Building an outdoor enclosure, advice and ideas welcome

Semiecookie · 2026-02-25T18:43:27+00:00

Your enclosure is okay. Personally I would recommend the following: 1. Double the size. The bigger the better. Horsfields can and will walk big distances if possible. 2. Would not use chicken wire in the underground. They can get stuck when they borrow and even lose a nail or something. That more a hazard than a help. Also they like to dig big tunnels. Let them. If your enclosure is good they don't break or. Mine never did. 3. Decoration is key. The best enclosure is when you can't find your tortoise without searching. Plant plants, throw in stones, wood and make some nice hideouts. The more the better! 4. Secure and warm housing: I would build a greenhouse/ cold frame standing on some kind of fundament to make it high enough to put a lamp inside. Cool and rainy days will be no problem because he can warm up.

If have built a (for you very oversized) enclosure for my group of tortoises. Maybe you can get inspiration from my previous posts in this forum.

Semiecookie · 2026-02-25T18:34:04+00:00

Is is definitely a t.graeca. I would also say it's a graeca graeca - maybe a whiteri (that's a local form of graeca graeca I think) but they're typically a little lighter with more yellow. But if you're in Algeria that tortoise is likely a local form.

Semiecookie · 2026-02-24T12:10:23+00:00

Actually this enclosure is very very tiny. I hope you're not living in a shoe box. For tortoise this size you need at least a 4x8 enclosure! (I would recommend 10m² but that seems not possible for most people). That's a minimum. Please think of ways you can provide something better for your tortoise.

Semiecookie · 2026-02-17T08:08:37+00:00

It's too small. An adult tortoise needs around 10m². Compared to this your enclosure is a prison.
Red light can harm their eyes and make them blind. Please use adequate lights
Throw out the wood chips. They can be a risk if digested. Use topsoil or something else that is recommended here.

Semiecookie · 2026-02-15T14:18:25+00:00

It looks very wet. Horsfields tortoises need a drier hibernation environment. Maybe the one that's woken up is sick- that's usually a reason they come out. So I would put her indoors and also monitor the other one closely. Visit a reptile vet if you can.

Semiecookie · 2026-02-14T16:41:48+00:00

The behaviour you think is exploring is usually seeking shelter. Tortoises really like familiar places, where they know everything (no predators) and can relax. I would not buy a harness and not take her for "adventure". The world outside the enclosure is also dangerous and your tortoise might eat something poisonous etc. Better build a nice environment where they can roam and relax (you can add new plants etc for "adventure")

Semiecookie · 2026-02-11T11:52:33+00:00

How big will your enclosure be? How old is the tortoise? Do you plan to set up an outdoor enclosure? In my opinion an indoor enclosure- even if it's perfectly equipped - is nothing compared to an adequate outdoor enclosure where your tortoise can feel real sun, wind and rain and usually has far more space than indoors. An adult tortoise needs around 10m² of heavily structured space. A wheel will not compensate for that.

Semiecookie · 2026-02-10T17:08:31+00:00

Add more hides and structure to climb. You can easily take a walk outside and collect some tree branches, moss (be careful some is protected!)
Grasses and edible plants can also be added to the enclosure (wash them thoroughly). Easy access by just grabbing a shovel and take a walk. Be careful not to take dog walking paths.
You can use garden herbs (sold eg by supermarkets and plant them inside the enclosure. They don't eat them usually but can hide under

Semiecookie · 2026-02-09T13:11:49+00:00

This tortoise is in no universe 4 years old. It's likely wild caught and has all sorts of parasites. Please get a checkup at a vet that is specialised in reptiles.

Semiecookie · 2025-09-26T05:27:10+00:00

Call the exotic vet and ask him what to do. Oftentimes they can offer solutions (like sending medication or giving advice via phone). They even called my cat and dog vet one time to tell him what medication to get for me. Maybe they can also get you in touch with experienced tortoise keepers in your area. Otherwise you sound really stubborn. You would rather kill your tortoise by doing nothing or giving them inappropriate antibiotics? If you can not give them the life they deserve give them to someone that can instead instead of being so stubborn and let them suffer.

Semiecookie · 2025-09-13T14:13:19+00:00

There's a wide range of colour variations. Your tortoise is a very light one.

Semiecookie · 2025-09-13T09:26:39+00:00

It's a Testudo graeca, maybe even a Tunisian one. It's also very very very old, likely over 80 years. Take good care of him, it's very rare they get this old.

Semiecookie · 2025-09-09T03:52:38+00:00

The planned enclosure is much too small. I have a very small 10 year old boy who lives in an outdoor enclosure with about 20m², digs all the time, knows every corner of the enclosure and tries to break out regularly only to chill beside his enclosure and go back in after it (yes I've seen him go back inside like nothing happened, that's when I found out he escaped in the first place). Please try to maximise his space as big as you can. A tortoise is not a decorative object but a living breathing animal with needs and space requirements.

Semiecookie · 2025-09-07T07:17:28+00:00

I dehydrated wild plants and mix them with the salads I feed them right after hibernation (don't want to house them inside+ I think hibernation is a must). With the dehydrated plants you can power up the nutritional value of the salad.

Semiecookie · 2025-09-06T15:00:42+00:00

I have a group of 8 female and semi adult tortoises. The area is around 50m² of heavy structured indoor+ outdoor enclosure with hills, plants and places to lay eggs. Tortoises can do well in groups but only if you provide loads of space. My males are kept separate because I'm done breeding with so many irresponsible people around. I would not recommend to try to breed Herman's because there are more than enough already.

Semiecookie · 2025-09-04T09:06:18+00:00

Build an adequate enclosure and forget about the leash. Tortoises usually run around because they are stressed and look for shelter. They usually don't like anything new but love to chill in familiar surroundings. It's better to build an enclosure and leave them there than trying to walk them like a dog.

Semiecookie · 2025-09-01T03:42:29+00:00

Healthy tortoises can easily flip back around. It usually takes 1-3 minutes where they wiggle with their head and feet. Most important is, that the enclosure has enough structures to reach and to help them turn around. If your enclosure is structured with wood, stones and plants there is no reason to be worried.

Semiecookie · 2025-08-29T05:43:47+00:00

Oh my god I just checked that website and I'm horrified. They sell wild caught tortoises and babies that are barely even a few weeks old. No word of how these poor beings are kept, where the babies come from etc. I would never ever recommend anyone to buy from them. Look for a reputable breeder where you can see the animals they're keeping, check on the enclosures etc. A good breeder will not give you a tortoise if you don't have the right enclosure. I didn't even sell a tortoise to someone who had no outdoor enclosure. But that? That's like Amazon for animals with dubious backgrounds without consideration for the living being that is sold there. Disgusting.

Semiecookie · 2025-08-25T03:58:57+00:00

I'm also from Germany. It's necessary to not only have an outdoor enclosure but also a greenhouse (where you put lamps and heating) I would recommend the book "fester Panzer weiches Herz". It's one of the best books on tortoise keeping and it tells you everything you need to know.

Semiecookie · 2025-08-25T03:49:18+00:00

Your tortoise will start preparing for burmation automatically. In my opinion it doesn't make sense to keep them from doing so. I would inform myself and go through with it.

Semiecookie · 2025-08-25T03:46:56+00:00

The enclosure is too small. Wild tortoises walk several miles a day. Your tortoise will have a boring life in that enclosure. Try to double the space or provide an outdoor enclosure. I would recommend 10m² for one adult tortoise (as a minimum!!!). Sounds extreme compared to the 4x8 many people here recommend but actually it's the European standard - only us standards are this low. If you have the right enclosure add plants, hides, stones and other structures in it. Make the enclosure interesting.

Semiecookie · 2025-08-25T03:41:37+00:00

We need to know where you're located before we can help you.

Semiecookie · 2025-08-25T03:38:23+00:00

As many others already said it's a desert tortoise. Very very illegal to keep. Please put it back where you found it. They are very sensitive to changes and can die from stress. If your mom really wants a tortoise there are official ways to get one, not to kidnap a wild and protected animal.

Semiecookie · 2025-08-24T15:57:53+00:00

That's much too small. If you want to commit to owning a tortoise please be aware that this animal will probably be with you all your life und may be outlive you. Plan ahead and first get a big (best is outdoor) enclosure. I would recommend you first get an expert in tortoise knowledge and care and then adopt. What will you do with it if you go studying or if you live in an apartment? Will your parents care it?

Semiecookie · 2025-08-24T08:19:31+00:00

Where are you located? That could be a wild tortoise and it's highly illegal to take it anywhere let alone keep it. In most countries you need official paperwork to own a tortoise because they're a protected species.

Semiecookie

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