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Let me know what you guys think. This is for my sulcata tortoises.
Tortoise Enclosure

VERY impressive! That's a lucky tortoise you've got!

Wish I had that sort of room..good job!

What state are you in? Looks like arizona or some place like that.

As for the enclosure really nice, whats with the gates? I mean its really cool how you have them, but do you have plans to use them. It can come in handy for quarantine periods. Very nice job,

Oh, also can you get more pics. of that hide, its looks very nice as well.

Thank you. And yes I live in AZ. I put the gates in for a couple of reasons, but the main one is that I am getting two more sulcatas soon. So I will be able to separate them from the two I have now if needed. I will get some more pics posted in the next couple of days. The two 'hides/shelters' are identical - 4' x 6' with ceramic heat emitters above and Kane heat mats below. I dug them down about 24" below ground and covered the inside with hay for bedding. The entire enclosure is 34' long with one side being 24' deep and the other at 18' - the center is a 10' x 10' area.

are tghe walls poured concrete or did you use blocks and sorta plaster over them?
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GOOSEBALLS

lamina1982@hotmail.com

They are stuccoed block walls. Just your typical block wall, but then covered in stucco for appearance. I did fill the entire block wall with concrete before applying the stucco though.

Another quick question, you said the heated burrows are under ground or go down under ground, When it rains does it flood? I know my box turtle burrow i made floods, lol. I dont know how to make it so it does not flood.

Kyle

You need to pre-empt the situation.
This means that you need to dig lower than the "base" by approx 30cm, add rough gravel leading to a soak away.
When the rain falls & potentially floods, the water can run away quickly via the run off.
Hope this helps.

BTW HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.....XXX
graham (UK)

Hi, here are my "constructive views" on your pens.
Firstly let me say that you look to have a made a good job of the construction.
2. If the gates are "see though", they will try to get through them, & a 30 kg Sulcata WILL GET THROUGH.
3. Sulcata's tend to be "dirty" torts, using their bed area for a toilet,....do you understand what I'm saying here. You will need to remove "all debris" otherwise ammonia will damage their plastron by "eating away at it".
4. If a Sulcata can reach the top of the pen/hide with his /her head, they will try to climb up, potentially flipping themselves over or worse, becoming mountaineers!!
5. Suggest you add some "bushes etc" to provide shade/area & include a "pond" for them to wallow in.
6. Ensure that you put some features in the area to stop them becoming "bored".....ie, do not allow a tort to be able to view his surroundings from one position, make him have to "look around the obstickle" to find his mate or food etc. There's nothing more boring to a tort than a prison cell, but give him the chance to find out whats around the corner & it's a continuous surprize for him/her.

Hope you take this in the way it was offererd, good advice & help.
graham (UK)

Thank you very much for your views and advice. It is all welcome. I have had my sulcatas since they were hatchlings (about 8 years) and have done quite a bit of research over the years about these fun gals. The gates that I installed are not see through and the roofs to their 'shelter/hide' ares are completely removable for cleaning. I also installed a hose line just on the other side of the wall for easier cleaning. Plus, the entire enclosure is fully irrigated with an automated sprinkler system. Even when I provide a 'pond' area for them to drink from or wallow in, they still prefer to use the sprinklers - the pools of water that form at the base of the sprinkler heads, or they just stick their mouths right down next to the sprinkler while its on - It's a funny sight. Anyhow, the tortoises were moved over to this new area yesterday and since then I have installed boulders, a huge log, etc. for their viewing pleasure. Again thanks for the input.

And also, in case anyone was wondering, the walls are over 24" tall so I don't believe there will be any problems with the sulcatas trying to climb over them. Thanks again