Figured I could upload the finished project I had been working on for a while. Bowser lives in this enclosure, and it will be inherited by Koopa, Kamek and Peach when we finish building her next enclosure (always building..).
During the day, the enclosure gets part shade from a large oak tree, part full sun. The hide under the turtle tile is an extra large cat box, buried about 8 inches with several holes drilled in the bottom sides for drainage if it should flood, and then topped over with soil and the tile. It stays anywhere from 79 to 87 temperature that I've measured. She also had double shade on the far right side of the pen, a small yuca tree and tote tops on the top of the enclosure. I mist the enclosure every day about 1:30-2pm depending on when I get in from work. The cold frame has two entrances since she was burrowing under the end she couldn't walk through. I built the hide within the cold frame myself, and it stays 10 degrees warmer than the outside air temperature with one vent side opened. The left side has a banana tree, several hibiscus bushes, and a water source. The other side also has a water dish, and stays shaded through out the day. She has four hides that I provided within the enclosure, three she's made herself. I also have an aloe plant, and used to have some succulents but she ate those pretty quickly. The grasses are mixed, and I also have been growing oregano, basil, and wild birdseed mix within the enclosure.
The frame was build with redwood stakes, pressure treated wood and chicken wire, fastened together in panels and then attached with brackets.
Around the perimeter I have stepping stones, secured with large logs from a felled tree. They extend three feet below the surface, and the stones were buried about four inches and packed with soil to keep them secure.
And that's how I house my largest Sulcata. I have plans to add door flaps and a heating element to the cold frame on cool nights, but living in Florida I get a bit of a pass on that.
I think she's pretty happy.
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