YARD PREPARATION
Occasionally, because of loose soil, the walls collapse as you dig.
If this happens, follow the directions on Information Sheet #8. Then skip to Page 13,
Loosening the Floor.
3. Check for snug fit of the plywood on the ramp occasionally. Always slip in the
plywood from the front, not from above. At first you may find it easier to use a
length of 2" x 4" that is as long as the width of the plywood.
Figure 14. Plywood should rest tightly
along the length and edges of the ramp.
4. When the ramp is done, the surface should be smooth and rock-free, and about
15-20 degrees below horizontal ground level. See Figure 16. The plywood should
just fit. Stand on the wood. If it rocks in any direc-tion, remove ridges and
fill depressions until the plywood rests tightly along the entire length. If the
surface is not smooth, the plywood will eventually sag and may pin down the tortoise.
At the front end of the burrow, the plywood sloping up from the bottom should touch
the rope as it crosses it and then project above ground. Note: This step will make
sense when you reach this point.
Making a Channel for the Tortoise
The channel is the underground area where the tortoise spends most of his time.
See Table 1 for the dimensions and Figure 15 for how the channel should look when
you finish. Figure 16 is a side view of a completed burrow, showing that the
plywood is the same distance above the tortoise all the way along the burrow channel.
The channel should be only slightly higher and slightly wider than the
tortoise. The tortoise should not be able to turn around in the channel except at
the far end. This snugness provides insulation and keeps air circulation at a minimum.
Figure 15. Channel must fit tortoise
snuggly except at the far end that widens
for turning around
1. Make a rear shelf for the plywood. For a tortoise 6 3/4" or longer, leave 12" of
the ramp as the rear shelf for the plywood. For smaller tortoises, leave whatever
remains after you have measured how long the burrow channel is to be, measuring from
the front end.
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