Clever watering solution?

[SatchelMonster]

Anyone have a clever solution for keeping fresh water outside for your tort? I’d love to install something semi permanent like a pond or fountain he could drink from. Right now I go out and fill a bowl regularly but he knocks it over, etc etc. In summer we fill a plastic pool to soak but he poops in it. Im hesitant to install a concrete pool or pond that would be hard to keep clean. Anyone have something clever you’ve installed for your tort? For reference Satchel is 16 years old and about 140 lbs so in the summer he can really drink!

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Anyone have a clever solution for keeping fresh water outside for your tort? I’d love to install something semi permanent like a pond or fountain he could drink from. Right now I go out and fill a bowl regularly but he knocks it over, etc etc. In summer we fill a plastic pool to soak but he poops in it. Im hesitant to install a concrete pool or pond that would be hard to keep clean. Anyone have something clever you’ve installed for your tort? For reference Satchel is 16 years old and about 140 lbs so in the summer he can really drink!

Mine has a pond with a filtration system that he drinks from. Different story in the winter though. I have to carry 1/2 gallon of water up the hill to him every day. I'm pondering the idea of incorporating a rain barrel for his inside water bowl to keep it filled.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

The only thing I found was a compromise..
I dug some shallow depressions. Poured cement in them. Dropped extra large terra cotta plant saucers on top to make depressions in the cement (to keep the saucers in place only)
Now I can remove them to clean them and just pop them back into their places. Or sweep them out daily with a broom and refill with a hose.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Mine has a pond with a filtration system that he drinks from. Different story in the winter though. I have to carry 1/2 gallon of water up the hill to him every day. I'm pondering the idea of incorporating a rain barrel for his inside water bowl to keep it filled.

I like the idea of a pool with a drain. That can be emptied and then refilled with a hose. But I've never done an actual drain.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

I like the idea of a pool with a drain. That can be emptied and then refilled with a hose. But I've never done an actual drain.

I'm installing a 32"x32" shower base in his house when I work on the expansion this spring. Good for soaking. Got all the parts I need...except the warm weather to install it in. lol

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I wonder what @EppsDynasty does, since he has so many sulcatas on the property

 

[EppsDynasty]

Trying to keep a 'Water Dish' just doesn't work very well for us. EVERT Tort does have a large dish either a 24" Drain Pan for a Hot Water Heater or a 36"x36" Washing Machine Pan. We do not though count that as water taken in, we soak all of them 3-4 times a week in a 190 gallon stock tank. The water is either to cold or they get it dirty so we do not count on them getting their water needs from those dishes. Every Tort gets a warm bath at a minimum of 2 times a week, if it's a week short on time but if it's all greased and the wheels are a turning 3-4 times.

This is Dash a 50 lb Male. Especially in the winter when outside water would be very cold, we feel the tort is never going to drink enough. How often in the winter time do you drink a glass of Ice Water? Every Tort gets warm water to then make the decision if they are thirsty, we go through over $500 a month in propane just for our outdoor Hot Water Heater used to give em all warm water and baths. We make hundreds of gallons of Hot Water everyday. We think this is one aspect of housing these large torts that is very misunderstood or not even thought of ...
most just give water and expect the Tort to drink it if thirsty ... it's COLD.