outdoor enclosure advice pls - Page 2

Ozric Jonathan · 08-05-2009, 11:22 PM

This looks really good! I agree with the others - grass underfoot mainly doesn't work well- cold and soggy. Soil can make a great substrate, if it was me I woul remove all the top layer with the grass and put in some suitable planting. Plenty of interest can into your area, they enjoy things like a hollow log, some nice rock or slate.

My Hermanns don't dig down very much, but even so some protection at the perimeter makes sense so I do dig in a barrier a few inches down. In my experience Hermanns thrive on being outdoors - every year I surprised how mine can get warm and active even with just weak sun.

Outdoors mine mostly have much lower temperatures than they do when I'm keeping them indoors on a table, yet they are more active! There is just so much more to do. I use a coldframe and it's been fantastic for them to get warmed up. I never offer food inside the coldframe, so if they get warm and hungry, they have to go outside and forage in the enclosure. Once outside they only retreat to the coldframe if its not warm enough for them to be active. You have a great start there.

**Alan1** · 09-05-2009, 07:54 AM

I wish mine would go in the coldframe. Maybe they are just too thick or something. They usually head for the coldest spot in the enclosure.. is there an Arctic sub species of Hermanns?

Katie-n-spoon · 09-05-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caledonia

I wish mine would go in the coldframe. Maybe they are just too thick or something. They usually head for the coldest spot in the enclosure.. is there an Arctic sub species of Hermanns?

Think ive got that sub-species aswell

goldblend · 14-05-2009, 05:02 PM

thanks everyone, we have taken a few ideas on board now, and designing has begun .....
will post picturs upon completion ....

Katie-n-spoon · 21-05-2009, 03:16 PM

with regards to the special sub species of hermanns that are a wee bit mentally stunted shall we say,

wilfee managed to use the coldframe today all by herself!!!

so proud

goldblend · 06-07-2009, 06:09 PM

ok people here is the finished version of my new outside enclosure,
my husband dug down and laid some concrete pillars underground and laid terram about 8 inches then we refilled with topsoil and sand.. so theres no chance of anything digging in or them digging out lol. all comments / suggestions welcome

Tortlover · 06-07-2009, 10:59 PM

Wow...looks great!! Well done x

DoodleBopper · 06-07-2009, 11:23 PM

Hey it looks really good. Are you going to out some mroe plants and stuff in the middle? It's good to have sight barriers so that they have to walk around things and explore. If your violas are anything like mine you'll be amazed at how much they grow!! Minea re like monsters now!!

08-05-2009, 11:22 PM	#11
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	This looks really good! I agree with the others - grass underfoot mainly doesn't work well- cold and soggy. Soil can make a great substrate, if it was me I woul remove all the top layer with the grass and put in some suitable planting. Plenty of interest can into your area, they enjoy things like a hollow log, some nice rock or slate. My Hermanns don't dig down very much, but even so some protection at the perimeter makes sense so I do dig in a barrier a few inches down. In my experience Hermanns thrive on being outdoors - every year I surprised how mine can get warm and active even with just weak sun. Outdoors mine mostly have much lower temperatures than they do when I'm keeping them indoors on a table, yet they are more active! There is just so much more to do. I use a coldframe and it's been fantastic for them to get warmed up. I never offer food inside the coldframe, so if they get warm and hungry, they have to go outside and forage in the enclosure. Once outside they only retreat to the coldframe if its not warm enough for them to be active. You have a great start there. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

14-05-2009, 05:02 PM	#14
goldblend Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maidstone , Kent Posts: 84	thanks everyone thanks everyone, we have taken a few ideas on board now, and designing has begun ..... will post picturs upon completion .... __________________ Michelle aka Goldblend Adopted 2 Hermanns from a bad home, they much happier nowadays - August 2008 Axle (male) & Ozzie (Fem) TBH Syrian Hammies Summer & Lucky Mother to Willz (16) & Dan (11) Wife to Hubby George Part-time bakery worker, as well as cook, cleaner etc etc and exhausted ........

21-05-2009, 03:16 PM	#15
Katie-n-spoon Member Hatched Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: North Devon Posts: 250	with regards to the special sub species of hermanns that are a wee bit mentally stunted shall we say, wilfee managed to use the coldframe today all by herself!!! so proud __________________ Katie, Spoon, Wilfee, and Hermie xx 2.1.0 hermanns- Spoon, Wilfee, Hermie 1.1.0 tunisians- Daisy, Buttercup 0.1.0 dogs- Ripley 0.1.0 cat- Chloe- rip sweetie

06-07-2009, 06:09 PM	#16
goldblend Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maidstone , Kent Posts: 84	ok people here is the finished version of my new outside enclosure, my husband dug down and laid some concrete pillars underground and laid terram about 8 inches then we refilled with topsoil and sand.. so theres no chance of anything digging in or them digging out lol. all comments / suggestions welcome __________________ Michelle aka Goldblend Adopted 2 Hermanns from a bad home, they much happier nowadays - August 2008 Axle (male) & Ozzie (Fem) TBH Syrian Hammies Summer & Lucky Mother to Willz (16) & Dan (11) Wife to Hubby George Part-time bakery worker, as well as cook, cleaner etc etc and exhausted ........ Last edited by goldblend; 06-07-2009 at 06:12 PM.

06-07-2009, 10:59 PM	#17
Tortlover Member Hatchling Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Herts/Essex border Posts: 614	Wow...looks great!! Well done x __________________ www.cutecritterz.co.uk www.prickly-critterz.co.uk

09-05-2009, 07:54 AM	#12
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	I wish mine would go in the coldframe. Maybe they are just too thick or something. They usually head for the coldest spot in the enclosure.. is there an Arctic sub species of Hermanns?

06-07-2009, 11:23 PM	#18
DoodleBopper Member Hatchling Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk Posts: 717	Hey it looks really good. Are you going to out some mroe plants and stuff in the middle? It's good to have sight barriers so that they have to walk around things and explore. If your violas are anything like mine you'll be amazed at how much they grow!! Minea re like monsters now!! __________________

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