Tortoise outdoor enclosure - keeping guide - outdoor setup - tips

[@ysari]

Lovely informative video. Also yay for Sea Shepherd! :D We have a horsfield who was a classroom prisoner for 14 years and was depressed and not eating when he was rescued. He's been living with us for 6 years now and is happy and healthy. Tortoises are amazing creatures, thank you for taking the time to take care of them and educate others.

[@Floss.1e]

This is exactly everything I needed to know ! Thank you so much I’m off to upgrade my little tortillas home!

[@tortoise_matters]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hannahbarkham]

Fab video! We’re looking at getting one, we’ve got a big area that we’re looking at building an enclosure, it’s interesting to know that as long as you have a heat mat/lamp then they can stay outside for most of their lives.. we’re planning for the tortoise to have access outside all year round so will be building a large heat room for him to wonder into if it’s too cold outside

[@stacyrich113]

I believe she said this is an outdoor summer enclosure only. In the winter they have to come in and have a heat lamp! They can’t stay out year-round. Read her comment below.

[@2702simmo]

@@stacyrich113 they are ideally kept outdoors all year around but with a heated enclosure too

[@salfordtruthcabal3945]

Look at cold frames. My tortoise stay out all year round. I have a 40 watt tubular heater in which keeps the cold frame more than warm enough. I live in Salford uk.

[@annieleesallee]

Can you help me further understand how to fix this so they won’t dig out and escape? We love this layout, and we don’t plan to ever leave our Hermann tortoise out overnight, but still don’t want him to dig and escape. Thank you!

[@johnwebber232]

I have a grille cover on mine as we have foxes

[@orlaogradydesignstudio226]

Is it very difficult to have a similar enclosure for a redfoot tortoise year round outdoors? Obviously redfoot is from the rainforest, so different environment required. Just wondering how you’d go about it In UK climate.

[@occithecat9629]

I'm thinking of adopting a tortoise and found this really helpful as I'd like to keep them outside in the uk. I'll prob need a hutch with a heat lamp?

[@clairedelune5]

Hi there! So glad for your videos, thank you! We are getting our first tortoise and have made it an outdoor enclosure (here in the UK) and there are some stinging nettles in there. Is this a problem? There is conflicting information online!

[@gazf6163]

I'd like to get either a Horsefield or Hermann's in my UK garden in a similar set up to this with a cold frame. What type would you say is best for beginners and what social groups do Tortoises like, I want to avoid breeding them but how do they prefer to live, in what size groups/genders/solo? Thank a lot 👍

[@tortoise_matters]

Females can live together happily in small groups but you do sometimes need to manage hormonal bashing. Males should live along to avoid fighting. Turkish Ibera and Herman’s are robust breeds. With a secure and rocky south facing enclosure Horsfield’s can work too. There are many seeking new homes in the UK. If you have and space and time to build a habitat please contact the Norfolk Tortoise Club and register interest :)

[@gazf6163]

@@tortoise_matters thank you very much. I will do. 👍

[@commercialelectrician133]

Great video great looking setup

[@desertroseJAXX]

Great video. I just got 2 tortoises and they are about medium sized. What are the best pellets to supplement their vegetable diet with?

[@tortoise_matters]

Hi I recommend using testudo agrobs which you can buy on ebay quite easily. Start with small amounts until they are used to it which can take all summer, but it’s worth it when you need it more come autumn. :)

[@lenisepage7553]

How deep do you recommend digging down to prevent a tortoise from escaping. I have already laid out my tortoise enclosure outside and I have noticed holes under the fence from small animals. Mice, more than likely. Any advice will be good. Thank you

[@tortoise_matters]

It depends on how firm the ground is already and what breed of tortoise. A mediterranean breed is normally ok with 2 inches dug down. You can also add extra bricks and slabs as a precaution and remember to keep climbing aids away from the edges. If you have a young male you may want to cover covers also. Horsfields would require lots more gravel and slabs in the enclosure to prevent digging and 6inch deep surround.

[@libbybrown4346]

Hello, thanks for this. If I were to plant some tort friendly plants in my outdoor enclosure, do I need to protect them as they get established?

[@tortoise_matters]

Hi normally protection isnt needed unless you have grazing pets in garden. these would need seperating from a tortoise enclosure and feed patches at all times.

[@bobbyriley3418]

how long per year do you keep them outside or how long could you if made predator secure ?

[@commercialelectrician133]

Great video

[@zolawilliams9225]

Hi I have a question I'm building an outdoor habitat for my sulcata tortoise but I'm not sure if it's safe to use an extension cord for my heat lamp?

[@destinyalyssaolvera]

do you have any tips for american desert tortoises?

[@tortoise_matters]

I’d recommend connecting with the desert tortoise council for expert advice but a good start is looking at their natural habitat. The same containment principles will apply. Also the high fibre element of feeding. Hope this helps :)

[@tortoise_matters]

Obviously this is presuming he’s not a wild tortoise that is just living in your garden. In which case containment is not advised :p

[@NimaKDavani]

So we can keep them outside where they naturally live?

[@tortoise_matters]

Hi it depends on where you live. If you live in a country where the tortoise you keep lives in that habitat then yes you may not need to bring them in. If you are further north, such as the UK it is advised to bring them in if it drops below 10c to prevent them sleeping for longer than they should. To learn more watch some of the hibernation videos.

[@rikkelover123]

Hvilken farve bliver en smølf i hovedet, når man kvæler den?

[@angrybrit7331]

Is this just for the summer time ? Do you bring them in for winter?

[@tortoise_matters]

Absolutely a summer enclosure only. When it starts getting to 10c night time temperatures all tortoises go indoors with basking lamps. See my other videos for indoors spaces for bad weather.

[@tarynmumby8390]

Fantastic video! I'm just researching before building my enclosure. We have cats visit our garden, do you think I should add a lid to protect them?

[@johnwebber232]

I have a grille cover on mine as we have foxes

[@nathanleach7441]

Hi, we have a Horsfield and we’ve been working on the basis that they are Mediterranean. It’s fed solely on a variety of weeds and flowers all safe feeds and soil sand mix for both indoor and outdoor enclosure. Is there anything specific that a Horsfield requires over Mediterranean species?

[@tortoise_matters]

Hi Nathan if anything they benefit from a bit more aggregate in their enclosure. They are prone to digging and climbing so extra attention to not too much loose soil and solid surrounds dig down are very important. They can suffer from damp so ensuring their is good drainage and no grass is a good idea. also enjoy climbing so a mound with hides is a nice feature to consider. I’ll keep in mind to do a horsfield general video soon.

[@yummyofjune]

hi, great information was wondering if this would be the same for my leopard tortoise that i have just bought? and also what would you recommend his home to be etc table top or other. Thanks

[@tortoise_matters]

yummyofjune hi Leopards need to be a bit warmer in order to not catch a chill and get poorly. On a hot day they can be in the same sort of enclosure but they ideally need an adjoining greenhouse with insulated hot box as adults. Younger tortoises may need to spend a bit more time on a tortoise table or well ventilated viv. If it’s a table make sure the ambient room temp is warm enough for cooler end. If it’s a viv make sure it’s not too much like an oven and gets too hot and still offers hot and cold. There is a caresheets at tortoiseclub.org on leopards which should help give a good start. Tortoise trust should also have some good articles showing temps and kit needed. Hope this helps. Leopards need even more fibre than a med. Redigrass is a good dried grass to mix in with fresh weed. Absolutely avoid veg and fruit with this breed. Lots and lots of calcium and bits as fast growers. T5 Uv and a 100-160 bask white bulb also needed.

[@yummyofjune]

thank you for the information doing as much research as possible i did buy the viv but finding it's the same temperature both sides so i have just ordered a table top, also in the viv I'm finding that he keeps hitting at the glass and trying to get out. thank you for replying much appreciated.

[@tortoise_matters]

HI Horsfields can be kept in a similar manner yes. The main differences is they are fab diggers and climbers so an enclosure with good rocky footings is advised. tall sided surround which are also dug down. horsfields are good at very cold, but not cold, wet and damp. Due to this make sure enclosures are well drained. They are slow growers so low nutrient food is important. They are also prone to eye problems so dusty environments and too much sand should be avoided. There is a horsfield caresheet on tortoiseclub.org you may find helpful. I'm also uploading a horsfield video shortly :)