Herman and russian outdoor enclosure

[jchavez15]

Hello,

Looking for info on tortoise breeding groups. Im setting up 2 8x12 foot enclosures to keep outside yearround hermans and maybe russian tortoises. I have a couple questions:

1. How many of each species can be kept in and enclosure that size? I m trying to decide if I even wanna do Russians since them seem to be rather aggressive and just stick with hermans.
2. In phoenix is a recessed burrow really necessary? I planned on putting a large cinder block hide with plywood stuffed with hay. That's shoukd suffice no?
3. Had a bunch of extra st augustine grass from sodding my backyard so I used that to fully sod the tortoise pens, however some posts noted having flat area without grass? That necessary. I figure they'll eat it down overtime.

4. Show me your enclosures! Group sizes etc.

Appreciate any info.

Thanks

 

[wellington]

One Hermanns or Russian needs a minimum if a 4x8 enclosure.
An 8x12 not much bigger then the minimum.
Instead of 2 build one double the size and then you could have around 6, one male and 5 females.
A dug down hide would be best in AZ for them to get out of the heat.
They also need a heated hide for those months its below 60.
The grass being all over is fine. They will beat it down in places.