I buy large bags of cypress mulch a few times a year when I hit the Hamburg reptile show. They are the same size as the garden mulch you find at home improvement stores
Predator proof walls and a heavy lid with chicken wire, large water dish and a few places to hide and get out of the sun.. don't forget to soak them regularly. Chris is the man to ask really. He does this for a living I know almost nothing compared to him. Good luck with them!
Wifi yard stake only cost me 35 on amazon. Like knowing that I can turn it in and off even when I am at work. I am paranoid about stuff so I like things warm. I am in NJ so temps fluctuate frequently
I just did it by eye and and built 5 at the same time. I don't have it on a thermostat. I have 250 red heat lamps in there and it's on a Wi-Fi controlled yard stake. So during the spring,summer and early fall when the temps fall i use my phone to turn them on when I am not home.
I have 37 tortoises from Chris. His animals are amazing. I have had animals from different breeders and online tortoise companies and received a lot of animals that got sick very quickly. How is it my 37 from Chris are all perfect and it's a 70/30 gamble from most other breeders...