Outdoor Enclosure Build

[MarginatedMooney]

I've started building an outdoor enclosure for Phil the Marginated tortoise.

I've cleared the area of my yard where I'm putting it because I had some green plastic grid below the surface where sod used to be and it also had some unidentified weeds. I'm planning for a 20' x 10' enclosure with walls made out of pressure treated 2x12s.

Unfortunately, my soil is mostly clay, which might be difficult to grow any plants or grass on. So right now I'm trying to decide whether to leave it/till it up some, or add something to it. I know I'm staying away from any kind of top soil. I was thinking about adding coco coir but I'm not sure if that's a good idea. Would that make it messy and wet all the time? I might also use some orchid bark. Does anyone have any tortoise-safe suggestions for improving clay soil?

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Phil's enclosure is finally coming along. It's been slowed down by vacation and bad, stormy weather. I'm hoping to finish soon, then start getting plants to put in there.

 

[SinLA]

my ground is very much clay but thngs still grow in it (not sure if NC clay and CA clay are different tho. I did put cococoir down (when I clean my indoor box, I dump the cococoir in the outdoor enclosure) and the seeds grow really well. Iput these seeds down and they did well: https://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41&products_id=590

what kind of tortoise?

 

[wellington]

You can try calling around and seeing if you can get sod without the mesh.
Also, if you can get plain black dirt and then plant seed. I have clay too, but mine is under a thick layer of dirt and then grass/weeds.

 

[MarginatedMooney]

my ground is very much clay but thngs still grow in it (not sure if NC clay and CA clay are different tho. I did put cococoir down (when I clean my indoor box, I dump the cococoir in the outdoor enclosure) and the seeds grow really well. Iput these seeds down and they did well: https://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41&products_id=590

what kind of tortoise?

I was thinking I would put some coco coir and orchid bark in there too.
Nice, yeah I think I'll try growing some weeds in there too. He absolutely loves clover.
He's a Marginated tortoise.

 

[Tom]

You can try calling around and seeing if you can get sod without the mesh.
Also, if you can get plain black dirt and then plant seed. I have clay too, but mine is under a thick layer of dirt and then grass/weeds.

In addition to the mesh, sod is full of all sorts of nasty chemicals. Its supposed to look green and pretty and be free of bugs. They don't intend for animals to live on it. It is bad stuff even if you could find it with out the plastic mesh.

 

[Tom]

I was thinking I would put some coco coir and orchid bark in there too.
Nice, yeah I think I'll try growing some weeds in there too. He absolutely loves clover.
He's a Marginated tortoise.

I just use the native dirt in my pens. I dig holes to plant stuff and it works for me.

 

[wellington]

In addition to the mesh, sod is full of all sorts of nasty chemicals. Its supposed to look green and pretty and be free of bugs. They don't intend for animals to live on it. It is bad stuff even if you could find it with out the plastic mesh.

Hmm, suppose to have bugs, not slugs, if not will get that anyway. As for chemicals, isn't it the same stuff, fertilizer, that has been said is okay to use now? If searched long and hard, I wouldn't doubt if some couldn't be found without any chemicals. Even if they bought sod, they would want to water it a lot and get it established before putting the tort on it or it likely would just die off quickly. Even the mesh can be cut and pulled out if one wants to go thru that hassle.
Depending on how much this species dig, the mesh shouldn't even be a problem. Never was for me, but my leopards don't dig at all.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I use the back yard as is with some bagged mulch.
Over time, the mulch breaks down and becomes part of the soil. Mulch and dirt aren't reccomended for very small tortoises or for indoor enclosures. But for semi adult or adult tortoises, you have options.
The risks of impaction are far less.

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Hmm, suppose to have bugs, not slugs, if not will get that anyway. As for chemicals, isn't it the same stuff, fertilizer, that has been said is okay to use now? If searched long and hard, I wouldn't doubt if some couldn't be found without any chemicals. Even if they bought sod, they would want to water it a lot and get it established before putting the tort on it or it likely would just die off quickly. Even the mesh can be cut and pulled out if one wants to go thru that hassle.
Depending on how much this species dig, the mesh shouldn't even be a problem. Never was for me, but my leopards don't dig at all.

He doesn't seem to dig often, but he can dig down a couple inches if he wants to.
I'm not feeling sod though. Is tortoise safe grass seed a possibility?

 

[wellington]

He doesn't seem to dig often, but he can dig down a couple inches if he wants to.
I'm not feeling sod though. Is tortoise safe grass seed a possibility?

Yes seed is fine. Maybe if you got some coconut coir and tilled it into some of the clay? Then do seeds.

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Phil's enclosure was finished back in September and we've been trying to acclimate him to it when we can.
I ended up planting Testudo seed mix in half of the enclosure, which has done well so far.

Phil has explored the enclosure a few times, but typically will hide under a plant. I suppose that's normal tortoise behavior.

I'm still debating if I'm going to put some sort of cover or bird netting on this at some point next year when we start leaving him out there unsupervised.