Hello! I am new to this forum; thank you for allowing me to be part of it. I live in Arizona and have been seriously considering rescuing/adopting a desert tortoise. I am at the research/planning stage right now. Our yard is large enough for an outdoor enclosure; in fact our entire side yard will be devoted to that. I have yet to clear out the rocks, make the berm and plant grass/shrubs. The AZ Game and Fish Dept requires that these be in place before adoption can take place.
My initial questions: 1) most of the area that will be the enclosure is surrounded by concrete walls (property fences) and our house wall (we will need to put one more side in). Will the concrete walls suffice as enclosure walls? 2) I hear that tortoises make big droppings – what do you do with them? Scoop and throw? 3) How often do you need to clean the enclosure, and what is involved in cleaning it? 4) We intended to keep a small concrete courtyard open to the enclosure, so the tortoise can walk on it and up to French doors. Is this a bad idea? We do not intend to let it into the house. 5) Any suggestions on plants to place in the enclosure?
I want to do this correctly and provide a tortoise with the best care, and make sure I can do that. Any other suggestions are welcome! Thank you!
My initial questions: 1) most of the area that will be the enclosure is surrounded by concrete walls (property fences) and our house wall (we will need to put one more side in). Will the concrete walls suffice as enclosure walls? 2) I hear that tortoises make big droppings – what do you do with them? Scoop and throw? 3) How often do you need to clean the enclosure, and what is involved in cleaning it? 4) We intended to keep a small concrete courtyard open to the enclosure, so the tortoise can walk on it and up to French doors. Is this a bad idea? We do not intend to let it into the house. 5) Any suggestions on plants to place in the enclosure?
I want to do this correctly and provide a tortoise with the best care, and make sure I can do that. Any other suggestions are welcome! Thank you!