Outside enclosure (WIP)

[peasinapod]

Hi guys!

Finally I had the time to get started on the outdoor enclosure for Peter. Some time ago I posted some plans on the forum how I wanted it to look, but it wound up looking completely different than planned!

It is 3.5 x 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) and not done yet. More plants, branches, hides and a coldframe will be added over time. The coldframe will be placed in the empty space where the branches are.

I am currently growing tons of different plants and weeds and will try to plant them into the enclosure once they are big and strong enough.

I am trying to convince my parents to get rid of at least some of the grass, but especially my father is being a bit stubborn. Bit well, "Gut Ding will Weile haben!"

Sorry for the quality of the pics, but I only had my cellphone at hand and it was really bright outside.

 

[laney]

Looks great

 

[peasinapod]

Thank you very much!

Hibiscus and rosemary are waiting to be planted as well, but the hibiscus still needs to be "quarantined" a bit more, until most of the chemicals and whatnot are gone. Then my tortoise will be introduced to some yummy flowers!

 

[hunterk997]

That's amazing. I want to do this so badly.


Sent from my Ipod using the tortoiseforum app

 

[Logan J]

Just be careful that birds and pest won't be a problem

 

[peasinapod]

Cats are the worst you will find around here and I'm not scared about birds, he's too big for magpies and the like, he's already fully grown. The only thing I have to worry about is birds abducting his cuttlebone or sparrows taking a bath in his waterbowl... We don't even have dogs around my house anymore.

(I am well aware about the danger dogs pose for tortoises. Peter is missing some small pieces on the edge of his shell because a german shepherd got to him. Everything's healed now, as it happened 40-50 years ago)

 

[lynnedit]

Nicely done! Good idea to grow weeds on the side, that will be a nice supply for you.

How old is Peter?

 

[peasinapod]

Peter's been in the family for 59 years now and I was told that he was already quite big when they got him, so we're guessing at least 65 or 70 years old. He's obviously wc.

I'd like to have him gene-tested one day to determine where he came from exactly.

 

[rocky1998]

iChat an amazing enclosure !


Sandy then Russian tort <3

 

[peasinapod]

It hasn't stopped raining for two days now. I was so scared that the hill would just come "melting" down, but it hasn't moved a bit!

I already bought some new plants which will provide shade. They will be planted after a longer quarantine period as well.

 

[Vickie]

Very nice! I especially love his house its so darn cute! Where did you ever find something like that?

 

[glittertortoise]

So amazing! Great job! [THUMBS UP SIGN][THUMBS UP SIGN][THUMBS UP SIGN]

 

[jeffstort]

Very nice

 

[peasinapod]

The house was built by my late grandfather 40 years or so ago. The roof is detachable, which makes it easy to clean as well

 

[lynnedit]

This is an amazing story.
You could also add some groupings of flat stones.

(Perhaps you could take out a little piece of grass here and there, gradually, and blame it on Peter? )

 

[peasinapod]

I have some other pieces of stone that could be added easily. I was already planning something like that, but I hope that won't be needed. There's a patch where the grass is basically dead already and I want to start an "eartpatch" there. And if it maaaaybe starts to expand gradually, nobody will have to know...

 

[sunshine_hugs]

Wow. Very nice. And I love that he's been in your family so long...very neat. Also neat that your grandfather built that little house. So much history!

 

[peasinapod]

I hope that we will have many great years together. He's sort of the family heirloom!

 

[panda]

Very nice enclosure. I'm sure your tort will be quite happy with it. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to new pictures as you make progress.

 

[saberfire06]

Love that enclosure! Will be stealing some ideas from you when I move out of this crappy apartment and am able to build mine. I just love that little white house!