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Outdoor Accommodation
Outdoor enclosures for tortoises can be made in various ways, but the basic principles are the same. The following material is to assist the enthusiastic tortoise collector, the beginner or the parents of interested children, to build an enclosure suitable for keeping tortoises healthy. When children are keeping them as pets, construction of a watertight pond is usually too difficult for the children and parental help is needed.

The first step is to select a suitable area for the pond. Both shade and sunlight should be available in the enclosure during the heat of the day, but sunlight must reach the water in the early morning. Shade can be provided by planting shrubs and ferns in appropriate positions. Care is needed when positioning the pond for sunlight present during the summer months may absent in winter.

The maximum number of tortoises that can be kept will be governed by the size of the pond. Overcrowding will result in fouling of the water which will have an adverse effect on the health of the inhabitants. A small number of tortoises and a large volume of water is the only safe arrangement. An area of water about 2m square by 50cm deep would adequately house three tortoises of 30cm carapace length. This could be used as a basis for determining the overall size of the pond. The presence of plants and the method of feeding both have a bearing on the carrying capacity of the pond.

Once a site has been chosen and the available space pegged, mark the outline of the pond on the ground with a piece of rope, that can be moved around until you are satisfied with the shape of the intended pool. Remember that a wall has to built around the area to prevent the inhabitants from escaping. This wall will also create shade if it is constructed of opaque material. Space must be left between the pond and the wall to enable the tortoises to come ashore to bask or to lay eggs. Try to locate the pond so the sun will warm the ground for the greater part of the day. A certain amount of heat is necessary to help incubate the eggs that may be buried in the ground. If eggs are deposited at the base of a shrub or fern which needs plenty of water, they should be removed to a more suitable position as excessive moisture often results in fungus attacks. Grass and grass roots are a nuisance around a tortoise pond an should be removed before any planting or landscaping is attempted.

An ideal outdoor tortoise pool.

Steel reinforcement must be used in the bottom of the pond and the walls if they are concrete. After excavation for the pond the ground must be well tamped to ensure it is solid, otherwise cracks may appear in the concrete soon after it hardens. Water weighs 1kg per litre and 30 cubic centimetres contains about 27 litres, so if you think 5cm thick concrete will be enough, be extra sure and make it 7.5cm. The sealing of a concrete pond must be done correctly and before it is filled with water. Once it has been filled and the dirt behind the concrete settles it can be very difficult if not impossible, to find a leak. It is therefore advisable not to backfill the walls with soil until it has been filled with water and tested for at least four days.

In some areas it is possible to use a natural rock formation for the bottom of the pond. In this case, chip off the flaky surface and cover with at least 1.5cm of waterproof mortar. The same compound may be used to seal concrete walls, but use a steel float, as wooden floats have a tendency to leave a rough, porous surface. When the bottom of the pond is hard enough to walk on, any rough spots left in the rendering may be scraped off with the edge of a steel float. If care has been taken throughout the construction the pond can now be considered waterproof; but if you have any doubts seal the walls and bottom with a waterproofing composition such as Bondcrete or Cemstick. This will also give a smoother finish and prevent damage to the plastrons and marginal shields of the tortoises.

For small ponds, ready-made fibreglass containers may be bought from many sources from most cities. They are simply sunk into the ground within the wall.

If a large pond is to be built a drain must be included during the construction. A pipe 5cm in diameter should be set to protrude through the floor or wall at the deep end of the pond so that a small amount of water remains after the pond is drained. This is a precaution to ensure the survival of the occupants if the pond is accidentally emptied. The drain pipe should have a gauze (preferably brass) covering on the inside end at all times. This will prevent fish or small tortoises being sucked through.

Once a pond is established, small fish can be added to supplement the diet of the tortoises and to prevent mosquitoes breeding in the pond. An ideal species of fish is the Mosquito Fish (Gambusia Affinis), an introduced fish which is now well established in many waterways and lakes. This fish gives birth to live young, it breeds prolifically and there are always young fish for juvenile tortoises to eat. Also, it is hardy enough to withstand the most rigorous winters in Victoria.

Disposal of water must be carefully considered. Where possible it should be run into an existing drain, but if this is not available a soak with agricultural pipes must be excavated. This may be slow to drain, but it is effective.

A deep pond is better than a shallow one, but the outer wall should be built much higher than is necessary to contain the tortoises and prevent any likelihood of tragic accidents with curious young children. The edge of the pond can be lined with flagstones and a few allowed to overhang the water. However, at least one sloping bank must be incorporated in the edge of the pond for the tortoises to climb out and bask.

When the pond is completed and the cement is dry, water must be added to neutralize the lime in the cement. The water should be left to stand for two weeks. The pond can be drained, hosed down carefully, and refilled with clean water. The standing period can then be shortened by adding a few packets of alum, dissolved in warm water, to the pond. If not well dissolved, the alum will eat away the pond lining wherever it settles. Once the pH value of the water is about 5.5, that is slightly acid, the water should be allowed to stand for about eight hours. To speed the action of the alum in neutralizing the lime, scrub the water-covered area with a stiff broom. When this is done, hose clean and refill with clean water.

Now the pond is ready for planting and accessories such as coarse river sand, logs, etc. may be added. All sand used should be thoroughly washed before being placed in the pond. This will rid it of impurities and prevent clouding of the water which may take weeks to clear.

A trip to a stream will provide a variety of black, water seasoned logs for the tortoises to bask on. When put in the pond they should slope from the bottom to the bank and, if necessary, can be moved to lie in the sun during the different seasons. During the hottest part of the day the tortoises will also utilize the shade provided by the logs.

Many species of floating plants are available for the pond. Some are more suitable than others and those existing in the tortoises' natural habitat are the most appropriate. If water lilies are desired they should be placed in a container. This should have a narrow neck which will prevent the tortoises from disturbing the roots so if the stems are eaten the plants will be able to grow again. Most Australian tortoises eat some vegetable matter.

In the land area surrounding the pond, shrubs and smaller ferns can be planted in a liberal amount of leaf mould. Such a situation is ideal for tortoises which prefer to hibernate out of water during the colder months. Check your pond regularly at the beginning of winter - you may find you tortoise seeking an area where it can hibernate. Help the tortoise by digging a shallow hole in leaf mould slightly larger than its approximate shape. Put the tortoise into the hole and cover it with a light piece of timber or fibro, then with earth. Take care that the hollowed area is not a water trap.

The wall around the pool may be made of brick, fibro, flat iron or wire netting. A height of 70cm is sufficient to contain large specimens, but at least 90cm is suggested, if young children have access to the area. Do not underestimate the ability of tortoises to escape by climbing. Short-neck tortoises have considerably more climbing ability than would at first be apparent and the long-necks use their necks to great advantage. Both species will use plants to gain access to the top of a wall.

Few tortoise owners would go to the lengths detailed above just keep a child's pet, particularly as most children tend to lose interest so quickly. An old wash tub, plastic baby bath or wash basin may be set into the earth in some out of the way and semi-shaded place in the yard and a small fence built around it. Once the child has lost interest, the tortoise can be returned to its original state. Although this type of enclosure is much easier to suet up the fitting out and maintenance must be the same as for a larger pond if the inhabitant is to retain its healthy condition.

Feeding tortoises in a large pond is a simple procedure. A large serve of chopped (not minced) meat once a week and smaller amounts on tow other days will be sufficient. This should be supplemented with fish from time to time - you cannot be sure that the tortoises are catching any for themselves, even if their pond is well stocked. Be sure that water snails are always available as well.

To determine the amount of food required, count the pieces of meat placed in a shallow container on the bottom of the pond before and after every meal. After doing this for a week or two a fair estimate should be reached of the amount to be thrown into the pond to avoid pollution by over-feeding. The meat should be cut into small pieces so that the tortoises will not have to tear it with their claws once they get it into their mouths. Tortoises will fight over large pieces of food. Minced meat has a high fat content and the fat plus pieces of meat scattered about the pond by the tortoises will soon foul the water.