Enclosure size for an adult Hermann's Tortoise

[TGDOrestes]

My hermann's tortoise is still a baby, but it is going to outgrow its enclosure in a few months and I am thinking of building his final enclosure soon. I have read some threads about enclosure sizes, but none of them were exact. What would you recommend?

 

[TechnoCheese]

8x4 feet (244x122 cm) is a good minimum, but of course bigger is better.

 

[Tom]

My hermann's tortoise is still a baby, but it is going to outgrow its enclosure in a few months and I am thinking of building his final enclosure soon. I have read some threads about enclosure sizes, but none of them were exact. What would you recommend?

There is no scientifically studied magic number for this. Just a bunch of generalities and personal preferences. Your tortoise won't drop dead if you put it in a two foot square enclosure, but I think most people will agree that that is much too small. Your tortoise would make use of a 50x50 foot pen and be quite happy in there, but that isn't practical for most people.

I think a reasonable compromise that works well is 4x8 feet indoors, and at least 8x8 or 10x10 feet outside. Larger is better.

 

[Crush da Baum]

I think outdoor enclosures are best because they get natural sunlight and you can usually build a much larger one outside. What I have is a 6 by 3-foot indoor enclosure and a large outdoor enclosure in construction. She will spend most of her time in her like 30 by 20-foot enclosure once it is done. I still have to upgrade her indoor once she gets a little bigger so If you were going for permanent indoor than an 8 by 4 is or larger is good. Still think outdoor is much better, just make sure you have a place to bring them inside in the cold or for me because I live in Florida, hurricanes and storms.

 

[Crush da Baum]

Baby tortoises usually need to be kept inside or under supervision outside because of predators. Unless you live somewhere where predators are more scarce and the enclosure is very safe. I live in the country surrounded by woods which coyotes, chicken hawks, raccoons, wild hogs and so many more predators call home, so I have to make the enclosure ready for a zombie apocalypse. lol

 

[MichaelL]

Try to make it as big as possible while you can. I wouldn't even think about the smallest size. I would just think about the biggest I could afford and that would keep the tortoise safe and happy.

 

[TGDOrestes]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I will try my best to make his indoor enclosure as big as possible (I don't have enough money to make both outdoor and indoor enclosures yet)