Hey,
[/indent]I posted alot of questions on this at HH or here, so I will try both. My birthday is coming up soon (12.12.2005) and I have one thing on my wishlist. A red footed tortous (or at least for my bithday). I will be planning to let her roam the yard with my supervision but she will be sleeping in a 40 breeder as a baby. However, I would also like to keep her outside (I live in Miami Beach, Fl) eventually. I was told to have the enclosher wired to prevent cats and giant possoms with the biggest teeth you can imagine from harming the tortous. But if it is wired in my mother will get depressed and the tortous would be in trouble (my mother takes action quik) and I was wondering if any of you guys can think she (the tortious) can have an opened enviroment that would not be depressing and would be safe from possoms and cats. Once again this is a redfooted tortious (dont get that big to my knowledge).

thanks, Elan

__________________
Live life likes it's the last day of school.:)

hey elan,

i am confused..why would your mom get depressed if there is a redfoot tortoise enclosure in the backyard? IMO free roaming is a great thing but not a good thing to rely on as an permanent source of "caging". If you can let her roam about the yard when you are home that would be great. But an enclosure that serves as a retreat and a safe place is crucial. Try fencing in a small part of your yard with chicken wire on all sides including the top to prevent animals from coming in. And having the fence go under the ground for a foot or so keeps the tort from burrowing under the fence and escaping and predators from doing the same and harming it.

__________________
-Adam

"Help Protect our Planet from Overcollection, Purchase Aquacultured Livestock and Captive Bred Herps"

my mother gets depressed when things are crowded or take up alot of space, a top would make it more noticable for her. Ex: when a hurricane comes, the shutters make her feelin a crowded room. (not castraphobic but likes wide open space).

so, how can I make a hamemade door in the chcken wire? on a lot of pict I see they just have a wall and are fine.

__________________
Live life likes it's the last day of school.:)

Just a side note,,,,make sure if she's roaming the lawn you are using no chemical fertilizer.

__________________
Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

It depends on the size of your redfoot. As a baby I would make sure to keep in inside and only bring it out if you can supervise the whole time. Have proper lighting and all inside for it. When it's bigger you can build a pen and if planted well, with hiding spots you should have no problem with predators. If you live in an area with lots of them close by you can always make a top to go on and lock so as to prevent any attacks and keep it safe. You can make the pens real pretty as there are alot of plants you can put in. Tell your Mom it will be an enclosed garden so she doesn't mind it in the backyard. Here's mine but I am still planting in it so it's not quit finished.

Thanks for the picture you have now given my husband ideas for the outdoor enclosure next summer.

Here's another view! I used the lattice to keep my "weiners" from jumping in to it. All the sand there is from the pool we just took down.

It has since been enlarged to 6' out and you can see my sulcata walking around. The yard is his playpen!

Here's another of my russian pen. The redfoot is on the other side of the wall. I laid down screening and then used top soil and sand mix on top.
[IMG][/IMG]

Thanks again for the pictures, next spring when we make the outdoor russian enclosure I'll be picking your brain.

__________________
Colleen

Anytime! Thanks!
Judi