?
anyone let their tortoise carve his own burrow but maybe limit how deep and long it is?

<br>
In one of the Sulcata's enclosures I dug two slanted holes and covered one with half a barrel and the other with large pieces of petrified rock. The tort's will sit under each for shade but haven't dug any farther. In another enclosure my largest tort will dig a small cave under my Star's enclosure each summer. It never gets to deep and I fill it in each fall. They haven't dug anywhere else. They always have access to their tort shed and I have plenty of shade ranging from bushes to hollow fake rocks for them to hide under. During the hot summer months they love to sit under the sprinklers during the heat of the day.

Misty
5 Sulcata's
3 Leopard's
3 Indian Star's
 

Crazy1

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The DT fosters I have did not dig. I provided a hide for them and they were content to go under there and scute a litte dirt out and snuggle in. Now I have provided a dog house for them.
Golden Greeks "While it was obvious that this was a Testudo of some variety, it was declared a Testudo graeca , Testudo graeca ibera , Testudo graeca terrestris or Testudo graeca flowerii. depending upon your taxonomist of choice. In other words, little was known about them other than that they had a very light colored shell and that a mask was evident on darker skinned specimens. They became known in the market as “Golden Greeks”. Until these animals are examined by taxonomists and their findings peer reviewed the actual species/ subspecies designation of Golden Greeks will most likely remain in question. Initial examinations by some taxonomists identified the species as probable Testudo graeca terrestris. As time went on and more was learned of these animals this became supported by the probable locale data from the early shipments and confiscations of a Lebanon or Jordanian point of origin." this is an exerp from this link. Read more about them here. http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Whatisagolden.htm
 
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