Assuming you would like tips on making an ideal indoor tortoise enclosure read on!
The following tortoise enclosure ideas are for indoor tortoise housing and will provide your tortoise with the necessary warmth humidity and UVB that it needs to stay healthy and thrive.
Enclosure Location:
The first thing you need to do when making a tortoise enclosure is to choose the right location for it. The enclosure should be placed in an area of your home that gets plenty of natural sunlight. If you cannot provide your tortoise with natural sunlight then you will need to supplement its enclosure with a full-spectrum UVB light.
Enclosure Size:
Your tortoise enclosure should be large enough to allow your tortoise to move around freely and to accommodate any future growth. A general rule of thumb is to provide your tortoise with an enclosure that is at least twice the size of its shell.
Enclosure substrate:
The substrate you choose for your tortoise enclosure is important as it will play a role in providing your tortoise with the necessary humidity and temperature. A good substrate for a tortoise enclosure is a mix of 50% topsoil and 50% cypress mulch. This substrate should be at least 4 inches deep to allow your tortoise to burrow.
Water bowl:
All tortoises need a water bowl in their enclosure for drinking and soaking. The water bowl should be large enough for your tortoise to completely submerge itself. It is also a good idea to place a rock or piece of driftwood in the water bowl to help your tortoise climb out if it falls in.
Hide box:
A hide box is a must-have for any tortoise enclosure. It provides your tortoise with a place to retreat to when it feels stressed or needs to escape the heat. The hide box should be large enough for your tortoise to completely turn around inside of it and it should be placed in an area of the enclosure that is warm and humid.
Temperature and humidity:
Tortoises require a warm and humid environment to stay healthy and thrive. The daytime temperature inside the tortoise enclosure should be between 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit. The nighttime temperature can drop to between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity inside the tortoise enclosure should be between 50-70%.
Lighting:
As mentioned before if you cannot provide your tortoise with natural sunlight then you will need to supplement its enclosure with a full-spectrum UVB light. This light should be placed on one side of the enclosure and should be left on for 10-12 hours per day.
Now that you know the basics of making a tortoise enclosure you can get started on making one for your tortoise!
What do you need to make a tortoise enclosure?
You need a piece of land some fencing and some plants.
How big does the piece of land need to be?
The piece of land needs to be at least 10 by 10 feet.
How high does the fencing need to be?
The fencing needs to be at least 3 feet high.
What kind of plants do you need?
You need edible plants that are safe for tortoises.
Where can you get plants for the enclosure?
You can get plants from a nursery or grow them yourself.
How do you keep the plants safe for tortoises?
You need to make sure the plants are not poisonous and that they are not treated with herbicides or pesticides.
What else do you need in the enclosure?
You need a water source and a place for the tortoise to hide.
How do you provide a water source?
You can provide a water source with a pond a bowl or a hose.
How do you make a pond?
You need to dig a hole and line it with a waterproof material.
What is a good material to use for the pond liner?
You can use a pond liner a tarp or a piece of PVC pipe.
Where can you get a pond liner?
You can buy a pond liner at a garden center or online.
How do you make a hiding place for the tortoise?
You can make a hiding place with a piece of wood a rock or a log.
Where should you put the hiding place?
You should put the hiding place in the shade.
What kind of tortoise do you need an enclosure for?
You need an enclosure for a desert tortoise.
What is the best type of fencing for a tortoise enclosure?
The best type of fencing for a tortoise enclosure is chicken wire.
