Building Material Recommendation

[felixtypho]

Hello! I am going to be building a new outdoor enclosure for my fully grown male Hermann's tortoise. I had an issue with mold developing on one of the walls of the enclosure and since it's currently the minimum size for the species (8x4 feet) I decided it was a good opportunity to create a bigger and better space (At least 8x7). I wanted to consult some more experienced owners about the material and design so that I can do better this time.
Currently I am leaning towards using cinderblocks this time to create the walls, since I'm not very good at woodworking and I don't want to risk mold developing again. If I did so, would I need to cement the blocks together? My father has raised garden beds made of cinderblocks that have remained tightly packed in place while full of dirt but aren't cemented. Also, would I need to cover the insides with plywood or another material to prevent the tortoise from climbing or scratching himself raw?
I also have some questions if I were to use wood again. The wood that developed mold was treated but didn't have any sealant or stain or anything else applied. I'm assuming that there's tortoise-safe methods of doing so. I'm also sure there's plenty of existing threads pertaining to building durable and efficient wood walls, so feel free to just link me one of those to save time on answering that question.
My final question is if using wire underneath the enclosure's substrate is safe. My tortoise likes to dig so I'm going to make sure he has a foot or more to do so with some substrate variety. But I'm worried that if he dug down to the wire he could get a leg caught. Has that ever happened to anyone?
Anyways if anyone has answers to my questions, opinions on what material I should use, concerns over something I mentioned, etc. I'd love to hear some feedback. Have a good day!

 

[Tom]

Hello! I am going to be building a new outdoor enclosure for my fully grown male Hermann's tortoise. I had an issue with mold developing on one of the walls of the enclosure and since it's currently the minimum size for the species (8x4 feet) I decided it was a good opportunity to create a bigger and better space (At least 8x7). I wanted to consult some more experienced owners about the material and design so that I can do better this time.
Currently I am leaning towards using cinderblocks this time to create the walls, since I'm not very good at woodworking and I don't want to risk mold developing again. If I did so, would I need to cement the blocks together? My father has raised garden beds made of cinderblocks that have remained tightly packed in place while full of dirt but aren't cemented. Also, would I need to cover the insides with plywood or another material to prevent the tortoise from climbing or scratching himself raw?
I also have some questions if I were to use wood again. The wood that developed mold was treated but didn't have any sealant or stain or anything else applied. I'm assuming that there's tortoise-safe methods of doing so. I'm also sure there's plenty of existing threads pertaining to building durable and efficient wood walls, so feel free to just link me one of those to save time on answering that question.
My final question is if using wire underneath the enclosure's substrate is safe. My tortoise likes to dig so I'm going to make sure he has a foot or more to do so with some substrate variety. But I'm worried that if he dug down to the wire he could get a leg caught. Has that ever happened to anyone?
Anyways if anyone has answers to my questions, opinions on what material I should use, concerns over something I mentioned, etc. I'd love to hear some feedback. Have a good day!

Bigger enclosures are definitely better, so this is good.

You don't need wire underground for a hermanni. They don't dig down like that. At most they just tuck in to the dirt, barely covering themselves to escape the heat or cold. If you still want it, use the black vinyl coated hardware cloth from the hardware store for this purpose. It will last longer and the coating will "soften" it a bit should the tortoise ever make contact with it.

For walls, you can use those 8 or 10 foot, UV protected, corrugated roofing panels. Cut them into 24 inch lengths, or whatever length you like, and partially bury them in the ground vertically to make walls. Like this:


Cinderblocks can work too. Go three high, and buy some half blocks so that you can make the middle row off set. No need to line the inside with plywood, but the bigger you make it, and the more stuff you put in it, the better. Plant plants along the edges, but be sure he can't use them to climb out.