Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, close to completing my renovated, enlarged habitat! I hope the turtles will be as excited as I am!

I'm doing all I can to deter digging out and climbing escapes, but have some lingering concerns:

1. I've dug down as deep as I can go around the perimeter, either placing brick or layering Qwikcrete. Due to tree roots and hard soil (clay), there are spots where I can only go down a few inches. If I'm having trouble digging, will the turtles also find it difficult? As an extra precaution I'm lining the perimeter with more bricks, but do you think this will be enough?

2. I plan to cover the corners to deter climbing, but was wondering what's the best way to keep climbers off cinder block. Two of the walls are wood, but the 2 preexisting walls are cinder block. I had thought of lining just that corner with large pieces of smooth ceramic floor tile, adhering it like you would to cover a wall. They wouldn't have anything to grip if they tried to climb the corner.

Just wondering ... ?

I'll be at the point of putting up the walls in the next day or 2 (depending on the weather).

You need to put some sort of overhang, or lip, along the top of the concrete block, and the overhang should extend one or two inches out from the block surface.
Dig down a few inches in to the hard dirt: they dig well, but not so well through hard pan.