- Joined
- Jul 14, 2010
- Messages
- 60
Looking to redo some enclosures. Going for a good consistent design that will work for most species. The current target species would be leopards though. They are my first priority.
Here are my thoughts:
-Keep group numbers a bit smaller. I plant to keep no more than 4 adult leopards in these enclosures. May end up being more like 3 if males fight at all.
-4'x8' insulated house split down the middle. So technically like 3'-6" x 3'-6" internal dimensions for 4 leopards.
-Cold frame out of the front door to allow basking even in cold weather. On cold days I could prevent them from grazing but keep them with access to the cold frame for some sun.
-Two smaller separated grazing enclosures rather than 1. I find it is easier to keep grass growing by giving it a break from grazing. Some days I could allow them in the primary and other days in the secondary.
-Total grazing would be about 50 SF per tortoise. I will have some bushes, hides, and water holes so maybe more like 40 SF per tortoise for grazing. As I am typing this, I am thinking that this might be too small for adult leopards. They might over graze a bit. I may need to make these 100 SF per tortoise? Any thoughts on this? I do not want too much area that would require me to get the weed trimmer out all the time.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I am also planning on having the house very well insulated so I will probably not have a hinged roof. I will have some decent width doors though at 18" or so. I do not plan on needing access to the house very often at all unless it is for repairs. I will make the roof at least removable but with a drill. The cold frame will have a hinged roof so I can hop in and get down on a knee and pull tortoises out if necessary.
Here are my thoughts:
-Keep group numbers a bit smaller. I plant to keep no more than 4 adult leopards in these enclosures. May end up being more like 3 if males fight at all.
-4'x8' insulated house split down the middle. So technically like 3'-6" x 3'-6" internal dimensions for 4 leopards.
-Cold frame out of the front door to allow basking even in cold weather. On cold days I could prevent them from grazing but keep them with access to the cold frame for some sun.
-Two smaller separated grazing enclosures rather than 1. I find it is easier to keep grass growing by giving it a break from grazing. Some days I could allow them in the primary and other days in the secondary.
-Total grazing would be about 50 SF per tortoise. I will have some bushes, hides, and water holes so maybe more like 40 SF per tortoise for grazing. As I am typing this, I am thinking that this might be too small for adult leopards. They might over graze a bit. I may need to make these 100 SF per tortoise? Any thoughts on this? I do not want too much area that would require me to get the weed trimmer out all the time.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I am also planning on having the house very well insulated so I will probably not have a hinged roof. I will have some decent width doors though at 18" or so. I do not plan on needing access to the house very often at all unless it is for repairs. I will make the roof at least removable but with a drill. The cold frame will have a hinged roof so I can hop in and get down on a knee and pull tortoises out if necessary.