Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sorry for yet another post asking for opinions on an enclosure.

Here is my plan. Please tell me if this sounds reasonable.

I am planning to build a pen for two adult Russians. The internal dimensions will be 8' X 4'. I am planning to make it a total of 32" tall. I am going to put in 6" of gravel (for drainage) and 12" of substrate, leaving 16" of wall. Of course, I'll also fabricate a wire top to keep predators out.

My reasoning for keeping it all above-ground is this. I live in Houston, which means lots of rain and the necessity for good drainage. I figure that by putting it above-ground, it will probably drain much better than one that is sunk into the ground. This would keep the tortoises 18" from the ground.

Now the questions:

I've seen many enclosures that are dug into the ground. Would this work to basically do the same thing but keep it all above ground?

Is 8'X4' large enough for two adult Russians? I'm not looking for just a minimum size. I want to make sure they have plenty of room.

Is 6" of gravel enough for drainage?

I want to do something to keep the substrate from sinking too much into the gravel (although I understand that some mixing is inevitable). I was planning to use some sort of weed-block fabric to do this. Does anyone have any better suggestions?

Thanks in advance for all your posts!

David

32 sq ft is plenty of room for two russians. If they are a male/female pair, you should try to put in some objects that'll block the line of sight. In other words, create places where the female can get away from the male. Heck, that's a good idea even if you have two females. Sometimes they get on each other's nerves.

I don't know about the construction process. I live in Missouri and the soil is heavy with clay and doesn't drain well. I tried mixing some sand into the soil, but that doesn't help much. But my torts don't seem all that sensitive to the sometimes damp soil and high humidity. There are flat rocks in the pen where they can bask in complete dryness, and their tort house has a floor of bricks sunk into the soil that allows them to sleep in a dry area.

I used to live in Galveston and know how much rain you can get down there. Maybe a trip to a hardware store will give you some ideas. From watching home-repair shows it seems there are all kinds of moisture-blocking and drainage materials that could be placed atop the gravel. I've used the weed-blocking material for weed-blocking, and it does hold up. Not sure what would happen under a layer of soil.

Thanks for the response. I'm going to do a tour of the Home Depot and see if inspiration strikes. I am also considering using the raised design without gravel. I'm wondering if it will drain well enough by being elevated off the ground. My main concern is water build-up. I don't want my tort enclosure to turn into a tort swimming pool. Anyway, I'll keep this thread posted as the plan comes along. Thanks!

David Roach

a new idea, sounds good. i have never heard of anybody using gravel for draninage, i just made my pen about 3" higher than the dirt around it. what kind of seface is the pen going to be on? concrete or soil? if on concrete make sure the water can excape though a side. if on soil i dont think the rocks are nessasary. im right next door in LA iv never had any problems with water being retained. also you dont want the water to leave right away, the rain will form puddles and the torts will drink from them.
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1.3.3 Common Mud Turtles
0.0.2 R.E.S.
0.0.1 Y.B.S.
1.2 Russian Tortoises
0.1 Hamsters
3.0 Dogs
2.3 Family
3 Baby Muds

What could folks from LA possibly know about rain? Just kidding...I hope the hurricane didn't affect you negatively.

Anyway, I may be overthinking this whole drainage thing. Maybe I don't need to worry about it. My plan is to have a soil floor. I don't figure there is much need for a concrete floor with Russians as long as the walls are deep enough. If you've had good luck without manufactured drainage, I may just try it without gravel and see what happens. I just have this horrible mental image of my tortoise enclosure overflowing with water. However, I may give it a shot if you've been successful without extra drainage.

Thanks for your response. I'll keep this thread posted as the enclosure comes along - I hope to have it finished by next week (fingers crossed).

Take care...

David Roach

LOL, nice. yeh that whole set of events sucked, but i get to build a bigger and better pen now. my pen had the problem with grass getting to high during the summer so berhaps the gravel could by placed on top the soil, not only will it keep the grass down but the russians nails will be worn down by the gravel. i had mentioned concrete becouse i had an idea of building the pen at the back of our driveway, i thought you might have had the same idea.

a befre and after of my pen.
it like beatign a dead horse but o well.

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1.3.3 Common Mud Turtles
0.0.2 R.E.S.
0.0.1 Y.B.S.
1.2 Russian Tortoises
0.1 Hamsters
3.0 Dogs
2.3 Family
3 Baby Muds

forgot the Before

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1.3.3 Common Mud Turtles
0.0.2 R.E.S.
0.0.1 Y.B.S.
1.2 Russian Tortoises
0.1 Hamsters
3.0 Dogs
2.3 Family
3 Baby Muds

Wow, I'm sorry you had to deal with that. If it makes you feel any better, I was part of great Houston "evacuation from nothing." It took me 37 hours and a couple thousand dollars in overheating-related car repairs to get from Houston to San Antonio to avoid the beautiful, sunny weather we had here while our hurricane went elsewhere. I'll never listen to a weather forecaster again!!!

David

dont say that, use you best judgement. year befor last NO was supposed to get hit but the huricane turned yast year we did get hit, i hope this isn't some kind of pattern.

Randomness:
last night the history channel had an moden marvels special no NO, one solution i realy liked was the construction of a "Great Wall (of China)" type of leeve system. but i belive the entire gulf south should have the protection. a Wall from Texas to Florida take that China you wont be the only one with a wall you can see from space.
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1.3.3 Common Mud Turtles
0.0.2 R.E.S.
0.0.1 Y.B.S.
1.2 Russian Tortoises
0.1 Hamsters
3.0 Dogs
2.3 Family
3 Baby Muds

I like the way you think. See, that's what we need - more progressive thinkers like you. "The Great Wall of the Gulf Coast," I like it.

David