A redesign concept for a tortoise yard

Sometimes I redesign using software that can force me to think in new, creative ways. every detail is not included, but it's so fun to just  conceptualize!

Here, I redesigned a friend's sulcata tortoise yard that it shares with goats and pigs. I wanted the tortoise hide to be something the goats could safely stand on, since they'd totally do it anyway. 😅

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I really like this giant heated house, so that during cold weather in So. Cal (not often) the animal still has room to move around. Would use freezer strips to keep in the heat.

A bubbling, flat pool is perfect for sulcatas - they love to exctere urates in moving water!

A really strong, tall planter is key- they can mow down ANYTHING. But eventually the plants will grow low enough to nibble on, or easily trim from. Browse poles are periodically replaced- did I mention they are STRONG animals?

These tree stumps are buried in the earth with the goal of giving them something to push on, walk around, and generally destroy. They seem to like to have obstacles to walk around a bit. The barrel can hold browse, or just be knocked around a bit.

They a LOT need room like horses. Horses that dig. Relentlessly.

Planting opuntia and other things that will drop into the yard now and again is great. I'd probably recommend making a solid wall at tortoise height is best, though. 

On the left I was playing with the idea of burying a half-barrel to create an "Authorized Dig Spot". Perhaps pretending to be exasperated at filling it back in would make them dig there more? 😁

Skink-a-tat!

 Building a Solomon Skink Habitat from Scratch:

Welcome to Lulu's palace

Watch how I built it here:

Inspo: 

I think this banyan tree turned out really pretty! 

It's got a crossover tunnel and divider

cap built in, and a secret heat pad.

Short build sequence:

The sculpt tests:

A Redesigned Newt Habitat!

 Newt and Improved

The one I was handed had many problems, including allowing the animals to hide under the fiberglass and not come out. so I redesigned. This one was made by Cemrock (at the cost of around $2,500 in 2015), using my design below.  

Much improved, n'est-ce pas?

Out with the old...

Rat Palace (and its rebuild)

I often have to come up with designs that have not been done before, or are very specific to a location. This was one that I have learned so much from! It was designed to be a crossover habitat for Norway rats (Rattus Norvegicus). The original concept came from a friend and myself brainstorming, and Tenji, Inc did the actual structural design. The aesthetic? Whatever is in your garage or attic!  

These rats are on display in a public institution, and are not super-acclimated to people. These features help manage their care needs:

• 1/2" Acrylic enclosure for clear views and soundproofing, vented on the ceiling and floor, and a super-quiet fan below pulls air through a carbon pad to prevent the whole place smalling like rats! (They communicate with pee, after all)
• Flexible shelving to create infinite possibilities for enrichment
• Rope ladders bring rats to top crossover tubing, and the gate valves can isolate an area from the outside (if you're fast enough!)
• This original shelf design used puppy pee pads and a velcro/felt coverup. This proved difficult to maintain. 

The "ratty" aesthetic

Ventilation chamber

A New Do!

Over a few years time, my colleague and I decided we wanted each shelf to be more adjustable and to hold softer, diggable bedding. She recorded the below videos of the redo. I think we designed something more clean-able, and much more cute-able!

Gratuitous cuteness

Snake-r-cize!

 Cute lil exercise stations for snakes to use during educational presentations or just exercising those coils!

Change out the materials for enrichment

Can you even stand the cute??

For a smaller snake

For a much...juicier snake